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February 24, 2009
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The Power of Association

Tue Feb 24, 2009, 6:41 PM
  • Mood: Delighted
  • Listening to: Jazz hum "Hornet Dance" to baby Blue
  • Reading: Nothing!
  • Watching: Dirty Jobs
  • Playing: CV Order of Ecclesia
  • Eating: Popcorn
  • Drinking: Pepsi
"My fall will be for you. My love will be in you. If you be the one to cut me I'll bleed forever~"

Know what I find interesting? The way we can associate someone with something based in little details.

Take for example, how people associate Jazz with being an african american or anything along the lines because of either the skin tone of his voice actors or the way he speaks. There can easily be more reasons, but considering Prowl's 'facial plating' is darker than Jazz's in the cartoon, and yet he's almost always portayed as 'caucasian'; I doubt 'skin tone' has anything to do with why people portray holoform/human Jazz as an african american/dark skinned character.

(Also, it's my personal preference to avoid the use of 'black/white' to refer to skin tones xP I don't like to use 'white' or 'black' for skin tones merely because... people, you're either fraggin' pink, brown and any shades in between. Until you're a bird with #FFFFFF or Mr. Popo with #000000 skin, you're somewhere ranging from pink to brown. D< I dun care how you wanna call it! I ain't callin' ya Black or White!)

In a similar vein, you see often Jazz with dreadlocks. (You're never going to see me draw him with dreadlocks, even if you pay me! ...I can't draw the damn things, sorry. XD)

Now, more often than not, if you come across Japanese fanart depicting holoforms/humans, you'll see Jazz depicted either either as caucasian or dark skinned man and rarely with dreads. XD

'Nother common thing I notice is how humanized/holoform Bumblebee almost always gets blonde hair, 'cuz, ya know, he's yellow.

Now, keep in mind I am NOT DISSING these depictions. Seriously, I am not, I find many of these to be rather endearing. I just find it interesting to see how people translate a giant alien robot into a human being and how some details have to do with things we associate with the characters.

Someone mentioned they imagined Prowl with Red or White hair, and I've seen him drawn in both. Many times with some streaks or designs to bring up things like Prowl's chevron, or Movie Bumblebee's black stripes.

It's curious to notice all these things, how people associate, for example, Movie Prime's chin guard with it being a goatee, yet it's like people fail to notice Jazz does have a chin guard himself, and I've yet to see him with silver hair and a silver goatee. XD

In any case, it's an interesting thing to ponder about. Sometimes I wonder... if you didn't know where I come from and what gender am I... What would you think I am? A man? A woman? What nationality would you believe me to be? What etnicity would you think I belong to?

=w= Interesting things to ponder about, yessssss.

Watch these awesome Deviants I say! More people to be added soon.
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:icontohjosakana::icontaintedtamer::iconbumblebeesam::iconsaakawa::iconstar-lin::iconjinosan::iconbloodychaser:

Clubs:
:iconprowlxjazz: :iconhoundxmirage: :iconhidexratchet: :icontransformslash:

Stampage:
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Datsun Brothers Fan =w= v

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"In a blueberry world, in a blueberry dream, in a blueberry sky until I die."
-- Blaster

"Are your eyes showing off for mine? Your face in my hands is everything good I need."
-- Prowl
Add a Comment:
 
:iconswift117:
I'm remembering being shocked to find out that Jazz is actually black. I mean I never thought TFs as humans expect that ridiculous Only human ep (which I liked, btw). Those generic human crap-arts in the cartoon didn't give me any hint about their human appearance. Also considered them young and was taken aback UM portrayed middle aged. Hehe ^^. Only Kup is allowed to be old *insert fangirl stupidity here*

As time went on I got accustomed to the image of afro-american Jazz, even found it interesting and with a bit more Jamaican style, I really can accept it.

When somebody draw them in human/holo form, I prefer to keep their essential expressions on the face and chose colors and clothing prior to that.
Reply
:iconv-for-vincent666:
I think it may have something to do with Jazz's voice actor being black. Scatman Crothers (the best, yo!), Darius McCrary (still good), and that guy who plays him in TFA. I don't know his name, but I know he's black. I recognize his voice...damn...what's his name?
anyway, it all boils down to one thing.
Opinion.
As you said, to each their own.
Reply
:iconsingthatcrimsonblues:
I don't have much to say, but when I read the part of your entry about how Jazz is usually "White" in Japanese fanart, I think it is fair to note that most Japanese style characters look White anyways.

I have very rarely seen dark skinned people in anime or manga that could be considered truly inspired by "Black" people, and even when they are given dark skin, they are given Caucasian features.

I've heard that Asian populations have a misunderstanding of Black people anyway, due to their knowledge coming from American sources, which are quick to play on stereotypes.

/ramble
Reply
:iconkimthekat:
~KimTheKat Feb 27, 2009  Student Digital Artist
wow, lolz. i love ur rant.
Reply
:iconkaykay-1994:
Mood: Nervous ~kaykay-1994 Feb 27, 2009  Student General Artist
Hey, my first post here mainly because i'm new to the fandom and havent actually seen the whole lot of any series besides animated. From the episodes of G1 that I have seen I can't say that I ever really tried to picture any of them as human until now really (except starscream). But I cant say that I imagined him as an african american. When I have tried to draw them it was prowl in mech form and I still haven finished that one, as mentioned I drew a kinda human female starscream which is not what I set out to do anyway. But really I guess it just depends on the person drawing.
sorry for rambling :)

:Dkaykay:D
Reply
:icongreydrake:
Since Animated starting airing, I've seen several human/holoform Prowl with a kind of Asian look, which probably has more to do the whole zen ninja thing he has going on than anything else. His actually appearance isn't very Asian as far as I can tell, and he doesn't have an accent.
Reply
:iconnarutofreak39:
!narutofreak39 Feb 25, 2009   Photographer
Interesting point made...

I, myself, must admit that I thought of Jazz as being african american. I guess that's just because, being from SC, the most I've encountered talked with a southern accent, and g1 Jazz just rubbed me that way... ^^U

Oops?

Ah well, I must say, though, I never thought of Prowl as having red hair... Like, seriously, I saw him with dark brown or black hair, maybe even dark blonde...

It is interesting to see how others see the TFs' holoforms. =D
Reply
:icondedredhed:
`dedredhed Feb 25, 2009  Professional Artisan Crafter
Being black is not a prerequisite for having soul.
Reply
:iconplantman-exe:
~plantman-exe Feb 25, 2009  Hobbyist General Artist
I don't think I get what you meant. =w=
Reply
:icondedredhed:
`dedredhed Feb 25, 2009  Professional Artisan Crafter
I don't see how Jazz "talks black". To me he sounds like someone who likes jazz, rock and blues types of music. From what I understand, you do not have to be black to be this way. I didn't think to think of him as a black character until someone said something about Jazz being killed in the new movie because he was the black robot, and they cracked a joke about how the black characters always get killed first.
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