(no subject)
It seems I only feel compelled to use the eljay to rant about racism or fangirl about movies and tv. So obviously I can't resist when the two overlap?? The internets have a lot of good articles on the history of racism in film and tv casting (a lot of it involves asians especially) BUT I LOST THE LINKS they were on the dead computer. :p
Anyways, they gave the Prince of Persia lead role to Jake Gyllenhaal. Seriously? I'm really conflicted. :< I actually have a severe crush on that boy but damn he is sooooooo white. I'm rationalizing it by reminding myself that there are ethnically white-looking Arabs... BUT. Can the same benefit of the doubt be extended to casting a white girl as the princess of India? Perhaps they'll change the plot so that she isn't the princess of India and instead is the princess of somewhere-else-where-there-are-white-people, but either explanation will disgust me. Rewriting the story to allow the prince to hook up with a white girl, instead of casting someone who, I dunno, isn't white? Faugh.
There is a loooooong history of casting white people over minorities in hollywood. (and today we have "race-neutral' casting... sigh) it's a self-perpetuating cycle of casting white people for all the roles in everything, white people become the stars, and then when there is a leading role that calls for a nonwhite character, they want a star in the role, and there are too few choices of nonwhite moviestars. It is affirmative action for white actors. (see: Anna May Wong - "Too Chinese To Play a Chinese")
You know... I really liked the arabian nights miniseries but nearly all the leading men were white guys with fake tans and beards. And the actors who were actually middle eastern were in bit parts. The one neat thing they did though was to make the story of aladdin take place in china... so I can't hate on it too hard. (also the costumes were just the most beautiful awesomest costumes ever) It annoys me to have to give props to something that fails disappointingly instead of failing miserably.
enerjak and I are doing PoP cosplay this summer. 9_9 /nerd
EDIT: Ok I found an article with an example of this practice. It's called whitewashing
Trans-Racialization in "21"
PS- pooryorick I saw this and thought of you XD
Anyways, they gave the Prince of Persia lead role to Jake Gyllenhaal. Seriously? I'm really conflicted. :< I actually have a severe crush on that boy but damn he is sooooooo white. I'm rationalizing it by reminding myself that there are ethnically white-looking Arabs... BUT. Can the same benefit of the doubt be extended to casting a white girl as the princess of India? Perhaps they'll change the plot so that she isn't the princess of India and instead is the princess of somewhere-else-where-there-are-white-people, but either explanation will disgust me. Rewriting the story to allow the prince to hook up with a white girl, instead of casting someone who, I dunno, isn't white? Faugh.
There is a loooooong history of casting white people over minorities in hollywood. (and today we have "race-neutral' casting... sigh) it's a self-perpetuating cycle of casting white people for all the roles in everything, white people become the stars, and then when there is a leading role that calls for a nonwhite character, they want a star in the role, and there are too few choices of nonwhite moviestars. It is affirmative action for white actors. (see: Anna May Wong - "Too Chinese To Play a Chinese")
You know... I really liked the arabian nights miniseries but nearly all the leading men were white guys with fake tans and beards. And the actors who were actually middle eastern were in bit parts. The one neat thing they did though was to make the story of aladdin take place in china... so I can't hate on it too hard. (also the costumes were just the most beautiful awesomest costumes ever) It annoys me to have to give props to something that fails disappointingly instead of failing miserably.
enerjak and I are doing PoP cosplay this summer. 9_9 /nerd
EDIT: Ok I found an article with an example of this practice. It's called whitewashing
Trans-Racialization in "21"
PS- pooryorick I saw this and thought of you XD