Ariel again

[valarltd]

This is the description:

Sean never forgot a face and Gemini's was memorable, even though Sean had seen it only twice before in person. Holo-pics and footage were a different story, since Gemini was a media favorite. The camera loved the devastatingly handsome Gemini--the star net-runner for LedaCorp and wealthy philanthropist—and it captured him at all the best venues and openings, with one beautiful woman or another on his arm. His strongly Middle Eastern features were perfect for the desert bandit avatar he affected in the net, but looked even more intimidating above a business suit. The air of supreme confidence born of having money and power followed him and filled every corner of the room until Sean found it hard to breathe. Maybe his method of execution would simply be Gemini intimidating him to death.

He stifled hysterics at that thought and answered, “Yes. Thanks to you, I expect.”

“I'm sure you know by now that we have rescued your brother, Niall.” He stroked the mouth-framing beard he wore, a nervous habit that somehow indicated he had no nerves at all, only cold calculation.


And then a couple pages later (after some discussion of Niall and orders for Sean), we get the words:
David benEzra stopped to consult with the doctor on duty. He approved of all the treatments and had long-since forged Ariel's name on the responsibility form. He would clean up his brother's mess yet again. That might mean a few hundred thousand or so for hospital bills, but it would all be worth it.

So, is it logical to assume from that snippet that the average reader will see "Middle eastern" and "desert bandit" and immediately figure these guys are Muslim? Will anyone even catch the names? Am I counting too much on specialized knowledge among SF readers?

No offense, but most of the comments on the last post came from friends who are Jewish themselves. Any word from my non-Jewish readers?

Comments

yet another comment from a Jewish reader... oh well... :)

[ravenskye8.livejournal.com]

Well, Niall is most likely Muslim, but David benEzra and Ariel sound Israeli, and Gemini is like a code name, so said person is Middle Eastern in the genetics department, but could be Jewish, Muslim, or Christian, since all three exist in that area of the world... I think if you're specifically trying to write Muslim characters you'll need to put in more clues to their religion, since cultural/geographical affiliation may not be enough (unless you're going to specify the characters are from a country that does not tolerate non-Muslim citizens).

Re: yet another comment from a Jewish reader... oh well... :)

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Niall is Irish, as in Niall of the Nine Hostages, founder of the O'Neill clan and ancestor of about 1/5 of all Irish people worldwide. He's a whacked out Catholic sect called Neo-Augustinian. The point was that I was beating my head on the desk going "what part of Ariel ben Ezra is unclear when a reader called him Muslim. Then again, I thought Niall O'Neill was a pretty obvious name too. Clearly I am going over a lot of people's heads. And there are no Muslims in this, not by design, just because no one presented as such. 3 Catholics, one protestant, 2 Jewish characters and 2 atheists are all we see.

The D-Man Checks In

[(Anonymous)]

Immediately figured & pegged Gemini from "Middle-Eastern" as Arabic. People say, Middle-Eastern & desert bandit," and NOBODY whom I can imagine, not even my Jewish military basic training buddy, thinks Israeli. Just the way the language and that particular world region works.

Re: The D-Man Checks In

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Gemini, coupled with an earlier reference to Leda, should have made you think "Greek."

I can see where Middle eastern+ desert raider make you think Arabic.

But the SECOND the names were given, your brain should have clicked, "Oh, David, with a ben- surname. Must be Jewish."

Then again, you thought Benjamin was a non-Biblical name, so why would I expect you to recognize The Single Most Common Hebrew Name On The Planet or a Jewish surname construction?

The D-Man Checks In

[(Anonymous)]

Same as if you say, "He was American."
I'm betting most people immediately think of a white guy, probably from English or other northern-European stock. They don't think Oriental, African, Latino, Spanish, southern/eastern European, or even Native. All of these other people are still minorities in America, even if 100% red-blooded American for generations. People tend to think "Big Picture," and that means the majority.

Jews & Israelis are minorities in the Middle East. So are Christians, for that matter. Thus, it is perfectly logical, even if incorrect, when you say, "Middle-Eastern," for people to conjure up an image of an Arab who is probably Muslim... especially if you pair, "Middle-Eastern" with "desert bandit." When was the last time you saw a picture of a desert bandit who was not an Arab?

You might not have such a problem if you switched Gemini's family name to, Goldberg.

Re: The D-Man Checks In

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Problem is, Goldberg is a European Jewish name

The ben- construction is strictly Jewish.
if he was Muslim, it would be Daud ibn Ezra.

(and yeah, the mental image I'm using, although the actor is Israeli, the character is Egyptian)

[shinymarigold.livejournal.com]

No offense, but most of the comments on the last post came from friends who are Jewish themselves. Any word from my non-Jewish readers?

Well, I'm not Jewish per se, but I've been friends with thefannishwaldo for years, and I was a history major in college, so I still may not be the beta audience you're looking for.

I can see where people might mistake Middle Eastern features and a desert raider appearance for Muslim, given only a code name to go by (desert raider does rather conjure up images of Lawrence of Arabia rather than Greek merchant sailors, whatever the code name is). But I think the names you chose and the construction of the surname make it pretty clear what nationality you're aiming for.

Then again, I'm a college graduate with a background in liberal arts. Who am I to say what knowledge is specialized and what isn't?