racism in hollywood - and how far it has come.

[DeadPresident]

That's simple, because underlying the trend is a discourse of reparation or "evening things out".

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

I'm a marketing student and we study demographics and segmentation for cases, so a lot of times my mind is considering these dynamics when looking at stuff like this. It's not like I dislike having lead black characters, it's just that looking at population proportion it makes sense to me that such a smaller segment would get less exposure. meh

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

That's simple, because underlying the trend is a discourse of reparation or "evening things out".

but things aren't evening out. things are getting left behind as other things get the spotlight.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Mich...oversy-Over-Fantastic-Four-Casting-41989.html

I don't think it's a terrrible thing casting a black person as a traditionally white superhero, but if they did it JUST to have diversity then why is his sibling in the movie still white? are they ignoring it like they did in thor just to change the origin of the character? because THAT pisses me off

 

[DarkSovereignty]

They made Sue Storm adopted...it's been known for a few months now...

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

They made Sue Storm adopted...it's been known for a few months now...

okay, my bad then I didn't realize that. but the rest of my point still stands though. is the adoption going to play any key point in the plot? I suppose it doesn't matter, but if they did indeed make this move just for the sake of diversity, they felt the need to have a black actor be representative of the diversity, instead of any other minority. which goes back to the point of my OP, of how hollywood's been much fairer to black actors, and all the other races are unfortunately still behind.

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

okay, my bad then I didn't realize that. but the rest of my point still stands though. is the adoption going to play any key point in the plot? I suppose it doesn't matter, but if they did indeed make this move just for the sake of diversity, they felt the need to have a black actor be representative of the diversity, instead of any other minority. which goes back to the point of my OP, of how hollywood's been much fairer to black actors, and all the other races are unfortunately still behind.

I'm reminded of when Scott Pilgrim vs the World came out, and there were a few critics saying that the film was racist for its lack of racial diversity. This was a film in which there were Canadian/Americans who were racially Asian and Indian in the film. The underlying theme was pretty clear in these reviews: unless there's someone black in the film, then it's still racist. Somehow. I still remember being pleasantly shocked when Brooklyn Nine-Nine came out, and there was not one but two hispanic characters. It's been practically a rule for so long that even having a hispanic character was significant. Having two in one show as major characters is borderline unheard of.

 

[MadVillainy]

One thing I will say that has been annoying me is how people keep saying this new Annie movie has been "urbanized" or how this new version of is the "urban" version.

How is it now an urban version other than the fact that some of the main characters are black? Annie has always been an urban story. To me it's just saying "I hate that Annie and Daddy Warbucks are black" without having the balls to actually say it.

Random thought but I thought of it after I saw the trailer in the theater today

 

[chaseter]

Bollywood is racist...it's all Indians!?

 

[Thundercrack85]

One thing I will say that has been annoying me is how people keep saying this new Annie movie has been "urbanized" or how this new version of is the "urban" version.

How is it now an urban version other than the fact that some of the main characters are black? Annie has always been an urban story. To me it's just saying "I hate that Annie and Daddy Warbucks are black" without having the balls to actually say it.

Random thought but I thought of it after I saw the trailer in the theater today

Urban is code for black. So yeah, racism.

 

[MadVillainy]

Urban is code for black. So yeah, racism.

Hannibal Burress has a bit where he says he feels that white people calling him brother is like the diet version of the n word for him
Thats what I feel with Urban

 

[Thundercrack85]

I do think they should just say "black". Though most black people are urban.

Still we don't call things relating to white people "rural".

Suburban on the other hand...

 

[Thundercrack85]

I've never seen white people call a black person "brother". Unless they have a weird quirk where they call people brother (a la buddy).

I do notice that "thug" seems to have become the go to word for right wingers though.

 

[MadVillainy]

i think the thing that also annoys me is that for some reason certain black people and other races see a movie with black people and say "Oh, it's a black movie"
And for some reason become so averse to seeing it. Im not saying that every film with a mostly black cast is good (thats a whole nother issue) but to write off a movie because a race of the cast is ridiculous.

I always wonder if something like Interstellar or Gone Girl (I know its based off a book and changing the race would be a lot different) or whatever would succeed if most of the cast was black. I know the answer is no, but it's gonna be good when that day comes

 

[MadVillainy]

I've never seen white people call a black person "brother". Unless they have a weird quirk where they call people brother (a la buddy).

I do notice that "thug" seems to have become the go to word for right wingers though.

Ive heard "brother". Unlike Buress I think it's fine. I dont midn it at all. I dont even register it. It's the same as someone calling me buddy or man.

The whole thug thing can bother me. For instance how everyone is calling Jameis Winston a thug or gang member. That annoys me too

 

[Thundercrack85]

I think the issue with that is that movies with a mostly black audience are almost always intended for black audiences. Obviously there are exceptions, but they're just that. I don't think most films starring a predominately white cast are deliberately aimed at white people. Obviously some are more geared towards a certain audience than others though.

I personally find it fascinating to watch Tyler Perry movies. Particularly the way white people are depicted. You'll have these movies where there is one token "white friend" who plays the buffoon, or of course, the villain. He's just one director, but there are a lot who emulate him.

It's really interesting to see white people from the perspective of black people. Even if it is almost always (understandably) negative.

 

[MadVillainy]

I think the issue with that is that movies with a mostly black audience are almost always intended for black audiences. Obviously there are exceptions, but they're just that.

I personally find it fascinating to watch Tyler Perry movies. Particularly the way white people are depicted. You'll have these movies where there is one token "white friend" who plays the buffoon, or of course, the villain. He's just one director, but there are a lot who emulate him.

It's really interesting to see white people from the perspective of black people. Even if it is almost always (understandably) negative.

I mean Tyler Perry movies are on a whole different level and class and thats another big problem. For the longest time a movie with a largely black cast were Tyler Perry movies. TP movies arent even meant for the large/majority black audience. He was/is very successful but his movies pander to a very specific black audience.

Im glad Lionsgate didnt reup on their deal with him. He's actually a decent actor, at least TV decent. But as a writer/director he should just stop

I havent seen many director emulate him.

But for instance two good movies that were released: Beyond the Lights and Think Like a Man (2012) I had a hard time convincing my white friends to see because they thought they were "black movies"

 

[Thundercrack85]

The thing is, it's kind of self-perpetuating problem. Films with predominately black casts are aimed at black audiences.

And if you're wondering what I mean by that, the entire cast is black. The only non-black characters are villains, or stooges.

 

[MadVillainy]

Again I dont think that's true.
Im not saying it never happens But looking at the non Tyler Perry, historical "black films" widely released in the last two years...looking at it there were not a lot
-Think like a Man 1&2
-Beyond the Lights
-Addicted (full disclosure never saw this, just going off what I read and heard)
-The Best Man Holiday
-Black Nativity
The villains werent white or stooges. Or at least if they were they were also surrounded by other actors/characters of colors that are stooges ex. Beyond the Lights.

And I find it funny that that point is brought up considering how many movies are released where actors of color arent more than criminals or villains.


Im not trying to get on a soapbox, claim that every movie is racist or anything. But saying certain films are "black" just because they have predominately black casts and whites are villains is a silly thing to bring up especially considering how many movies there are still being released where there is a predominately white cast and there are no non-white actors or the non-white actors are just criminals.

British director Steve McQueen (Shame, 12 Years a Slave) had the greatest point at a director's round table where he was saying how he was shocked how directors can make films set in densely populated urban areas and other races other than whites are still so unrepresented.

It's even way worse for latino or asian actors

 

[chamber-music]

I remember back in the day when people went off at Richard Curtis about Notting Hill because it is a racially diverse area of London but in the film it was almost exclusively white.

 

[Doctor Evo]

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Mich...oversy-Over-Fantastic-Four-Casting-41989.html

I don't think it's a terrrible thing casting a black person as a traditionally white superhero, but if they did it JUST to have diversity then why is his sibling in the movie still white? are they ignoring it like they did in thor just to change the origin of the character? because THAT pisses me off

God, how I wish I had your life. Most people have much more important things to be angry/worried about. I don't even have the energy to be angry about something so goddamned trivial.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

God, how I wish I had your life. Most people have much more important things to be angry/worried about. I don't even have the energy to be angry about something so goddamned trivial.

I don't lose sleep over this thing, doctor. But when the topic arises, I don't ever feel good about it.

 

[jaymes_e06]

I actually agree with you completely XtremelBane

 

[DeadPresident]

but things aren't evening out. things are getting left behind as other things get the spotlight.

I'm not sure I follow what you mean by "getting left behind"?

 

[Howlett]

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Mich...oversy-Over-Fantastic-Four-Casting-41989.html

I don't think it's a terrrible thing casting a black person as a traditionally white superhero, but if they did it JUST to have diversity then why is his sibling in the movie still white? are they ignoring it like they did in thor just to change the origin of the character? because THAT pisses me off

If you've been following FF movie news rumors, casting is the very least of it's problems.