Diversity Without Pity #18 | Steven Universe

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This is a mini-series within Diversity Without Pity that explores diversity within society’s often most privileged group: The heterosexual white male. 

2016 was a tragic but promising year. Granted, there were bright spots. In one year, I went to Portland, OR, Montreal, Canada, and Kerala, India. I also completed my first large-scale wall installation. However, between political losses, mass shootings, and deaths of so many impactful artists it very hard to see the world soberly. It was often very tempting to escape into child-like safe spaces. But I’m not a cute-baby/cat-meme person. I’m an animated-series person. Steven Universe was my safe space. I loved it so much, I dedicated an entire piece using images from the show. Steven Universe also sent very healthy messages about gender, identity, and where our true power lies.

Audio: Pop Culture Happy Hour: ‘Steven Universe’ And The Games We Play

The plot of the show is somewhat hard to explain. The series starts seemingly in the middle of these character’s lives. So you slowly figure out who they are and how they relate to one another over time. But the essential gist is that this is a world in which crystal gems possess special powers. One of which fell in love with a human. Steven Universe is half-human, half-gem. His mother dies, and his mother’s fellow gems — along with his father — agree to care for Steven and help him understand his true powers.

Character Design and Visual Style

The visual style immediately reminds me of Harlem Renaissance-era painter Aaron Douglas.

Fans love the gems: Garnet, Amythyst, and Pearl. Aside from possessing unique powers that are discovered over the course of the series, they’re all drawn to express a different female form. These characters understandably dominate the series, but I want to focus on Steven.

Steven Universe, the star of the series, is like other cute little kids. He eats a lot, wears cute little flip flops, and gets little stars in his eyes when he gets excited. He also hates conflict and wants people to work together. In a culture where children are taught at a young age to be aggressive, Steven is not. Young boys, in particular, are taught their strengths lie in aggression, advanced weaponry. Steven’s greatest strengths are his love, empathy, and courage.

My favorite episode tells the story of how Steven’s father, Mr. Universe, met his mother, Rose-Quartz.

It’s nice to have space where young boys and grown men have a soft place to land. In which they can be heroic and strong, but not define that by how dominant, terrifying, or aggressive they need to be.

Diversity Without Pity is a blog series from IDSL, highlighting media that uses smart design, and considers the diversity of it’s casting without selling the viewer or consumer, short.