Note that I don't expect a carbon copy of "Indians"/Native American culture for League, as that would get racist, but what about a Champion's thematic that's merely inspired by such cultures? Acceptable or no?
I'm just thinking about how Mortal Kombat gets away with it with Nightwolf, or how Street Fighter does it with T. Hawk. Or even Killer Instinct with Chief Thunder.
Variks the Loyal2 votesIt's not racist to base game characters and concepts off of real life cultures. People do it all the time, not to cheapen those cultures, but because the cultures are rich and full of fantasy potential.
Yes, a League champion could, in theory, draw inspiration from Native American themes. The Totemic Maokai skin does.
darkdill1 votesI'm saying it'd be racist to carbon-copy Native American culture, not to simply use them as inspiration.
TauntyArmordillo2 votesI'm saying it'd be racist to carbon-copy Native American culture, not to simply use them as inspiration.
You're confusing the patronizing, ethnocentric interpretations as truly accurate portrayals of a culture, and the knee-jerk thinking that all portrayal of said culture under any circumstance is bad, which in itself is a racist way of thinking because it necessarily implies that the culture is intrinsically negative. It is a more subtle form of discrimination where one upholds the biased opinion and is only inhibited from displaying them due to social pressure. This is, at its core, a consequence of one not willing to examine the context when people are calling out discrimination.
In other words, it is the act of painting a stereotype and then calling it a "'carbon-copy" that is racist. I do not believe that people would be offended if they were given a truly fair treatment.
To give an illustration, consider the recent Oscar "Asian Accountant" scandal. It would be like saying "oh, when we give an accurate portrayal of Asians, we gets called racist. Therefore all portrayal of Asians must be bad".
Further Readings Said, Edward. "Orientalism" (1978) Douglas, Mary. "Purity and danger: An analysis of concepts of pollution and taboo" (1966), 2003 edition
Sharjo1 votesDepends on whether they can pull it off well enough. The Tauren of WoW seem to do it well, but this is not only a culture but also something with religious aspect. It's a big can of worms to stick your hand in to.
Talos of Altmora1 votesAs long as it's not offensive, then sure.
Necrolegion891 votesI always thought Karma was native american, or at the very least indigenous. She is more South American though, but still very close the the natives of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca cultures.
darkdill1 votesI'd say she's more Aztec-ish, not Iroquois-ish.
Hellioning3 votesI always thought she was Indian, considering how Ionia is the asia analogue.
Dreamspitter1 votesI always thought Karma was native american, or at the very least indigenous. She is more South American though, but still very close the the natives of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca cultures.
India. Karma. From the land that is pan asian...
Tesla Effect1 votesYou just need a tribal, shaman-esque kind of tradition on one of the cultures in runeterra. Doesnt need to be as the Americans, but it can have inspirations from it as much as to not make it a blatant copy of it.
Voidrey1 votesSounds like a pretty interesting idea, i'd imagine they would be located at either the Fyrone Flats or the Voodoo Lands
CoffeeDave1 votesI don't remember anyone saying anything about the Tauren from WoW.
darkdill1 votesIt helps that the Tauren are humanoid cows instead of humans.
Chaotic Reks1 votes
i think is the closest we have so far
