In an announcement this evening, Wizards of the Coast has announced that 7 cards have been banned from tournament play. They have been banned due to depictions of racism.
In addition to these bans, which we'll get to in a moment, Wizards has stated they are going through a review of all cards that have been printed and will be taking action on similar cards in the future. The cards have been replaced on the official gatherer site with text stating why the images have been removed.
These are the cards that have been removed.
- Invoke Prejudice
- Cleanse
- Stone-Throwing Devils
- Pradesh Gypsies
- Jihad
- Imprison
- Crusade
Here are the cards for historical sake as we know there are likely many people not in the loop and will be unaware of what they look like.
I realize this doesn't have an effect on Arena, at least currently, but it is a very important piece of news to highlight. All I ask is that you have nothing good to say, you leave it out of the comments.
Wizard's Statement on Racism in Magic
Quote From Wizards Today, we will be changing the multiverse ID and removing the Gatherer card image for the card Invoke Prejudice, originally printed in 1994. The card is racist and made even worse by the multiverse ID it was unfortunately codified with years ago. There's no place for racism in our game, nor anywhere else.
But to that point, it should never have been published nor placed in the Gatherer. And for that we are sorry. The events of the past weeks and the ongoing conversation about how we can better support people of color have caused us to examine ourselves, our actions, and our inactions. We appreciate everyone helping us to recognize when we fall short. We should have been better, we can be better, and we will be better.
To that end, we will be removing a number of images from our database that are racist or culturally offensive, including:
- Invoke Prejudice
- Cleanse
- Stone-Throwing Devils
- Pradesh Gypsies
- Jihad
- Imprison
- Crusade
Replacing those card images will be the following statement:
"We have removed this card image from our database due to its racist depiction, text, or combination thereof. Racism in any form is unacceptable and has no place in our games, nor anywhere else."
Additionally, these cards will be banned in all sanctioned tournament play.
There's much more work to be done as we continue to make our games, communities, and company more inclusive. Know that we work every day to be better and that we hear you. We look forward to sharing more of our plans with you as our games and organization evolve.
Comments
hmm just looks weird to mix religious wars in card games, IDK maybe it's some theme to be had there, that being said I never played M:TG so I might not get the theme of the card game as a whole.. I mean in HS it's all about WOW.. in M:TG it seems all over the place as far as cards go, lately I saw some zombies and undead expansion so it is a fantasy world of sort, so why go as far as to use real religious war terms?
I think just those 2 cards feel weird, (not the effect give all white creatures +1/+1.. I now realized there is a same card for black creatures.. and that card is fine?) , I don't like them being in a fantasy world card game that's all.
I changed my mind looking at the context of M:TG cleanse is actually an ok cards as black creatures are demons/undead so it makes sense, people taking it too far to be offended if they don't know what's the game is about.
I think the whole "black discrimination" is very hypocrite cause when it's said about white people it's fine.. if "kill all white" exists then it's fine for the politically correct.
Honestly, I find it more offensive that WotC apparently thinks that their Players are made out of Paper and that their poor Minds can't handle these Themes.
Also, no Matter the Context, censoring Art is always wrong.
Oh for God's sake, it's not censoring. It was a representation of their companies products and they decided they didn't want it to be. By your definition painting over swastikas in a bathroom stall is censorship and wrong.
You don't think removing/banning Art is Censorship? It literally is by Definition.
It is uncomfortable to admit it, but it's working on the same Principle as burning Books. „It doesn't fit our Worldview, therefor it has to go". It's just such an ugly Mindset to have.
Also, these Cards are not just Products of the Company, they're also the Products of the Artists. By censoring the Art, you're also censoring a Piece of them, limit their Freedom of Self-Expression, and, in the worst Case, ruin their Career. (Sidenote: I'm not familiar with the MtG Community, but I remember hearing about People advocating for the Removal of certain Artists, like Terese Nielsen, because they don't have the „right" Politics.)
I just wish that Companies like WotC would approach Things like this in a more mature Way.
Ok, let's have a talk about what is and isn't censorship. Censorship on a government level and corporate level are two different things.
Government Censorship: In the US true censorship (IE removal and destruction of something) is reserved for what is only dangerous. This includes things like instructions on how to make weapons, art that promotes violence, and incendiary statements that can cause harm. The ol' 'shouting fire in an empty theater' example. This should almost never be done except with damn good reason.
There's another level here about limiting access, but not censoring. Think the rating system on movies, FCC control of airways, and limiting age limits on access to material such as pornography. This isn't censorship, but instead acting in the public's best interest. The extent of the restrictions and government controls are highly debatable.
Now let's move on to what we're actually talking about, corporate censorship. There are government regulations that are generally covered above, but mostly it's up to a business to decide what it displays and how it represents itself. They are then responsible for whatever comes of what they've produced. So if I have my card game called and made a card, "THE KKK is A-OKAY" then I'm responsible for the demonstrations, loss of funding, and boycotting that results. I am also fully allowed to rescind and apologize for the card. This isn't censorship in the way you are portraying it, it is a business decision.
They can also control what people do with their product. This means they are fully able to monitor forums and censor as needed to keep things in their age bracket. They can create specific forums and move your posts around or remove posts and problematic posters. Is this censorship? By your definition it is. They can also use the legal system to go after people who use their intellectual property in damaging ways. Most companies encourage fan art, but they will also shut down companies that benefit of unlicensed use of their content. They can also petition to have fan art that they feel is harmful to their brand removed. Example: Blizzard is constantly chasing down Overwatch porn.
Let's talk about the way Blizzard 'censored'. They evaluated past card art and decided they felt it was excluding or offensive toward potential clientele. They also changed art to accommodate different government censor rules, especially that of China. I stopped buying from Blizzard because I felt that their decision to go after Hong Kong protesters was an ethical violation of human rights. I feel like instead of choosing a path for their clients, they bent the knee for fear of Chinese retribution.
Sometimes these decisions are based on actual ethics, I know this is crazy. You go back and look at your past work and apologize and remove it even without a protest. You can feel like this left a bad taste in your mouth and your employees aren't proud of it and remove it. Times like these can make you really look at your old work and decide it's not up to par. That's what MtG has done here. Some think it's pandering, but time will tell on that. The art style over the last few years has been a lot more inclusive and had more types of human races depicted which is great.
On your note that card art isn't just a product on the company... it really is. They are commissioned and paid for. That's the way the gig works. Some contracts allow the artist to have some use of the image but generally after being paid for the submitted work in now way belongs to the artist. If someone buys your painting and takes it home you have no say in if they display it in the living room or burn it in the fireplace.
(PS: Sorry if this is posted muliple Times. OoC keeps eating my Comment.)
Alright,
Nr.1: I'm using the fairly broad, run-of-the-Mill Definition of Censorship that one can find on the Internet: „The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security", with my Emphasis being on Prohibition, obscene and politically unacceptable.
In this Article, it is stated that WotC is going to ban these Cards from Tournament Play and that they removed/replaced the Images on their official Database. Banning and Removing are Forms of Prohibition. And wether or not these Cards are obscene/politically unacceptable is out of the Question: I find them insensitive, you find them insensitive, the great Majority of People here would find them insensitive.
Since necessary Requirements are fullfilled, WotC has, by Definition, censored their Art.
And about it being a Corporate Decision: WotC are responsible for their Product, you are right. When conceptualizing these Cards they should have put more Thought on how they might appear to the Public. BUT: The Censorship being a Business Decision does not change the Fact that it is just that. A Censorship. (ImO it would have probably been a better Idea to add a little Info-Text or some Kind of Marker in the Description.)
Nr.2: „They can also control what people do with their product."
First, let me point out that this Statement is contradicting with your Painting-Example at the End.
Second, you're right about Companies having the Right to create Forums and, within their Rules, move/remove Posts (Idk wether or not this could be Censorship). And yes, they also have a Right to Protect their IPs from Missuse. However, they're not allowed to go for Content that clearly falls under Fair Use, as far as I know. And they most certainly are not allowed to monitor independent Forums.
Nr.3: „Let's talk about the way Blizzard "censored"."
Why? We're talking about Magic and WotC. But if you want my Opinion on the whole China-Thing: It sucks.
Nr.4: „Sometimes these decisions are based on actual ethics, I know this is crazy."
Nowhere did I imply that WotC didn't have well minded Intentions. It is quite possible that they did. It's also quite possible that they did it to get some Good-Guy-Points. I guess only they truely know the Answer to this.
I'm not against them being more inclusive. If they can be it AND deliver Quality, then hey, Everybody wins. I'm against the Way they want to achieve it. Like I said in a previous Post, by censoring Art you're working on the same Principle as those who're burning Books: „It doesn't fit our Worldview, therefore it has to go".
Nr.5: „On your note that card art isn't just a product on the company.. it really is."
No. It isn't
I'm currently studying Graphic Desing. One of the first Things they tell you is, that the Works that you produce for Agencies/Companies/etc. are an extremely Important Part of your Portfolio. You need a Portfolio to be able to apply for a Job as Designer/Artist. Yes, you can't sell those Pieces (usually), but you are more than allowed to show these publically and promote yourself that Way. A great Example for this is ArtStation. There you can find a lot of Concept Art, 3D, etc. You can even find official Artwork on there, like from HS.
And also, if the Card Art does not belong to the Artist, then why do they get Credit for it on the Cards themselves?
--
But, yeah. To get back to the Point: I just don't like Censorship. It always feels like opening Pandora's Box to me. Like, rn these Picks seem pretty obvious, but,...what if they keep on expanding what's considered racist/offensive?
I just think that there a better Ways to approach these spicy Topics.
You are credited and have some ownership (depending on contracts) of your own work, but you have absolutely no control of what the company does with it unless you specify that in your contract. Most artists can't make this demand as they need a lot of leverage to pull it off.
But you're missing the point of ownership in this case. MtG commissioned the piece, they have paid for it. What they do or do not do with it at that point is up to them. It is their product. If you want to show it independently go ahead, but it was created for the customer. They can't make you stop showing it but they sure as hell can pull it from their product line.
I'm reading up on how WotC handles Ownership and Copyright of these Commissions. And I got to say, man... I thought that they're just your usual corporate Criminals, but as it turns out they're way worse! Usually the Artist retains a large Part of the Ownership Rights, and in some Cases the Right to Sell their original Artwork on Merchandise. But apparently WotC got rid of that more than a Decade ago with non-negotiable Contracts.
And from what I've read, you don't even get Royalties from Character/Artwork that you literally created!
Here's a Blogpost I found by Peter Mohrbacher, an Artist who used to work for MtG:
https://www.vandalhigh.com/blog/2015/7/3/the-problems-with-artist-pay-on-magic
I thought I was gonna write something about Censorship here. Did not expect it to turn into something about Slavery.
this is just stupid.... it's a card game
When your card game depicts the KKK...
This post actually made me laugh :) ...if it was April today, I would be 100% sure that this is just a joke
Especially the Cleanse and Crusade - oviously there are exactly the same effects in black color (Virtue's Ruin for example) but those are fine, no racism there. But there are so many effects like this - the whole philosophy of colors in MtG is that there are enemy colors and white and black happen to be one of those enemy colors, so obviously they have effects targeted against each other. I really don't think this ban has to do anything with the images (at least in case of those 2 cards) so I don't understand why they ban just those two. White is a color which is always against black in MtG, so I think Wizards should just ban all white cards, that makes sense, right?
Its always slightly amusing to me how the entertainment industry is always reacting to world events by washing away all hints of cultural/gender/religious/political themes in their product so everything is as safe as it can be in a vain hope of keeping all sides happy and free from potential boycotts.
I'm a little curious. Does these industry even care enough to ask minorities if they are even slightly offended by depictions, themes, and images of what can only be a sliver of resemblance (if at all) to what they are or practiced?
The entertainment industry is strangely coming close to the disney romance where all minorities are universally adapted into heroic positions while all villains are as absurdly generalized as possible from any racial/religious hints.
It's not always minorities. In the 90s they censored everything demonic/ satanic because of the christian backlash
+1
I also don't mind historical references in (card) games, as, I believe, those could be used for informational reasons. Like, depicting or just hinting such events could kindle the curiosity of some individuals and they could decide to inform themselves more about those events (I know, that I would). That's why I would be really interested in seeing such design more often, but I guess not all people are open-minded and some can take those things personally. And, tbh, I don't blame them. A person has to be very careful how they approach such design - for example, it should be clear that the designer doesn't sympathize with the illustrated mistreatment and they are just making an innocent reference. But I guess this might not be possible, as everyone interprets those references in their own way and those could still find a reason to get offended no matter how innocent or well presented the said reference is.
Btw, you probably know this, but censorship is something very common for Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, so for me it's not really surprising how Wizards decided to do the same to their own game.
You forgot about all the censorship that happened in Hearthstone as well.
Still waiting for that un-nerfed Jaina, doubt it'll happen
I haven't, but, unless I am mistaken, certain hearthstone artwork got changed only because it showed too much female skin/body. Yu-Gi-Oh! is well known for its massive censorship of its cards due to one thing or another.
Honestly pretty pissed about this given that the EDH committee is also banning these cards. Pretty much all of them were unplayable trash other than Invoke Prejudice, which is the only card in the game with this effect in these colors and considered good, guess you're SoL if you spent 200$+ on this card just to play it for this effect. Wizards will never print this effect on a card ever again in these colors for that cost since it's on the Reserved List.
With all respect - I'm not from US and I'm missing a lot of context. Can you please help me to understand, what makes these cards racist? It is not clearly visible for me.
Like, the first one is probably hiding a KKK reference?
But some are more puzzling. Cleanse - Kaja Foglio art is wrong? Or it is wrong that the card destroys black creatures? How about Virtous Ruin - 2B, Destroy all white creatures - it is fine? Btw, how will Wizards handle, that black is the "evil" color swamp people and white is the "righteous" color of pepople from plains?
I completely off on Stone Throwing devils, but again, this may be some US historical reference I do not get.
Jihad, Crusade - real world religion references?
Please, if you think this comment is insensitive (I do not feel it like this, but I'm from country with different cultural problems) let me know and I will delete it.
Cleanse's artwork depicting demonic creatures, and not humans of any race, would mean that card's problems are in the combination of the word 'cleanse' and destroying blacks, which is problematic given the foul racist idea that black people are unclean.
As for Crusade, the crusades were a European religious endeavour that, so far as I ever saw in England, no one is ashamed of. Of course no one would support them these days, so I'm sure the 1000 year gap has something to do with the lack of shame. Were they racist? Yeah, they were actively anti-Islam. My understanding is that they were trying to reclaim the holy land rather than directly trying to wipe out Islam, but at the same time I would be amazed if most of the soldiers involved wouldn't have done so if they had the means to.
The even more religious Jihad just should never have been made in any form. Jihads are things that are very poorly understood by most in the West because we only hear the military side and then rarely seek to understand them better than the media's limited portrayal. Add to that the card's text, which in context basically says "choose which colour you want to wage a race war against", and yes you have a stupid design.
I'm pretty sure 'gypsies' is an offensive derogatory term, which incidentally has its origins in the country name Egypt which is itself a misunderstanding of the people it labels.
'Stone-throwing devils' is apparently a racial slur, albeit one I had never encountered personally. I'd guess it relates to the practice of stoning as a punishment, but I won't comment further because I am clearly not qualified to.
Then the easy ones are Invoke Pejudice -> KKK, and Imprision -> black slave, which is wearing a black mask to make it even worse.
As an addition, 'Stone-Throwing Devils' is from the Arabian Nights expansion, which is probably what pushes it over the edge into being racially insensitive.