Religion-coding
| Synonyms: | Religious-coded |
| See also: | Coded, Race-coding, Neurodivergent-coded, Queer-coding, Disabled-coded, Gender-coding |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
This article is a stub. Please help us out by adding more content. |
Religion-coding in media and fandom typically refers to the practice of adding implicit cues or subtext to individual characters or groups of characters which will lead the audience to draw associations with particular religious groups, without confirming a religion for the character(s) canonically.
In additional to character coding, there are some fan discussions about how religion-coding is used in images, photographs, animations or sections of live-action film or TV, where the framing or arrangement lends itself to religion-coding rather than an individual or group of characters.
Outside fandom spaces, the terms are particularly used in academia as part of the analysis of language used in politics and law, and the implications of that coding. These methods of analysis may be applied in fandom spaces, but this seems uncommon compared to the character coding concept.
The broad terms, religion-coding or religious-coded, or more specific terms, referencing particular religions or — rarely — denominations of religions, may be used in discussions and analysis.
Use in fandom
Characters often applied to
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
- Barriss Offee - Many fans discussed the Muslim-coding of Barriss Offee and the resulting Islamophobia the the coding led to when, in The Clone Wars, she bombed a Jedi Temple[1]. Fans reference multiple aspects of her character and design when discussing the Muslim-coding, from the choice of her name, through her character design, and influences behind scenes or characteristics she had[2]. While some fans believe that the interpretation itself is offensive given her actions in canon, many fans point out that the problem comes not from the coding or fans seeing her a Muslim, but what story-line the writers chose to give a character many believe was deliberately coded as Muslim[3].
Criticisms and Controversy
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Stereotypes and bigotry
Examples of meta and discussions
- Defining Coding and Islam-coded Fantasy at Writing With Color Tumblr blog
- Rewriting the Qunari at the-eldritch-it-gay Tumblr blog
- Is Spider-Man coded jewish? discussion at r/Spiderman
- The new Spider-Man game really drops the ball on NYC (and Peter Parker’s) Judaism discussion at r/Judaism
- From ‘Carrie’ to ‘Yellowjackets’: Why Are We Fascinated By Fanatical Women?, Rebecca Long, Observer.
Further Reading
- #Religion coding at the Writing with Color Tumblr blog
References
- ^ "'[Star Wars] Hey, remember when The Clone Wars made it's Muslim-coded character a terrorist bomber?', post at r/CharacterRant, 1 May 2022". Archived from the original on 2024-03-29.
- ^ "'Can you tell us what makes Barriss Muslim-coded?', ask at chuchisriyo's Tumblr blog (now deactivated, link is to reblog)". Archived from the original on 2024-03-29.
- ^ "'just saw your takes on Barriss Offee's possible destiny', multiples responses to an ask at ekjohnston's Tumblr blog". Archived from the original on 2024-03-29.