So, to begin, I thoroughly agree with people doing some amount of research into topics they're unfamiliar with before they slap something on a page, call it a day, and then get offended when they're corrected.
This bit, however, was sorta what I meant in terms of helpful tips on how to write topics properly instead of avoid them:
"Also, if the things I describe don't sound interesting enough to explore to fans who want to create content about Jazz, well, maybe he isn't the character they ought to be interested in?"
Because while I agree that some people unequivocally twist characters unrecognizably to fit more neatly into certain plot lines (and I loathe it, and I've made a more than a few posts myself about it and actually about Jazz specifically) I guess I'm trying to dial in on where it crosses from "something that bothers me personally" to "something I would definitely consider racist."
Because as wildly infuriating as mischaracterization is, it's also not something specific to Jazz? After all, the essence of fanfic/fandom usually is to place characters in unusual (oftentimes skeevy) circumstances and convey how they would react—and some people just don't do it well as a general principle.
Though I do agree wholeheartedly that if you don’t much look at canon and to alternative character interpretations then you have no chance of avoiding being a (progressively more inaccurate) echo chamber. So I suppose to clarify, is it more the fact that you feel people are relying on ingrained stereotypes already established in place of canon characterization? Or that some concepts/tropes are almost impossible to avoid being racist with as a general principle? Both?
Because I guess I'm just a little concerned about running the risk of "diverting from this specific interpretation is problematic", because I don't think there's any way for anyone to win in that scenario.
Because while I definitely agree with your general/core evaluation of Jazz's character, I do disagree with just the one portion of it. A portion which seems to be something that you were uncomfortable with? I don't think that the fandom's fascination with Jazz having a ~dark side~ or experiencing some type of ideological crisis is actually unwarranted from a canon perspective (e.g. Robots in Disguise #31-32 (2012) and All Hail Megatron).
Unfortunately, I think our difference in opinion is in large part due to the nature of long running comics with various authors: the characterization is not consistent.
In other words, I guess my main area of concern (outside of avoiding core mischaracterization) is how to avoid falling into the trap of perhaps relying on stereotypes in order to accommodate tropes* that themselves are not the problem (and will honestly never go away) and could be handled respectfully. (*I mean like Fantasy AU, Decepticon AU, No War AU, etc...)
So are there any (edgy or not) topics you feel could be written about if only handled properly?
ex. (1) Jazz being a lazy, work-shirker is obviously a no-go, but do you consider him being playful and the "morale officer" (as I've seen it put sometimes given his always-cool-under-pressure personality) to be racist, just personally dislike it, or think it's fine?
(2) Do you have a problem with Jazz having a "dark side" at all, or does it just bother you if it's portrayed in a "ignorant until shown the error of his ways and reformed" way? Same with a "dark past"? More nuanced?
(3) Unintelligible dialogue unique to Jazz is obv racist, but do you also feel as though (if that proper research is done) incorporating some AAVE is appropriate?
(3) Are there other general things that you think just can't be handled appropriately regardless of circumstances? Or maybe that just shouldn't be handled by a non-black writer?
And fyi these questions are open to anyone who wants to chime in as well!
Thank you again for taking the time to make this post and chat!
