It occurred to me, yesterday, that I read novels about heterosexual characters, and the word heterosexual, or even straight, never appears, unless it's used to set the characters apart from queers.
I had a similar realization when I read, of all things, the Twin Peaks tie-in book The Autobiography of FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper: My Life, My Tapes. Younger Dale Cooper, already in the habit of tape-recording his thoughts as well as being observant, often makes it a point to mention if someone involved in an event he's witnessed is white. Reminded me that a lot of white authors wouldn't bother noting that; cultural assumption reasons. Something I'd likely been assuming most of my reading life, being a white man (also a straight man -- though not always an obvious one -- and a cis man). I like to think I pay better attention now. And I try to assume less, just in general.
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Date: 2011-02-26 06:10 pm (UTC)I had a similar realization when I read, of all things, the Twin Peaks tie-in book The Autobiography of FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper: My Life, My Tapes. Younger Dale Cooper, already in the habit of tape-recording his thoughts as well as being observant, often makes it a point to mention if someone involved in an event he's witnessed is white. Reminded me that a lot of white authors wouldn't bother noting that; cultural assumption reasons. Something I'd likely been assuming most of my reading life, being a white man (also a straight man -- though not always an obvious one -- and a cis man). I like to think I pay better attention now. And I try to assume less, just in general.