OK, so before I say what I want to say here, I want to clear up something: don't post "Search bar" or anything along those lines. I have searched, and what I found was not exactly what I was looking for (I found Jynx and racism, but her Japanese name). Anyway...
So I just read an article about Jynx (from Pokemon) being a racist stereotype. This idea is not a new concept to me, but I received an email from the ECA today, and I thought I'd read a few of the articles they featured.
People have apparently drawn conclusions about Jynx's name as well as her "blackface" appearance; saying that it's connected to voodoo and stuff. But what I haven't seen yet is a connection between her Japanese name and a racist stereotype.
I just found out that "Rougela" is her Japanese name and Googled it not thinking about what might come up in the search... "Baton Rouge, LA." With an emphasis on "Rouge, LA."
Louisiana is frequently referred to as a home of African American culture, and I don't completely buy Bulbapedia's excuse that "Rougela" is a reference to the rouge makeup women wear. Jynx doesn't wear rouge and her dress is the only thing red about her.
So here's my topic of conversation: What does everyone think of Jynx's Japanese name? Is it a reference to Baton Rouge, LA? Is Jynx intentionally racist, or is she based on the Norse goddess Hel? Maybe some composite of stereotypes and legends?
[edit] I just realized that I hadn't posted how I feel about the situation. I honestly don't think that Jynx was created purely with racist stereotypes in mind. Having read about Hel (the Norse goddess) and seeing the "Holiday Hi-Jynx" episode when when it first aired a decade ago, I feel that Jynx is probably some sort of composition of things: reference to legend and stereotype. I do not know how I feel about her Japanese name; it's just a shallow connection I drew only just tonight.
So I just read an article about Jynx (from Pokemon) being a racist stereotype. This idea is not a new concept to me, but I received an email from the ECA today, and I thought I'd read a few of the articles they featured.
People have apparently drawn conclusions about Jynx's name as well as her "blackface" appearance; saying that it's connected to voodoo and stuff. But what I haven't seen yet is a connection between her Japanese name and a racist stereotype.
I just found out that "Rougela" is her Japanese name and Googled it not thinking about what might come up in the search... "Baton Rouge, LA." With an emphasis on "Rouge, LA."
Louisiana is frequently referred to as a home of African American culture, and I don't completely buy Bulbapedia's excuse that "Rougela" is a reference to the rouge makeup women wear. Jynx doesn't wear rouge and her dress is the only thing red about her.
So here's my topic of conversation: What does everyone think of Jynx's Japanese name? Is it a reference to Baton Rouge, LA? Is Jynx intentionally racist, or is she based on the Norse goddess Hel? Maybe some composite of stereotypes and legends?
[edit] I just realized that I hadn't posted how I feel about the situation. I honestly don't think that Jynx was created purely with racist stereotypes in mind. Having read about Hel (the Norse goddess) and seeing the "Holiday Hi-Jynx" episode when when it first aired a decade ago, I feel that Jynx is probably some sort of composition of things: reference to legend and stereotype. I do not know how I feel about her Japanese name; it's just a shallow connection I drew only just tonight.
