Posts in decoloniseeducation
25 alternative words to use instead of dark/black when describing negative aspects in art, book, films, tv shows and music

25 alternative words to use INSTEAD of dark/black when describing negative aspects in art, book, films, tv shows and music. Across different genres, writers often use the word “dark” or “black” to describe something that actually has some kind of negative or unpleasant connotations. For example, one is familiar with the phrase “dark humour” or “black comedy”.I’ve seen this usages in film and art reviews and in fiction, including novels, comics, children's fiction and poetry.

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Why is the monster black? - Please stop making the monster/arch-villain black!

From the Dementors in “Harry Potter” (2009 onwards) to Gloreth’s Beast in “Nimona”(2023) to the black hands in “Bee and Puppycat” (Netflix version), I noticed the disproportionate use of black and darker-skinned characters /forms in animations to represent monsters/baddies/ villains.

The monster/baddie contrasts with the hero/goodie/s who is by contrast white/ light and/or lighter skinned (as in these examples).


I’m asking white/light-skinned/ non-Black artists (writers, filmmakers, animators) to broaden their “baddie colour palettes”. 

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