Series

Urban Fantasy 101

What I aim for in this post series isn’t actually to name and shame authors for their reliance on tropes I find incredibly harmful (although I know it must look like that with how much I harp about Laurell K Hamilton’s stuff sometimes). My goal is to talk about how the fantasy of urban fantasy can remain inaccessible to many people – often people of color, queer people, and anyone that isn’t cis – and how that negatively impacts the reading experience.

I don’t want to rewrite the genre to my exacting specifications or police what authors write. I just want to make a space for conversations about problematic aspects of the genre, one where education and venting are the main focus.

1. Too White Bread for This Shit: Race and Racism in Laurell K Hamilton’s Urban Fantasy Series
2. Urban Fantasy 101: A Few of My Favorite Fang-Havers
3. Urban Fantasy 101: Vamping Out
4. Urban Fantasy 101: A Quick Guide to Shifter Romances
5. Urban Fantasy 101: Sexual Assault in the Genre – Part One
6. Urban Fantasy 101 – Weird Ass Werewolf Tropes
7. Urban Fantasy 101 – It’s A Heteronormative World Out There
8. Urban Fantasy 101 – Allegory Overuse (ft. Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake series and JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series)
9. Urban Fantasy 101 – Werelions And Tigers And Bears! Oh My!
10. Urban Fantasy 101: Single White Vampire
11. Urban Fantasy 101 – Gentry-Fication
12. Urban Fantasy 101 – Issues of Immortal Morality
13. Urban Fantasy 101: Magical Negros In the Genre
14. Urban Fantasy 101: Cop Country

The Hollows Reread

• Urban Fantasy 101: Stitch Reads The Hollows – Dead Witch Walking Chapters 1-5
• Urban Fantasy 101: Stitch Reads The Hollows – Dead Witch Walking Chapters 6-10
• Urban Fantasy 101 Stitch Reads The Hollows – Dead Witch Walking Chapters 16-20
• [Urban Fantasy 101] Stitch Reads The Hollows – Dead Witch Walking Chapters 11-15
• Urban Fantasy 101: Stitch Reads The Hollows – Dead Witch Walking Chapters 21-25
• Urban Fantasy 101: Stitch Reads The Hollows – Dead Witch Walking Chapters 26-30
• [Urban Fantasy 101] Stitch Reads The Hollows – Dead Witch Walking Chapters 31-34

Urban Fantasy 101

• Urban Fantasy 101: Bitchin’ Witches (And Wizards)
• Urban Fantasy 101: A Fast Guide to the Freaking Fae Folk
• Urban Fantasy 101: My Eight Favorite Urban Fantasy Reads of 2018
• Urban Fantasy 101: Definitive-Ish
• Urban Fantasy 101: Rec Yourself
• Urban Fantasy 101: A Quick Guide to Dastardly Demons

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The Great Big Anita Blake Reread

• The Great Big Anita Blake Reread – Guilty Pleasures
• The Great Big Anita Blake ReRead – The Laughing Corpse
• The Great Big Anita Blake Reread – Circus of the Damned
• The Great Big Anita Blake ReRead – The Lunatic Cafe
• The Great Big Anita Blake Reread: Bloody Bones
• The Great Big Anita Blake Reread: Sorting Out Shifters
• The Great Big Anita Blake Reread: Narcissus in Chains (Anita Blake #10)
• The Great Big Anita Blake Reread: Approaching the Ardeur (An Explainer)
• The Great Anita Blake ReRead: Obsidian Butterfly
• The Great Big Anita Blake ReRead: Blue Moon
• The Great Big Anita Blake ReRead: Burnt Offerings
• The Great Big Anita Blake Reread: The Killing Dance

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Radioplay Day

• Radioplay Day – Blue Beetle – Episode 1 “Drug Ring”
• Radioplay Day: The Shadow – “The Creeper”
• Radioplay Day: The Shadow – The Curse of the Cat

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Letters to the Author

• Letter to the Author – Matt Wallace
• Letters to the Author – Afton Locke
• Letters to the Author – JK Rowling

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Problematic Fave

• Problematic Fave – The Authority: Human On The Inside
• The Sandman: My Ultimate Problematic Fave
• Batman Thrillkiller

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What Fandom Racism Looks Like

1. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: All The Pieces of Heroes of Color
2. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: The Smartest Girl in the World Has To Be A Mary Sue
3. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: (Not So) Sexy Slavefic
4. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: White Prioritization
5. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Only 33 Words in a Trailer
6. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: #NotAll Fans
7. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Beige Blank Slates
8. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: “You’re Silencing Meeeee (Feat. Determined Derailers)”
9. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Phone A Friend of Color
10. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Fandom Wank
11. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: The Cult(ure) of Nice
12. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: For Clout and Social Capital
13. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Weaponized White Womanhood
14. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Power & Privilege
15. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: The Star Wars Fandom (Part One, Probably)
16. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: PickMe POC
17. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: The (Un)Magic of Intent
18. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: James Olsen is Pete Ross 2.0
19. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: The Problem With Preferences
20. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Keep Calm and Wait Your Turn
21. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Silly Ship Wars
22. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Woke Points For What?
23. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: “Then Make Your Own and Stop Complaining”
24. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: (Not) Talking About Race
25. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Racial Gaslighting
26. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: “ACAB includes Fandom Police and Antis”
27. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Apolitical/Drama Free Fandom Spaces
28. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Revisiting “POC Coded” White Villains/Anti-Heroes
29. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: White Silence/Violence
30. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: No Safe Space/”Curate Your Space”
31. What Fandom Racism Looks Like: All The Pieces of Heroes of Color
32. On Generalizing Entire Fandoms: Revisiting #NotAllFans
33. POC TOO: Revisiting PickMe POC in 2021

Misogynoir Mini Series

• What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Misogynoir – Introduction
• What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Misogynoir – Convenient Excuses
• What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Misogynoir – Black Women in the Way
• What Fandom Racism Looks Like: Misogynoir – Black Actresses Under Attack
• What Fandom Racism Looks Like – Misogynoir: Black Fans on the Defensive

Korean Pop & Hip Hop Industry and Fandom Masterpost

Star Wars Masterpost

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Fandom Racism 101

• Fandom Racism 101: Introduction
• Fandom Racism 101: Clocking and Closing The Empathy Gap
• Fandom Racism 101: Feeling Fragile
• Fandom Racism 101: Don’t Feed The Trolls
• Fandom Racism 101: Basic Body Politics
• Fandom Racism 101: Femslash Fandom Has These Issues Too

Dear Comic Fans [Currently On Hiatus]

• Dear Comic Fans: We Get it. You’re racist and racebending scares you.
• Dear Comic Fans: It’s been a year since my first post & y’all are still racist as heck when it comes to racebending
• Dear Comic Fans, Guess What: You’re Still Not Handling Racebending and Diverse Casting Very Well!
• Dear Comic Fans, It’s Been Four Years And Y’all Are Still So Darn Angry About Racebending

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Fandom’s Race Problem [Permanently Scrapped]

• Fandom. you’ve got a huge race problem — An Introduction Post
• The Techniques of Erasure
• Fandom’s Huge Race Problem Essay #2: Co-Opted Experiences and Identities in Fandom

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Applied To Fandom

• Power Fantasies
• (Things I Wish Weren’t) Applied To Fandom: The Three Rules/Laws of Fandom
• Accessible Anti Racist Policy/Practice
• (I Wish It Wasn’t) Applied To Fandom: Anti Racist Moderation as Trauma Work
• Critical Consumption/Analysis

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Meme-ing For A Reason

• Racism In Escapist Fandom? More Likely Than You Think
• No Critical Engagement, Just Compliments
• You CENSOR FANDOM?
• What If We Improved Fandom Somewhat?
• Racist Clown Shit
• Racists in Fandom Shouldn’t Get To Run The Show
• I Am Not The Roadblock You Think I Am…
• Yeah, I’m Not Playing Ball
• Blocked For Not Being Nice To Racists
• Spare Some Oppression, Please?
• Hello, CIA? I’d Like To Report Some Anti-Racism In Fandom, Thanks

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Guest Posts

• Engaging With Characters of Color by TJ
• My Gen-Z Journey Through Fandom by Robin
• Period Drama Karens by Amanda Rae-Prescott
• Alison the Beloved Part One and Alison the Beloved Part Two by Elizabeth A Allen
• Why White Supremacy Can No Longer Provide Cover for White Academics by Robin Anne Reid
• The Dragon Age Fandom Hates Characters (and People) of Color by Anon
• How The Owl House Portrays Disability by Rune
• Understanding Fandom’s View of Imperialism Through Fire Emblem Three Houses by Odawel
• Utopia Is Fantasy (Sports) by A
• Perspectives on Ruth Doctor by Elizabeth A Allen and Jonah Akos

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“Must Reads”

• WHEN CAN WE TALK ABOUT RACISM IN FANDOM?
• Why Write About Fandom Racism At A Time Like This?
• Black American Privilege: A Poem
• Wonder Woman Earth One Is Far From Wondrous
• Crimson Peak’s pretty but it sure doesn’t look diverse!
• Slash Shipping, Pseudo-Progressivism, and Reinforcing Patriarchal Standards in Fandom
• Fantastic Beasts & Invisible Diversity in the Harry Potter Series
• On Grayson, fandom, problematic media, and the drive to “defend” popular male characters
• Black Ladies Deserve Love Too: Lupita Nyong’o, Concern Trolling, and White Feminism
• Stitch on Fansplaining’s Two-Part Episode About Race and Fandom!
• Grayson #20 and WOC as the “Wrong Choice” Love Interests
• The Reality of Bendis Writing Blackness
• Fear of Fucking Up: Not Actually A Good Excuse For Erasing Characters of Color
• Let’s Stop Giving The Killing Joke More Credit Than It Deserves
• Nyota Uhura: One More Black Female Character Fandom Wants To Be Strong and Single Forever
• Quit Trying To Make” Forced Diversity” Happen (It’s Not A Thing)
• Valkyrie isn’t ‘Male-Coded’ And You’re Kinda Racist
• “What if a white guy played Black Panther?”: The Fake Concern of Fake Geek Guys
• What It’s Like Being Fandom Critical While Black
• “Who’s Super Selfish Here?”: Oliver and Felicity, WestAllen Wedding Crashers
• A Quick Quibble: Supposedly “Straightwashing” Okoye in Black Panther
• In Fandom, All Villains Aren’t Treated Equally
• When White Villains Get Woobiefied: Kylo Ren Is Just A Monster In A Mask
• Queer Coded Villains Aren’t That Awesome’
• Sacrifice, Heroics, and Dead Characters of Color
• Intersectionality Fail: Star Wars The Last Jedi Without Men
• Who the heck is Ben Solo?
• Stitch Talks Toxic Fandom
• Where Are Y’all Getting Your Characterization From? Finn Isn’t A Coward, Or Selfish, And He Doesn’t Need A Damn Redemption Arc.
• [Image Post + Essay] On Performative Anti-Racism
• Anti What, Exactly?
• Queer Baiting, Coding, Reading, and Representation: A Pint-Sized Primer
• Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse and Miles Morales: Spider-Man: When Authenticity Matters
• Who’s Afraid of A Black Blaise Zabini? Everyone in 2005 Harry Potter Fandom… Apparently.
• [Stitch Takes Notes] Slash/Drag: Appropriation and Visibility in the Age of Hamilton
• Lies Fandom Tells About Why Black Characters and Celebrities Don’t Get Shipped
• That Fanlore Shit
• The Evolution of Anti-Critical Consumption/Thinking “Anti-Anti” Fandom
• Fandom Misogynoir Bingo Card
• Over A Year After the OTW/AO3’s Statement of Solidarity: Where Are We With That Anti Racism?
• Meme Anthropologist: The Origins of Lil Meow Meow
• White Fannish Entitlement Strikes Again
• DNA Remix MV + Jay Park’s Response to Criticism
• Let’s Talk About Tone Policing and (A Lack of) Reading Comprehension In Conversations About Racism In Fandom

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Stitch Elsewhere

“Bond Girl” @ The Mary Sue  (Bond Girl page on my site)

@ ComicsAlliance

• Survival, Slavery, and Suffering in the Graphic Novel of Octavia Butler’s ‘Kindred’
• “From Black Panther To Moon Girl: A Brief History Of Young Black Brilliance in Superhero Comics“

How It Feels To Be “Cute For A Black Girl”

Women Write About Comics

• I Am Curious (Publishers): Lois Lane, Reprints, and Unintentional Ignorance

Strange Horizons

• The Legend of Tarzan
• Luke Cage
• Bright

Stitch @ EatKS

Anathema Magazine

• Jessica Jones Doesn’t Care About Men of Colour

EFNIKS Magazine – Now ColorBloq

• Academic Allies Treat My Queerness With Comfort, My Blackness With Hostility
• Validation in Fandom and Feelings of Pride Through Online Communities

Teen Vogue

Fan Service

1. Who Actually Gets to “Escape” Into Fandom?
2. On Fanfiction, Fandom, and Why Criticism Is Healthy
3. On Racebending and Seeing Yourself in Fandom
4.  On Queer Fandom and the Radicalization of the Underdog
5. On “Percy Jackson,” “Doctor Who,” and the Rageful Racism Around Racebending
6. On Queerbaiting, Betrayal, and the Quest for Better Representation
7. On Tom Hiddleston & Zawe Ashton, Misogynoir, and Why Fandom Should Stop Punishing Black Women
8. On Shipping, Ship Wars, and the Fight to Be Right
9. To Black Cosplayers, a Love Letter
10. How Do We Define Fandom? Moving Beyond the Transformative vs. Curatorial Binary
11. Lil Nas X Is Using Stan Twitter Tactics to Defend “Montero.” He Shouldn’t Have To
12. What “Falcon and the Winter Soldier” Teaches Us About Fandom Misogynoir
13. How Ableism Can Manifest in Fandom—and How to End It
14. On Parasocial Relationships and the Boundaries of Celebrity
15. “iCarly” Fan Misogynoir is Part of a Larger Fandom Pattern
16. LGBTQ+ Fans: We’re Here, Queer, and Remaking Fandom in Our Own Image
17. D&D Renaissance Could Usher in More Accessibility, Inclusivity in TTRPG Fandom
18. On Loki, Anti-Heroes, and Who Gets to Be a Lovable Villain
19. On “Twilight” and Fiction’s History of Confederate Vampires
20. On RPF and Why People Love to Write Stories About Public Figures
21. On Tim Drake, Robin, and How Queer Characters Go From Fanon to Canon
22. On Problematic Celebrities and What to Do When Your Fave Screws Up
23. On Nicki Minaj, the Barbz, and When Stans Prepare for Battle
24. On “Dark Fic,” Morality, and Why Critical Thinking Is Vital
25. On Horror Movies and Why Fans Love Being Scared
26. On “Y/N,” Reader-Insert Fanfiction & Writing Yourself Into the Story

Interviews and Features

1. No, Megan Thee Stallion Isn’t a “Fake Anime Fan”
2. ATEEZ Apologizes for Hongjoong’s Cornrows
3. Netflix’s “Ginny & Georgia” Plays Oppression Olympics — But Nobody Wins
4. Meghan Markle’s Critics Are Using Internet Troll Tactics to Perpetuate Misogynoir
5.  “First Kill” Stars Sarah Catherine Hook & Imani Lewis Unpack Juliette & Cal’s Love Story and Queer Representation Onscreen
6. Netflix’s “First Kill” Cast: Meet the Characters and Who Plays Juliette, Cal, and More
7. The Will Smith & Chris Rock Slap Situation Is Not About You
8. “Stranger Things” Star Caleb McLaughlin is a “Euphoria” Fan
9. Caleb McLaughlin Is a Perpetual Student
10. Lil Nas X Talks UGG Pride Campaign and New Song, “Sun Goes Down”
11. Kelly Marie Tran on “Raya,” Internet Harassment, and Fandom
12. Black TikTokers Stand Against Dance Theft in Refusal to Choreo “Thot Shit”
13. Zendaya Talks Lola Bunny in “Space Jam” and “Euphoria” Season 2
14. On Travis Scott, Astroworld, and a Parasocial Relationship Pushed to Breaking Point

Polygon

How we got to ‘report accounts’ and the latest Taylor Swift controversy

Joysauce

Chasing Black Cool

The Verge

K-POP’S FANDOM PLATFORMS ARE CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN IDOL

Slate

Turning Red Shows Fandom at Its Most Unrealistic

I-D Vice

K-pop activism makes headlines but Black fans’ experience is more complex