Race: Difference between revisions
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Hilariously, or perhaps cynically, it has another definition as a competition in which participants attempt to be first to reach a goal. | Hilariously, or perhaps cynically, it has another definition as a competition in which participants attempt to be first to reach a goal. | ||
As of 2022, [[Wizards_of_the_Coast|Wizards of the Coast]] has decided to drop the word from "all future content", citing a wish to be more [[SJW|inclusive]]. While this was always bound to generate some [[skub|robust discussion]], it's worth pointing out in advance that neither 'race' nor 'species' is the correct word to use in fantasy at least from a biological point of view: while different species cannot breed and produce fertile offspring, fantasy races/species [[Book_of_Erotic_Fantasy|for the most part actually can]]. The definition of race is a little more iffy, and can vary according to usage from being a different sub-species, to simply different phenotypes, i.e. they look different (an example being Europeans and South Indian [[humans]]), to having different features adapted for their environment (Inuit and West Africans). It's this ambiguity that's found it being a common word in fantasy, with no racism intended (usually). | |||
You can probably blame [[Tolkien]] for original use of it in fantasy, though he probably lifted it as a translation from older poetic eddas. | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
[[:Category:Races]] | [[:Category:Races]] | ||
Revision as of 14:39, 16 December 2022
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In fantasy worlds, race means something similar to species. There are many common examples, such as humans, elves, dwarves, and orcs.
Hilariously, or perhaps cynically, it has another definition as a competition in which participants attempt to be first to reach a goal.
As of 2022, Wizards of the Coast has decided to drop the word from "all future content", citing a wish to be more inclusive. While this was always bound to generate some robust discussion, it's worth pointing out in advance that neither 'race' nor 'species' is the correct word to use in fantasy at least from a biological point of view: while different species cannot breed and produce fertile offspring, fantasy races/species for the most part actually can. The definition of race is a little more iffy, and can vary according to usage from being a different sub-species, to simply different phenotypes, i.e. they look different (an example being Europeans and South Indian humans), to having different features adapted for their environment (Inuit and West Africans). It's this ambiguity that's found it being a common word in fantasy, with no racism intended (usually).
You can probably blame Tolkien for original use of it in fantasy, though he probably lifted it as a translation from older poetic eddas.