Subject: Stereotyping cartoons

Hi GlamGranny,

thanks for your feedback. I assume that you are referring to the street scene on the Millcaster Tales homepage? I am not sure that this character on the right is intended especially to be a old woman - she could be any age.

As we develop more stories there will be illustrations of new characters. We are keen to avoid stereotypes and will take your comments on board.

Thanks again,

We have been experimenting with a range of images, including stick and plasticine-style figures. One of the problems with the anonymous figures is that they don't bring out the diversity of Millcaster. But that then can lead to the stereotyping risk that GlamGranny has rightly identified. Please keep on giving feedback, positive or negative, so we can develop an identity of a town in both words and pictures that carries wide acceptance.

I am really delighted that you have taken my comments "on board" . Thank you.

The pics remind me of Lowry paintings and and that linked to a name like Millcaster, I think of it being a Pennine town on the Lancashire side

You can get more details on Millcaster from its Wiki Encylopaedia-style entry.  

We'd like to get Millcaster residents and friends contributing more material to this entry, so if John or anyone else would like to write some, please suggest it here or in the comments section on the above page!