hello!! I’ve compiled a list of various twitter threads (sorted by topic) centered around sumeru created by SWANA, MENA, and South Asian people^^ I did my best to make sure SWANA and S Asian voices were the main sources but there may be some outside threads that I felt supported this discussion! this list was created by b_spectacledbun on twitter. thank you  🙏🏽💕

on character design–

thread on what is wrong with sumeru's character designs: https://twitter.com/faintlamps/status/1542616925984829440?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

another thread with more detail: https://twitter.com/little88bird/status/1545476403155664897?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

mini thread on the inconsistency of sumeru costumes: https://twitter.com/pcktknife/status/1542602055390351360?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

thread on Dori’s character design and the multiple cultures that are mixed up to create her character: https://twitter.com/Boram76/status/1552078689504038912?s=20&t=mDUeedqUkQUDqM5XqlXCXQ

thread on an Iranian player’s opinion of Nilou’s character design: https://twitter.com/Bitanees/status/1558892331490852864?s=20&t=N_z45Q-wTHzkJm6t_HsYpw 

on colorism and racism–

mini thread on hyv's use (and disrespect) of real life ethnic figures: https://twitter.com/ackermann/status/1542182447122710536?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

thread on mihoyo's history of racism and exploitation of other cultures and religions: https://twitter.com/CL0UDLUVRBOT/status/1542571812701233154?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

thread on why making all the sumeru characters light skinned is rooted in colorism: https://twitter.com/Orchestrative/status/1545826171362758657?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

thread on colorism in india and how that affects our religious stories: https://twitter.com/faintlamps/status/1543965158644412417?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

a video from a south asian (nepali) content creator on the lack of rep in sumeru: https://twitter.com/dollop0fdaisy/status/1544746039688790017?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

thread in orientalism and how media in general plays a part in perpetuating it: https://twitter.com/batsypoo/status/1556423875700850688?s=21 

on historical and cultural accuracy–

thread on nilou's costume design from a persian artist: https://twitter.com/demoncallsme/status/1543175371838787586?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

thread on tattoos used in the middle east and south asia: https://twitter.com/sumerumisc/status/1544049148743254016?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

thread on historically accurate persian clothing to use for fanart of nilou: https://twitter.com/demoncallsme/status/1543620946086354944?s=20&t=zcMo2Gf8_1BQh40pabMOJQ 

thread on hyv's use of hinduism in relation to kusanali's design: https://twitter.com/notverysexyrat/status/1545460774205681664?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

thread on why kusanali is NOT based on saraswati devi and why non hindus shouldn't claim she is: https://twitter.com/keichilebean/status/1545087999725158401?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

thread on mehndi (henna) styles across the south-southwest asian, middle eastern, and north + east african regions: https://twitter.com/paiipunk/status/1547477082791362565?s=21 

why certain sumeru characters are bad representation of south asian culture and how harmful this is: https://twitter.com/childelvrs/status/1553950639570702337?s=21 

thread on what exactly makes a character orientalist vs not: https://twitter.com/little66bird/status/1567183836886220801?s=20&t=RNJFmF0gQ1h_zdpXAORkDA 

on the fandom’s reactions to the discussions of sumeru–

a video on what orientalism is and why it's bad: https://twitter.com/ackermann/status/1542457008225402881?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

curiouscat on the reactions to sumeru’s orientalism: https://twitter.com/faintlamps/status/1544764709877886976?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg

thread on why the "genshin is just fiction" argument doesn't hold any water: https://twitter.com/professorsada/status/1546858237315751936?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

thread on a big genshin content creator's response to the sumeru designs and why it's good.... but also bad: https://twitter.com/ackermann/status/1547032645913174018?s=20&t=dAPN-bjSukddYV67KDjdbg 

on the cultural inspirations and origins for sumeru–

thread on the origins and inspirations for the names of certain locations in sumeru: https://twitter.com/Boram76/status/1556774607239237641?s=20&t=N_z45Q-wTHzkJm6t_HsYpw

thread on the various instruments used in sumeru’s OST: https://twitter.com/ivorybIossoms/status/1558914858598662144?s=20&t=N_z45Q-wTHzkJm6t_HsYpw 

thread on Anahita, the Zoroastrian goddess of wisdom and fertility that Kusanali/Nahida is partially inspired by: https://twitter.com/Boram76/status/1547749037368963072?s=20&t=mDUeedqUkQUDqM5XqlXCXQ 

thread on Sabzeruz, the festival that celebrates Lesser Lord Kusanali’s birthday: https://twitter.com/Boram76/status/1564389819240914944?s=20&t=c_P7rYbdb5Pkl48MLCgtFg

as always, if you want to make a sumeru oc but you’re not from any of the cultures it draws from, reach out and ask someone who is from those cultures for tips! orientalist stereotypes (like aladdin caricatures) only serve to harm us more and paint misconceptions of us and our cultures! this is a beginner’s resource for drawing clothing from other cultures, but do your own research to make sure and check it’s accurate^^: http://nationalclothing.org