Revenge of the Fallen The Twins: Racist?

[TheVileOne]

Its fine you can laugh at them CelticPredator. People laughed at minstrel shows and Amos & Andy as well.

 

[Jake Cassidy]

I laughed at 'The Exorcist'. Freakin' hilarious. t:

I thought the Twins were funny, too. So what?

 

[oakzap425]

I think it says more about the person watching the movie if they see those types of characters and immediately think of black people.

I totally agree. I didn't really see any of the tv spots, so I'd never heard the twins. Then I read this stuff before going in this morning. I left confused. I was waiting for racism. I hear just as many other races talk just like this. But the first thought is that Bay and Co. are insulting black people? I more offended by that train of thought, which has it's own racist implications, than I was by the twins. I think it's more a look at todays youth, than black people in general.

 

[TheVileOne]

What does it say about the screenwriters than Oakzap after their comments?

 

[oakzap425]

What does it say about the screenwriters than Oakzap after their comments?

... I don't understand this question...

 

[Eddie Brock]

I totally agree. I didn't really see any of the tv spots, so I'd never heard the twins. Then I read this stuff before going in this morning. I left confused. I was waiting for racism. I hear just as many other races talk just like this. But the first thought is that Bay and Co. are insulting black people? I more offended by that train of thought, which has it's own racist implications, than I was by the twins. I think it's more a look at todays youth, than black people in general.

*slow clap*

 

[C. Lee]

And you're acting like an *******. So who cares.

Get over yourself, and discuss the movie without acting like you're better then everyone else.

Try the same yourself....discuss without the namecalling.

 

[TheVileOne]

... I don't understand this question...

Orci and Kurtzman commented on the twins characters:

Cole: I heard that the gold tooth was Michael Bay’s idea, but do you have any response to those who found The Twins offensive?

Orci: Number one, we sympathize. Yes, the gold tooth was not in the script, that’s true.

Kurtzman: It’s really hard for us to sit here and try to justify it.I think that would be very foolish, and if someone wants to be offended by it, it’s their right. We were very surprised when we saw it, too, and it’s a choice that was made. If anything, it just shows you that we don’t control every aspect of the movie.

Cole: Were you offended by them?

Kurtzman: I wasn’t thrilled. I certainly wasn’t thrilled.

Orci: Yeah, same reaction. I’m not easily offended, but when I saw it, I thought, ‘Someone’s gonna write about that.’”

 

[The Guard]

... I don't understand this question...

I believe it's meant to be: "What does it say about the screenwriters, then, Oazap, after their comments?"

 

[oakzap425]

I believe it's meant to be: "What does it say about the screenwriters, then, Oazap, after their comments?"

Ah. Thank you.

 

[oakzap425]

Orci and Kurtzman commented on the twins characters:

That's fine. They have their opinions. But as a black person, I didn't find it offensive. It was funny, which was what it was meant to be. This is my opinion, and just as the sc's say, people are entitled to be offended or to not be offended, and I wasn't, because I'm of the mindset that just as mean white, hispanic, and asians, can speak just as ignorantly, slang or none, as these so-called black characters.

 

[Darthkush]

Orci and Kurtzman commented on the twins characters:

Their comments speak volumes.

Saw it and yeah, they're a tad racist. They're not in it enough for it to be a big deal though. The biggest problem is that they're just really annoying. Like Jar Jar levels.

Basically they were minstrels that were a waste of fx that could've gone to having another Autobot character or more time for Ironhide or Ratchet.

 

[The Guard]

So essentially, any person or character who acts like that is a minstrel show now?

Criminy.

I still think that many of you simply don't understand what racism entails.

 

[Octoberist]

I just think they're just stupid characters that lack any charm, not racists.

 

[TheVileOne]

So essentially, any person or character who acts like that is a minstrel show now?

Criminy.

I still think that many of you simply don't understand what racism entails.

I guess Orci and Kurtzman don't understand either then.

 

[Darthkush]

So essentially, any person or character who acts like that is a minstrel show now?

Criminy.

I still think that many of you simply don't understand what racism entails.

As a black man who has experienced it first hand I can tell you I know every bit of what it entails.

And I'm not trying to infer that you have to be black or a minority to understand racism but I think it's possible that it can be hard for those who haven't experienced it to really know what seeing these kind of depictions can feel like. Frankly this kind of depiction has no place in a Transformer film.

I'm more amazed that ANYBODY can think they were supposed to be hillbillies. THAT is really shocking.

 

[The Black Goo]

Wait... wait... someone is trying to say that the Twins were not ghetto black stereotypes?

In what universe? Broken English. Big Ears. Dedicated to ignorance. Coarse slang. Impotent violence. These are ghetto personalities. I don't have to make it up to see it, that's what we've all been told is ghetto from the moment we turned on our televisions, and these two characters were rolling in it.

I can agree that they are ghetto personalities, but not necessarily ghetto black stereotypes. You know there are people in Texas that could also fit your aforementioned description.

I saw it and I never thought anything of it. I felt they were there for comedic relief, it seems Bay was going for more humor this time around.

 

[The Guard]

As a black man who has experienced it first hand I can tell you I know every bit of what it entails.

Ok.

Tell me this, then. When you have gone out in the world, do you ever see black people or a person of any other race acting like the Twins to, on any level?

And I'm not trying to infer that you have to be black or a minority to understand racism but I think it's possible that it can be hard for those who haven't experienced it to really know what seeing these kind of depictions can feel like.

I understand what you're getting at in terms of the impact of racism...but these types of depictions make people feel like what, exactly? Why?

Frankly this kind of depiction has no place in a Transformer film.

That I won't argue with. It's a pretty pointless addition to Transformers lore at the expense of other, more deserving elements.

I'm more amazed that ANYBODY can think they were supposed to be
hillbillies. THAT is really shocking.

I don't think anyone thought they were rednecks, though there was a perceivable bit of redneck to some of the voicework.

 

[jakinj]

Their comments speak volumes.

Saw it and yeah, they're a tad racist. They're not in it enough for it to be a big deal though. The biggest problem is that they're just really annoying. Like Jar Jar levels.

Basically they were minstrels that were a waste of fx that could've gone to having another Autobot character or more time for Ironhide or Ratchet.

hahaha ya exactly. People can condemn or defend the validity of the racism claims--

The twins still SUCK.

Why in God's name anyone wouldn't give Ironhide, Sideswipe, Soundwave, or Ravage more screentime is beyond me.

 

[The Guard]

Not that the writers of the movie apparently did either, mind you.

 

[Episode29]

I can agree that they are ghetto personalities, but not necessarily ghetto black stereotypes. You know there are people in Texas that could also fit your aforementioned description.

I saw it and I never thought anything of it. I felt they were there for comedic relief, it seems Bay was going for more humor this time around.

Fine. But that is a contemporary reading. The problem is that the twins mirror the type of caricatures often presented in the early-mid 1900's. There is a historical pretext for what the twins are being accused of representing. It's not a simple "they're hip-hop kids" argument.

 

[Episode29]

Interesting slashfilm article on the subject:

http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/06/25/no-one-wants-to-own-up-to-racism-in-transformers/

 

[CelticPredator]

Try the same yourself....discuss without the namecalling.

He's been attacking us since the movie came out. Thats not fair. He needs to STOP acting like a whatever. I'd LOVE to discuss without name calling, and I have...but this is annoying.

And its not just name calling, its just these jerky remakers from these guys.

 

[Darthkush]

Ok.

Tell me this, then. When you have gone out in the world, do you ever see black people or a person of any other race acting like the Twins to, on any level?



I understand what you're getting at in terms of the impact of racism...but these types of depictions make people feel like what, exactly? Why?



That I won't argue with. It's a pretty pointless addition to Transformers lore at the expense of other, more deserving elements.



I don't think anyone thought they were rednecks, though there was a perceivable bit of redneck to some of the voicework.

A. Yes and No. Some black people do act like that...to an extent. But ultimately no. This felt more like an interpretation by someone who's never met an actual black person but has seen them on tv. "We's don't do much reading?" NEVER.

B. Makes them feel insulted. Hell, I was offended in the beginning when that Decepticon went through that building and that asian man was eating rice with a chopstick. It was like...wtf? WHY is this here? I may not be asian, but I've been friends with many of them, dated more and am engaged to one now. I felt bad too. I don't like seeing super stereotypes like this about any race.

C. We're agreed on that one.

D. Oh there are QUITE a few people on this thread who claimed they were rednecks(that has died down some since more have seen the film and it's become undeniable who they were REALLY supposed to be). As for the voicework, I think that's more because Tom Kenny's delivery is kind of high and whiny(not unlike his Spongebob voice). There was a couple and their kid who even realized it was Spongebob's voice at one point.

 

[CelticPredator]

Huh...an asian man in China. Racist bay!