Race & Monstrosity in D&D | Asians Represent! | Episode 111

Where do orcs really come from? In this episode of the Asians Represent! podcast, Daniel and Drew sit down with Dr. Christopher LeCluyse, a professor of literature, media, and writing at Westminster University to discuss his new book, Race & Monstrosity in Dungeons & Dragons. Chris' work traces how depictions of “monstrous races” in the game are rooted in more than 2,000 years of history and how these influences continue to shape how race functions in the game. From ancient Greek descriptions of headless monsters to J.R.R. Tolkien's hierarchy of fantasy beings, this episode maps a clear picture of how real-world racial stereotypes became embedded in the DNA of fantasy gaming. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of racism, colonialism, violence, and the portrayal of monstrous races in fantasy media. In this episode, we cover: How Tolkien and Gygax "inherited", rather than invented, racial frameworks The parallel between the drow "evil black matriarchy" trope and the concurrent rise of the "welfare queen" stereotypes in American politics How race and power are manifested in early AD&D rules How 5th edition D&D's revised rules represent real progress, and where that work is still incomplete Alternative design approaches that deconstruct essentialism and gives players narrative agency over their ancestry Check out Race & Monstrosity in Dungeons & Dragons when it comes out next month - https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/race-and-monstrosity-in-dungeons-dragons/. If your local book store doesn't have it, ask them to order it! //SUPPORT Help us produce new and exclusive content! Join us on Patreon for exclusive audio and series! https://www.patreon.com/aznsrepresent //SPONSOR Adventure Dice is your Canadian source for RPG dice, role-playing game accessories, and other tabletop gaming goodies. Head to adventuredice.ca and use code AZNSREPRESENT for 10% off your entire order! Check out WANDERING BLADES, a wuxia tabletop RPG of hyper-violent melodrama, at wanderingblades.com //FOLLOW Website: *aznsrepresent.carrd.co* Blue Sky: *@aznsrepresent* Discord server: *https://discord.gg/8dVxuT85* Podcast Back Catalog: https://pod.link/1429004408 //CONTACT If you have questions about this episode’s themes, suggestions, or anything else related to Asians Represent, get in touch with us at aznsrepresent.com //MUSIC Euphoria by PAVALON