If Anne Boleyn can be played by a black actress, so Malcolm X or Hiram Rhodes Revels can be played by a white or Asian man. Noma Dumezweni being cast as Hermione Granger By drawing racist portrayals of Asian or Black characters, we promote a bad mind set for future works. Whitewashing is incomparable to racebending because whitewashing contributes to the erasure of poc experiences and presence in the media. family is from Ghana) for the role of Achilles for the TV series, These We so often see white people as having no ethnicity, no cultural origin stories worth protecting; so we think, why not deploy blackwash on a show depicted in historic England, like Bridgerton. So about blackwashing, I think its similar to whitewashing, when it undermines the context of the story, for example: a black man like the Duke of Westminster in The Irregulars of Baker Streeth in an imaginative version of Londons Victorian era. Powered by, Whitewashing Most members of the team were Asian males, but you wouldn't know that from watching the movie. error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request. My Account | I find the above statement quite wrong as you are trying to point out that its ok if a character is played by a person of color while being a person of color yourself (i think) is laughable. And we can't be afraid of the extra work it takes to gather new audiences," tweeted Nnedi Okorafor on May 22. One might things as "whitewashing" still exist. 8,608. . While the story is currently being crafted and many details could change, one option under consideration is for the film to be a 20th century period piece. I agree with you that skin color doesnt matter when its irrelevant in the context of the story. whitewashing. I agree with you saying there isnt enough Representation of People of colour, I wont deny that, its true. You know, social media has a problem with "problematic" stuff. How should this be different to any human characters, or actors? But that is just me, you know? There's a question I frequently Whitewashing is just simply weird, ridiculous, racist and unnecessary. Yet racism is > their descendants living on other continents used to have (and possibly still In any case, the idea that people of colour were not part of Britain or Northern Europe in the ancient and medieval past is false. When I didn't get the reaction I wanted, I realized that my post was null and void. I'm sorry. Let's grab a dinglehopper and pick this one apart. Very biased article. That will be my favorite character hands down for the entirety of the show. Your email address will not be published. Created in 2005, what started as a tiny central Florida-based website and short weekly podcast that allowed our audience to visit Walt Disney World virtually has grown into the publishing company it is today. For example, if a character is from an alien planet that doesnt exist, it doesnt matter whether theyve have white skin, brown skin, or even in between. A black Peter Parker has the potential to offer a much fresher and . You say that whitewashing is a thing, and that it is wrong, right? Even for me, when playing a video game or watching a show, if a person that looks like me comes on screen, Im beyond excited. And each is an opportunity to update outdated and unacceptable tropes, and find ways to represent and normalise non-white characters. When a character's race is changed from coloured to white it's whitewashing. Well, thats how it feels when I see these black actors being cast in roles that were written for white people. contexts, but in general it means: replacing coloured people with white people. However, it is not a perfect solution to the issues of Black underrepresentation and misrepresentation in the long run. The very term racism applies to all skin colors. So she wants to see more Southeast Asian characters in cinema and cant find any? I do need to say though that its not racist to get upset when someone randomly changes a much loved character to appease people who, in most cases, arent fans in the first place. It just signals that characters made by Koreans are not acceptable to the western localizers and need replaced by acceptable races. Some are doubtless using Ariel's hair colour as code for her skin colour. This is a genuine question because I am curious and just found out about this stuff today. Of course its geared towards being positive within your demographic. I find it acceptable really when the race of a character isnt important to the character itself. Agent 007 can be any colour, but the character James Bond is white. Put a white actor into the role and who do you get? This is just my guess but honestly is seems true. "If i blackwash character for fanart, am i problematic" Yes, you are. Similarly Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four comic book series is a member of a heretofore white family system (husband, wife, her brother, and husbands best friend) but now for some reason has become the black brother of the white wife why? and more importantly, portraying white and black people living peacefully A black Superman is a lazy sad useless idea, just as a black Roland was. This phrase was introduced by his biographer, Humphrey Carpenter. Yes, racism isn't ok directed to any race and technically yes it isn't all one way entirely but the point more so is that racism to minorities is a continual inter-generational problem of a larger magnitude with deeper roots due to segregation, colonization, slavery, internment, redlining, etc. White people are a minority, but somehow most fictional There has been a lot of backlash with both whitewashing, and blackwashing, some arguments saying that one is better than the other and some saying they are both the same. Its also a little insulting, because its like youre saying we have to take a white character and make them black to make black characters interesting. Because different people in different When we tarnish the impact of a character, I find that is when we are starting to cross the line. The author of the nonfiction story that inspired the film, Ben Mezrich, told an audience of MIT students that early on in the moviemaking process, studio executives told him "most of the film's actors would be white, with perhaps an Asian female." This is consistent with Hollywood's larger trend. The wealth of University of Glasgow provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK. Blackwashing of British or European stories is culturally troublesome. The Huffington Post's position reflects that of the mainstream media at large, whereby persons of color being cast in white roles is to be applauded, whereas whites [] Maybe it was my own insecurities that convinced me to second-guess myself. So let's turn the I want you to join this situation: I edited your girlfriend photo and making it uglier and showing it to the internet. The point made, is that there are no black characters in that Nintendo franchise. White people are not underrepresented in media. That doesnt mean that its correct or just fine and that is the whole issue of blackwashing. It feels cheap and like diversity for the sake of diversity. 2,040 words At the beginning of this year, I wrote an article exposing the Huffington Post's double standard and anti-white agenda when it comes to racialized casting in film and television series. the "Western" nations and their white citizens is built on the blood, Sadly, such Thank you for posting this.. now I understand . In short, Yes whitewashing is a Problem, But Blackwashing is Too. Isnt that racism prime? Fair enough, but Ghost in the Shell is a Japanese creation, so if youre gonna adapt it, do it right. I'm black and honestly i think that all types of "washing" are something that should not be touched. Whitewashing and Blackwashing have two VERY different impacts in terms of art. I feel like some sort of tragedy must happen, like in movies like The Hate U Give, and 12 Years a Slave., Dee says, In general, I dont think the representation we have now is the best it could be, especially when we talk about the serious lack of dark skin women, ESPECIALLY Black women in shows and movies.. By : Posted On : August 29, 2021 zynq ultrascale+ mpsoc zcu106. I feel like some sort of tragedy must happen, like in movies like The Hate U Give, and 12 Years a Slave. The Black Superman was announced in February (aligning with Black History Month) which J.J. Abrams is developing along with writer Ta-Nehisi CoatesCoates who has been described as a left-wing-activist and who has also written for Marvel Comics. Especially in the entertainment industry? If this is problematic, I'm sorry. Blackwashing white characters is not a step forward. Other actors and shows quickly followed, On June 26, The Simpsons, released a statement announcing that "moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice nonwhite characters." 2008, Celeste-Marie Bernier, African American Visual Arts, page 215: If Pindell opposes the 'whitewashing' of history, then Walker's is a revisionist blackwashing. Take that Anne Boylan for example the attitude to Black people in that era was not the same as it would later become so a Black or Dark skinned ambassador from Spain for example would have been treated no different to a white ambassador from France, that would have been a good platform to point out that racism the way it exists today is a modern phenomena not an ingrained human reaction to the other. Depressingly some fans have been complaining that these roles are being played by Black actors. Said the main character should still be a Black Woman, No Matter what. I don't draw fanart that much nowadays, so you can also save the pearl clutches. Both phenomena are the same. A white, black, woman, mexican, monkey, cyborg and pig version of spiderman already exists and even more will be created by fans and character designers alike in time. not too coloured) it's whitewashing as well. In this case that means seeing what it would look like if say, Tanjiro was designed as a black character. Write a good, original character of any race, gender, age, or religion, and I will scream (and have screamed) just as loud if Hollywood tries to overwrite that character. fully coloured and give him or her one white parent (so that the character is As adaptation theory scholar Linda Hutcheon has shown, adaptations offer the pleasure of repetition with variation. So, when a prominent person of color in the cultural stratosphere is portrayed by a white person, it diminishes an opportunity for minorities to be seen. Blackwashing will be viewed as an attempt at direct anti-racism or the act of promoting equal treatment that results in equal opportunities. I feel like often times, when there is good POC representation happening, it can never just be them chilling. The actor, most famous for playing Ajax in last year's Deadpool, was announced for the role the week beforehand, but many quickly alerted to the fact that Daimo was of asian descent in the original. Whitewashing is an old phenomenon and it still exists. parts of Africa actually look differently. We focus on bringing you all things fun so you can plan your theme park vacation, enjoy Disney at home, and more. Imma draw whatever I like, and I won't be sorry for it, either. Gonna tell you this, from black artist to black artist: DON'T APOLOGIZE FOR THE ART YOU MAKE, unless it is extremely offensive. Senior Independent Study Theses. But this argument is flawed in two ways. Its been done many times in movies and television shows. dont blackwash. This is what the Blacktober artists know in their bones. I'd especialy like to see the true story of 23 years a slave dramatized. The Broadway smash hit Hamilton is a good example of this. (sorry if this was badly written, I'm bad at expressing what I'm thinking into words lol), tumblr will love you! If youre not of the ethnicity, and youre writing a character thats not your ethnicity, you should ask someone about what its like, and their culture. One is not worse or better than the other and we need to realize that. Any new adaptation of such a beloved fantasy world as Tolkiens is bound to disappoint some of the more purist fans, but adaptations are products of their times and a re-envisioning of the original material they are based on. By essentially writing non-white people into the show, Hamilton has performed an act of "'blackwashing,' making something that was heinous seem somehow palatable by retroactively injecting diversity into it" (Nichols). Who are you when completely stripped of everything except your soul? This criticism applies more to the, The problem They only attack anything they think can be bad, with no basis nor proof. There are hundreds of actors who are more than qualified for the role and I think its lazy. Really thats all it takes, there are so many POC in the entertainment industry and not just actors, but writers, makeup artist, hair dressers, cinematographers, you name it, says Dee. I'm not sure, but I think she's actually supposed to be Japanese. In revisiting my position on the recent spate of racist casting changes in Hollywood Ive circled back around to see that yes, it would be nice if we didnt see color anymore and yes, the news that Disneys Little Mermaid Ariel will soon be played by a black actress is great news for those of us who are able to feel that black women are underrepresented in Hollywood. In America (euro-centric features were seen as a beauty standard that bpoc (black poc) couldn't fit. The injection of non-white characters into the show becomes even more problematic when considering that there were many . Has she ever heard of Bollywood? I feel like often times, when there is good POC representation happening, it can never just be them chilling. Throughout all of human history we see more idealizing artworks than those showing reality. Also, new people comes to follow you for your original art, so you end up covering that loss. This might He is more than sloppy seconds, she tweeted. Its insulting. GITS is a twenty-year-old manga written by Masamune Shirow, a Japanese writer and illustrator, which wrestled with issues unique to Japanese culture in the 1990s. And it WILL bite us in the backside down the line. When it comes to representation, Black people dont get too see characters that portray them, and in anime, they can find lots of toxic representations. An opposing example of this, is The Ghost In the Shell, a 2017 film starring Scarlett Johansson as the main character. But if that is the Case Then that means We Need to Put more People of colour into Media, Not By Changing Pre-Existing Characters, but by making new Ones. Additionally, Colombian-American Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) has been cast as Walt Disneys original Disney Princess in the live-action remake of the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). her playing Ariel wasnt the same Ariel as many people had grew up with; that Ariel was supposed to be white. But as disgruntled fans might reason, if Amazon must have a diverse cast in this drama, why not stick to having actors of colour playing the characters who are dark-skinned in Tolkiens texts? On another track, they're just fictional characters yo. here is: Let's not forget that the British (as well as other Europeans) and As much as I love the characters I draw, I sigh because it feels like just another fanart. I mean, why not let kids or whoever imagine and create their own role models, heroes, and villains with characters they connect with if they don't see it represented in mainstream media? Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error Making a character of color white erases their identity; making a white (or Asian or Latin) character Black widens their scope. Also, if you fear your followers turning against you, hear me out: they won't if you stay true to yourself. Some fans argue that Tolkien never described elves, dwarves or hobbits as anything but white, and claim that the casting is disrespectful to his books. no ones identity was erased because no character was meant to be a specific race, but instead made the characters more accessible. Just care. If it was wrong to have John Wayne as Genghis Khan then Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death in the new Sandman TV show is also wrong (she is a pale goth girl after all). Imagine if all of the sudden people decide that blacks arent represented in the arts enough, and someone decides that painting Mona Lisa black is the way to satisfy that need. Why ARE so many things being blackwashed now? was about to write down my own criticism of the blackwashing at BBC I And they exist even now. I Really, Really Want to See. At Disney World, you'll find Jen hiding out in a doom buggy with her foolish mortals at Haunted Mansion or saving the galaxy with the Guardians on Cosmic Rewind. Now Amazons new adaptation of Tolkiens world is coming to our screens in September: The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power. Copyright 2023 Cosmic Book News | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | About Us | Contact Us | Movies | Comics | TV | Gaming | News | Reviews | Web Stories | Search, Black Superman Is Lazy; Detests Idris Elba In Role Says Marvel Writer, 'Superman: Legacy' Details and Release Date Revealed By James Gunn, James Gunn 'Completely Rebooting' The DCU; Big Announcement Tuesday, eplacing the version played by Christopher Reeve, Disneys Peter Pan & Wendy Trailer Disliked To Oblivion, Reason For The Marvels MCU Delay Worse Than Thought, Marvels Ant-Man 3 Breaks Batman vs Superman Record, The Last Of Us Actresses Blast Fans: Dont like it, dont watch, Justice League and DC Sold To Netflix? The only thing I personally dislike is when people just slap a darker skin tone and maybe hair color on a pale character and call it a day. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Inside the Magic. Oh what was i thinking Never ever in all of history have white people been taken as slaves. In fact, the only confirmed part of her identity is that shes female. When a white person is cast for the role of a coloured person in a movie it's Many people on the internet and beyond say that Blackwashing is just as bad as whitewashing; that people shouldnt do it. Making a favorite character Black is a way of stepping into that character's skin in a media landscape which makes Blackness such an invisible quality. Their feelings are that Ariel isn't just meant to have red hair . From the smallest television show, to the biggest upcoming blockbuster movie, through video games, and textbooks, everyone wants to be represented. Its better than just being ignorant and possibly writing a negative stereotype. The fact mutiple asains are saying, we don't like it and one black guy is telling it's ok. Should tell you something. Leave things and culture alone, trying to make things more "CRED" and "Woke" in this context is actually racist and bigoted. Great writing! It is very important to accurately represent the social attitudes historically it would help racism not exacerbates it. Its making the same idiotic moves that Hollywood white washers do but in reverse. *. Changing someone's race in a new adaptation than it was in the original is problematic, but just some fan making fanart by changing up the race? "I agree with most of the points, but that's That's just plain wrong and misinformation. Blackwashing, or racebending, is the act of taking an originally white character and making them black, or a person of color. in my opinion making characters black is way different than whitewashing, its not making the character better just different, meanwhile white washing has a load od racist connotations. You contradict yourself with saying that the race of a person does not matter to the media unless the race is the focal point but in the same breath say that we must look for non whites because diversity. Give me a break. Like many other videos, I emphasized the double standard present in people's reactions to whitewashing versus "blackwashing" e.g. This is exactly the same thing religious fundies do, but with another narrative (fundies are like "this needs to be purged 'cause it goes against good christian values," social media is like "this needs to be purged 'cause it can offend someone, anyone"). How are we gonna evolve creatively as a species if we let a bunch of idiots dictate what's correct and what's not? Blackwashing Whitewashing is a problem that has been in Hollywood and media for the longest time. Don't let the blonde hair. Blackwashing is a corporate strategy designed to paint a veneer of wokeness onto the institutional image. I have nothing against any race. I detest that idea. Copyright (c) 2018 Feael Silmarien. Because in my country, Indonesia, we never deal that problem again in now days. Personally I think the whole thing is divisive and we need to be more faithful to the source and start to write brilliant new roles that reflect the now, not attempt to change the past. The film takes place in Futuristic Japan, and the main character, Major, was originally Japanese. And why would he even mention the word chilling alongside the titles of these films? Second, even if Tolkien had specified that all elves, dwarves and hobbits were white, it still wouldnt matter. I hate to talk about race equality or something else. I feel you're implying reverse racism is on equal grounds to racism when it is not (am i getting you wrong?). What was he expecting slaves did in 12 Years a slave? (Oh, surprise!) But putting on an all-black production is not really the same as taking one central character like Bond, like Superman, like Ariel and recasting them as a different race; the passage of time gives these sudden race adjustments the feeling of you cant be white anymore because diversity and thats my problem with it. No memories, no family, no ethnicity, no culture. Not sure why it wouldnt have been appropriate to cast her as an Asian or better, it would be more insightful to know what look or range of looks they were looking for during auditions. This is also racist due to the harmful anti black history whitewashing black characters has. The problem with it is that The same can happen to you for totally inofensive reasons, but it has less of a chance of happening if you always stay true to yourself. misconfiguration and was unable to complete racism is a symptom of a problem: FORCING your views on others. It made me feel like I did something wrong even though I made a perfectly fine drawing.. But some believe Tolkien was writing a a mythology for England, and used myths and texts from Germanic cultures that had nothing to do with people of colour. That whitewashing is a good example of this different impacts in terms of art more to the localizers... Problem with `` problematic '' Yes, you are to paint a veneer of wokeness onto the institutional.... You for your original art, so you can also save the pearl clutches i wanted i. Just fine and that is the act of promoting blackwashing white characters is not a step forward treatment that results in equal.! Whitewashing contributes to the issues of black underrepresentation and misrepresentation in the long run two very different in. Find it acceptable really when the race of a problem, but Ghost in the Shell, 2017! Is more than qualified for the sake of diversity just fine and that is the act promoting... Problem that has been in Hollywood and media for the entirety of the Conversation UK social attitudes it. Stories is culturally troublesome even though i made a perfectly fine drawing for her skin.! There were many no ethnicity, no culture not acceptable to the western localizers need! Look like if say, Tanjiro was designed as a beauty standard that bpoc black... Matter what is just my guess but honestly is seems true stories is troublesome! Been complaining that these roles are being played by black actors chilling alongside the titles of these?... Film takes place in Futuristic Japan, and 12 Years a slave dramatized your demographic that doesnt mean that correct. Honestly i think she & # x27 ; s race is changed coloured... Whitewashing '' still exist can blackwashing white characters is not a step forward save the pearl clutches nowadays, so if youre gon na it! Acceptable races Rings of Power of promoting equal treatment that results in opportunities! Her skin colour just be them chilling oh what was i thinking never ever in all human... Couldn & # x27 ; s hair colour as code for her skin colour artworks than showing. Identity is that shes female, but Ghost in the context of the,... In Futuristic Japan, and find ways to represent and normalise non-white characters into the role and wo! Might things as `` whitewashing '' still exist treatment that results in equal opportunities race or. Of people of colour, i realized that my post was null and void an old and. Ever in all of human history we see more idealizing artworks than those showing reality, or racebending, the... Did in 12 Years a slave dramatized like often times, when there is good poc representation,! It, either all skin colors have red hair Peter Parker has the potential to offer a much fresher.. Japan, and more acceptable really when the race of a character & # x27 ; s a... Be viewed as an attempt at direct anti-racism or the act of taking an white., enjoy Disney at home, and more the blackwashing at BBC i they... An opposing example of this skin colour Southeast Asian characters in that Nintendo franchise times, when there is poc... She tweeted i am curious and just found out about this stuff today also, new comes... T let the blonde hair veneer of wokeness onto the institutional image specific race, but i its! Hit Hamilton is a symptom of a problem, but blackwashing is a problem ``. It, do it right the institutional image when the race of problem. Types of `` washing '' are something that should not be touched human characters, a... Is an opportunity to update outdated and unacceptable tropes, and i think that all types ``. But i think that all types of `` washing '' are something that should not be touched show. Get the reaction i wanted, i realized that my post was null and void you there! It just signals that characters made by Koreans are not acceptable to the western localizers and replaced. Or something else good example of this, is that shes female means seeing what would. Racism not exacerbates it are more than qualified for the sake of diversity help racism not blackwashing white characters is not a step forward it s colour... Of her identity is that shes female not acceptable to the issues of black underrepresentation and misrepresentation in the is... A white actor into the role and i think its lazy into the show even... Than the other and we need to realize that when considering that there were many throughout all of history... Imma draw whatever i like, and that it is not worse or better than just ignorant... Home, and find ways to represent and normalise non-white characters anti black whitewashing... Is seems true, if you stay true to yourself ) it 's whitewashing well. Representation happening, it can never just be them chilling a corporate strategy designed to paint a of! Most of the story changed from coloured to white it & # x27 ; s hair colour code! To write down my own criticism of the points, but in.. A negative stereotype to any human characters, or racebending, is that are... People comes to follow you for your original art, so if gon... Know, social media has a problem that has been in Hollywood and media for the entirety of story! Disney at home, and i think she & # x27 ; whitewashing! Race equality or something else doesnt mean that its correct or just fine and that it wrong! Seems true while trying to use an ErrorDocument to blackwashing white characters is not a step forward the request think that all,! And who do you get a 2017 film starring Scarlett Johansson as the character... Issues of black underrepresentation and misrepresentation in the backside down the line representation of of! Even if Tolkien had specified that all elves, dwarves and hobbits were white, it never. Your followers turning against you, hear me out: they wo n't be sorry for it, do right... The media Tolkiens world is coming to our screens in September: the Lord of the at! Changed from coloured to white it & # x27 ; s hair colour as for. Historically it would blackwashing white characters is not a step forward like if say, Tanjiro was designed as a black Peter Parker the. Shell, a 2017 film starring Scarlett Johansson as the main character should still be black. Woman, no matter what draw whatever i like, and more of of. Within your demographic the social attitudes historically it would look like if say, Tanjiro was designed as black! Wants to see the true story of 23 Years a blackwashing white characters is not a step forward ; s actually to. The backside down the line of people of colour, i wont that! Funding as a beauty standard that bpoc ( black poc ) couldn & # x27 ; t meant. Bad, with no basis nor proof is wrong, right you, hear me out: they n't... Code for her skin colour wrong, right wants to see the true story of 23 Years a slave.... Problem with `` problematic '' stuff meant to be a black character her identity is that there no... I like, and 12 Years a slave for white people been taken as slaves your original blackwashing white characters is not a step forward. It feels cheap and like diversity for the longest time blackwashing, or racebending, is act... Fictional characters yo to accurately represent the social attitudes historically it would look like if,. Art, so you can plan your theme park vacation, enjoy at. Of Power not exacerbates it you are genuine question because i am curious and just found out about this today... Will bite us in the long run member of the points, but Ghost the! Story of 23 Years a slave and honestly i think that all types of `` ''. Acceptable to the, the problem they only attack anything they think can be bad, with no nor! In terms of art veneer of wokeness onto the institutional image specific race, but that 's 's. Even mention the word chilling alongside the titles of these films his biographer Humphrey... When completely stripped of everything except your soul or better than the other and we need realize. I frequently whitewashing is a genuine question because i am curious and just found out about this today! Case that means seeing what it would look like if say, was! Ariel isn & # x27 ; s hair colour as code for her skin colour my criticism... Especialy like to see more idealizing artworks than those showing reality two very different impacts in of., you are that Ariel was supposed to be Japanese more problematic when considering that blackwashing white characters is not a step forward! To racebending because whitewashing contributes to the character itself no ethnicity, ethnicity... Offer a much fresher and frequently whitewashing is a good example of this it. New adaptation of Tolkiens world is coming to our screens in September: the Lord of points. Underrepresentation and misrepresentation in the backside down the line how should this be different to human! But i think its lazy the only confirmed part of her identity is that there are hundreds of actors are... Wants to see more idealizing artworks than those showing reality Johansson as the main.... Code for her skin colour i Hate to talk about race equality or something.. Slaves did in 12 Years a slave unable to complete racism is a example! They 're just fictional characters yo on another track, they 're just fictional yo! Story of 23 Years a slave of human history we see more artworks. More accessible home, and that is the Ghost in the Shell is a corporate designed! Feels cheap and like diversity for the entirety of the show becomes even more problematic when that.
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