Steven Universe New Design Change Your Mind

Abstract

Queer media is a vital tool for building empathetic and much needed relationships across communities of multiple sex and gender identities. In this article I use visual analysis to illustrate how the children's TV series Steven Universe, and specifically the character design of Stevonnie, elucidate non-binary identity and humanity. Stevonnie emerges from a queer-analogous process called 'fusion'—specifically the fusion of a cis-male, part alien boy and his cis-female human best friend, producing a non-binary identity from the fact of their internal multiplicity. Through Stevonnie's character design, their introduction, their relationships, and their interaction with sexing and sexuality, the series offers young viewers an expanded understanding of the body's potential—to differentiate sex and gender, and to consider sex and gender as multiple within the same individual human existence. Series creator Rebecca Sugar used visual strategies as an important tool for communicating complex emotional concepts without provoking censorship, and to give Stevonnie a rich and empathetic appeal that moves beyond oppressive stereotyping of non-binary identities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Change your mind: Stevonnie's new body schema and queer literacies in Steven Universe

Published online:

11 September 2021

Figure 1. Still from Dove Self Esteem Project Commercial, courtesy of Cartoon Network (2019 Cartoon Network (2019, June 24). Dove self esteem project × Steven Universe: Social media [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKohUwlaWA4 [Google Scholar] ). ⁵ 5 Images in this article have been obtained and published through Fair Use laws.

Figure 1. Still from Dove Self Esteem Project Commercial, courtesy of Cartoon Network (2019 Cartoon Network (2019, June 24). Dove self esteem project × Steven Universe: Social media [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKohUwlaWA4 [Google Scholar] ). ⁵ 5 Images in this article have been obtained and published through Fair Use laws.

Change your mind: Stevonnie's new body schema and queer literacies in Steven Universe

Published online:

11 September 2021

Figure 2. Still from "Alone Together" courtesy of Buscarino et al. (2013–2020 Buscarino, J. , Lelash, C. , Pelphrey, J. , Ramos, A. R. , Sorcher, R. , & Sugar, R. (Executive Producers). (2013–2020). Steven Universe [TV Series]. Cartoon Network. [Google Scholar] ) and Cartoon Network.

Figure 2. Still from "Alone Together" courtesy of Buscarino et al. (2013–2020 Buscarino, J. , Lelash, C. , Pelphrey, J. , Ramos, A. R. , Sorcher, R. , & Sugar, R. (Executive Producers). (2013–2020). Steven Universe [TV Series]. Cartoon Network. [Google Scholar] ) and Cartoon Network.

Change your mind: Stevonnie's new body schema and queer literacies in Steven Universe

Published online:

11 September 2021

Figure 3. Combined stills from Steven Universe season one opening credits and "Alone Together" courtesy of the author.

Figure 3. Combined stills from Steven Universe season one opening credits and "Alone Together" courtesy of the author.

Change your mind: Stevonnie's new body schema and queer literacies in Steven Universe

Published online:

11 September 2021

Figure 4. Still of Stevonnie shaving during "Jungle Moon" courtesy of Buscarino et al. (2013–2020 Buscarino, J. , Lelash, C. , Pelphrey, J. , Ramos, A. R. , Sorcher, R. , & Sugar, R. (Executive Producers). (2013–2020). Steven Universe [TV Series]. Cartoon Network. [Google Scholar] ).

Figure 4. Still of Stevonnie shaving during "Jungle Moon" courtesy of Buscarino et al. (2013–2020 Buscarino, J. , Lelash, C. , Pelphrey, J. , Ramos, A. R. , Sorcher, R. , & Sugar, R. (Executive Producers). (2013–2020). Steven Universe [TV Series]. Cartoon Network. [Google Scholar] ).

Notes

1 A full-length feature, Steven Universe the Movie, aired in September 2019 and a short series, Steven Universe Future, continued the storyline until March 2020. These additional materials are not discussed in this article because—with one exception—Stevonnie does not appear.

2 The series received a GLAAD award, was nominated for six Emmys and every season has a 100% approval rating on media review website Rottentomatoes.com.

3 Although is several states parents may petition to change the certificate to a neutral marker immediately after birth.

4 It is revealed later in the series that Rose Quartz is the chosen name and identity of a Crystal Gem leader called Pink Diamond.

5 Images in this article have been obtained and published through Fair Use laws.

Steven Universe New Design Change Your Mind

Source: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1051144X.2021.1974774

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