Moomin character removed from Brooklyn library exhibition after racism concern
A Moomin scholar finds the move “absurd”, arguing that the character Stinky is far from racist and the decision likely reflects a lack of familiarity with the Moomin stories.
Yle News 1.8. 16:34 A Moomin character has been dropped from a major exhibition at Brooklyn Public Library in New York after one of the institution’s supporters raised concerns that the character might be perceived as racist.
“One of their supporters had thought Stinky could be seen as a racist symbol,” said Roleff Kråkström, CEO of Moomin Characters, the company that manages the rights to Tove Jansson’s beloved Moomin universe.
The exhibition, which has drawn a young audience over the summer, features illustrations of Moominvalley characters and details about Jansson’s life and work. But Stinky — known in Finnish as Haisuli — was removed from some of the large mural-style displays in the library, although he still appears in the original books on show.
Kråkström told Yle he was informed of the decision via a short email from the library and responded with understanding.
“We replied in a few lines and said it’s fine. We see this as a healthy societal discussion. If such a change is requested, we have no objection,” he said.
He noted this is the first time in 80 years that the character has drawn such criticism.
“Tove Jansson is widely seen as a champion of tolerance, radical acceptance, and inclusivity. But I greatly respect the American sensitivity around these types of conversations,” he said.
The decision was first reported by Finland’s Swedish-language Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper.
They literally didn’t.
This is a hypothetical. Nobody mentioned in the article holds that position. This person did not complain about the character. They raised concerns that they thought someone else hypothetically might complain in the future.
But I think you are aware of that since you put first the lady’s that made the same incorrect assumption that someone must have complained and called the character a racist caricature.
Well if one of the had thought it, and we’re yet to discover telepathy, it’d make sense to assume she had told someone about her thoughts.
What’s your assumption? That this is entirely made up? Based on nothing?
I fail to see your motivation.
What? I literally don’t get what you’re trying to say about telepathy.
I’m not assuming anything, I’m directly citing the article you posted. Your point rests entirely on an assumption however.
You know I didn’t write the article, right?
There is no issue with the article.
The issue is people here in the comments making false assumptions, jumping at the chance to fight a quixotic bullshit reactionary culture war against a woke mob that doesn’t exist.
“You can’t name the specific person who made the claim so this well-trusted national newspaper has obviously completely made this thing up. No I won’t Google to check whether it could be true. It just isn’t until you give me the social security number of the person who made the complaint and the entire complaint, word for word.”
Alright, buddy.
The article explicitly says why this decision was made. So this tangent of yours is made up nonsense and you know it.
Do I need to cite your own source to you again?? Seriously this is embarrassing.
You’re one of the more obtuse cunts I’ve seen this year.
“Byaah, completely made up nonsense.”
Sorry, but I live in a country where newspapers are held to standards and they can’t just make up shit. Probably different for you. ¯\(ツ)/¯
Yeah that’s the part with the ambiguous wording. This is clarified elsewhere in the same article as concerns by a supporter that someone else might see it that way. That’s the part you are stubbornly pretending not to understand.
Once again. Your beef should be with the people who made this decision.
But you’re too busy dunking on hypothetical people, probably not noticing how you’re advancing right-wing propaganda in the process. And I get it because I’ve been there myself. But this narrative and mindset is harmful and unproductive.