Contest - A 'Fat' Female Superhero VOTING

I'm a regular reader of Escher Girls, so when I read the latest post this morning, I was deeply concerned. The following post was submitted to Eschergirls and was not made by me. The artist is Selkiesiun

I DID NOT DRAW THIS PICTURE. DID. THIS IS A QUOTE OF HER EXPERIENCES.
I AM ONLY RELAYING THE INFORMATION.

Selkiesiun submitted to Eschergirls:

    "This is not so much a critique post as it is a conformation of how absurd the standards of art in the comic book industry have become.

    I traveled to San Diego Comic Con this year and participated in the portfolio reviews they where holding from Thursday to Sunday. Although I will admit I am not the best artist in the world, I really wanted to try and show them that comic book art could be done in a realistic manor while still keeping the superhuman aesthetics of the art form.

    This Batwoman piece was the work that I gained the most flack for from all the companies because the anatomy was as they quoted 'not industry standard.' At one company (which I shall choose to not name) I was given a full critique on the anatomical incorrections as the following."


_{Art (C) Selkiesiun}

    "Her breasts are much too small and do not have the lift that superhero women should have. Her jawline is fat and her neck much too long. The style of her hair is clunky and does not flow in a sense that a super human would. Her hips, waist and thighs are too big and she honestly looks fat. No one is going to want to read a comic with a fat female protagonist. I honestly recommend looking at issues of Sport's Illustrated to get the right anatomy. Those women are the peak of human perfection, and that is what we want in this industry."

Emphasis is mine.

No one wants to read about a fat female superhero protagonist? Really? Women especially are screaming for representation in comics these days. Again and again we are subjected to one image of female beauty, one mono-personality of the fighting sex kitten who happens to be ultra-strong despite having slender limbs and wearing high heels and metal bikinis while fighting. The point of this contest is NOT to create a fetishized or "mocking" fat protagonist whose superpower is burgers. This is about the very real need to increase diversity and representation in media and how it presents female characters. Yes, superheroes are a fantasy, but do they have to always have unrealistic bodies? Especially for the athletics and strength required of them for such fighting activities.

Your challenge is simple: Create a fat female superheroine.

- YOU get to define what "fat" and "normal" mean.
You get to decide what "healthy" means. What is the "peak of physical perfection"?
What is "too big"? What is "Too small"?
Should we even define ourselves by those phrases?
- The goal is to defy the body stereotypes currently present in the media today.
- All art must be newly created for this contest.
- You can draw, write or both. Any style is welcome.
- Written submissions can be short stories, comics, or written additions to art (extended character bios, stories + art, etc) No word limit.
- As long as it fits within the theme, you may enter photography, sculpture or cosplay.
- There is no entry limit. You can enter multiple art and writing submissions, but you cannot win both prizes.
- I will also accept fan-art of existing female superheroines drawn with more realistic proportions.
- You can use existing characters of your own, but the art must be new.
- I will also accept "olympian" bodies that are proportionally muscular and suited to athleticism. Form follows function!
- The submission deadline for this contest is September 17th, two months from now
- There will be two categories of winner, one viewer's choice (vote) and one judges panel. Judges will include myself and a few impartial friends.
- You are welcome to fave this journal or share it around to increase its exposure, but it's not required.
- Spread the word on Tumblr?

Are anthros allowed?
The character must be "recognisably" human. Anthro traits are allowed, but this contest focuses on realistic proportions of human bodies, so just keep that in mind. Things like lizard skin, wings, cat ears, tails are all welcome. But a human head with a lion's body would escape the purpose of the contest.

What about petite characters, with no bust and no hips?
If that is how you wish to escape to cookiecutter, by all means. Just remember that slim women are more represented in comics, anime and cartoons than larger ones. The goal here is to represent the underrepresented. Do what you feel is right.

HOW TO SUBMIT:
Submit your deviation as you regularly would, and send me the link via note or comment. I will add it to the folder and let you know when I have.

VIEW CURRENT ENTRIES HERE

Important Information

Check out this article on fitness and bodies for inspiration and information

More body diversity reference for artists

You can support REAL LIFE superwoman Sarah Robles!
She is the strongest person in America (Yes, she outlifts women AND men) and she can lift more than 568 pounds!
Sarah is 5'10.5 inches and weighs 275 pounds. And she is a healthy Olympic hopeful.

The Big Sexy Problem With Superheroines
This article basically sums up all of my thoughts and feelings about hyper-sexualized superheroines. It is worth reading.

This post demonstrates the enforced lack of diversity in female bodies.
There are skinny, muscular and fat men. But the women? They're cookie-cutters.

This article highlights the difference between male and female comic characters by dressing and posing the men as women.
Why do the men look ridiculous in female costumes and poses, but women do not look ridiculous in male costumes and poses?
This is sexual objectification of women at work.

The True Price of The "Perfect Physique"
For those that argue that drawing a fat person would encourage unhealthy habits, read this article. Those we view as beautiful and healthy are not always so. In the same way that you can be fat and still be healthy, you can be thin and unhealthy.

This site has photo submissions of bodies of all heights, weights and shapes.
Just enter in the parameters and you will find a body.

Prizes
Additional prize donations are welcome. Prize donators are not prohibited from entering.

Viewer's Choice:
- 1 custom stock set of ten images from me
- An art feature on my profile
- Llama
- An illustration by Sakura-lies
- An illustration by MystykNess
- 15 points and a llama from LadyKylin
- A drawing by Samirakate
- 75 points and an illustration by landiddy
- 1000-word flash-fiction piece from Zingaresa
- A keychain of the superhero symbol of choice by jeweledleah
- An illustration by goddessredd
- An Exclusive Stock Pack by PirateLotus-Stock
- 50 points and a feature by Ina-Fahlsten
- An Exclusive Stock Pack by DamselStock
- 2 Exclusive Stock Packs and a Feature by Tasastock
- A 3-month Premium Membership and an Exclusive Stock Pack by syccas-stock
- 200 points from NeipyPien
- A hand-made Pocket Notebook from danaan-dewyk
- A winner's package from AnotherContestGroup
- 15 points and an icon from justifi-cation
- A drawing by NymphalisIo
- A head portrait and feature by bubblemoon66
- A character illustration by myuinhiding
- A coloured bust illustration and llama by DoTheLimbo
- A drawing and two llamas by BevyArt
- A monochrome bust illustration by Gnewi
- 100 points and a feature from Molybdenumblues
- An illustration and a feature from Self-Epidemic
- A drawing by GuardiansofCalcaria
- A six month subscription by Dreamorchid78
- 25 points and a drawing by Coty-chan
- A drawing of your superhero design by muura
- An illustration and llama by bwahhahahaaa


Judges Panel:
- 1 custom stock set of ten images from me
- An art feature on my profile
- Llama
- An illustration by Sakura-lies
- An illustration by MystykNess
- 15 points and a llama from LadyKylin
- A drawing by Samirakate
- 75 points and an illustration by landiddy
- 50 points from Hikkarin
- Coloured Bust Shot Illustration from Shattered-Earth
- 1000-word flash-fiction piece from Zingaresa
- Coloured Bust Shot Illustration and llama from DoTheLimbo
- An illustration by goddessredd
- An Exclusive Stock Pack by PirateLotus-Stock
- An illustration by peach-of-crazyness
- 50 points and a feature by Ina-Fahlsten
- An Exclusive Stock Pack by DamselStock
- 2 Exclusive Stock Packs and a Feature by Tasastock
- A 3-month Premium Membership and an Exclusive Stock Pack by syccas-stock
- A hand-made Pocket Notebook from danaan-dewyk
- A winner's package from AnotherContestGroup
- 15 points and an icon from justifi-cation
- A drawing by NymphalisIo
- A head portrait and feature by bubblemoon66
- A character illustration by myuinhiding
- A coloured bust illustration and llama by DoTheLimbo
- A drawing and two llamas by BevyArt
- A monochrome bust illustration by Gnewi
- 100 points and a feature from Molybdenumblues
- An illustration and a feature from Self-Epidemic
- A drawing by GuardiansofCalcaria
- A six month subscription by Dreamorchid78
- 25 points and a drawing by Coty-chan
- A drawing of your superhero design by muura
- An illustration and llama by bwahhahahaaa