Hollywood Indirect Racism

[freshnesschronic]

I just read this awesome article about Hollywood racism. The movie "The Last Airbender".

http://splinterend.tumblr.com/post/7...0/facepainting

It's how white actors are cast into movies based off an Asian story, replacing the Asian characters with a white cast. And the only people who look remotely ethnic are the villains, who contrast distinctly compared with the white actors.

As an Asian American it does kinda piss me off that this movie, the last Dragonball Z (a Japanese cartoon with an all white cast) movie, take away the Asian influence almost entirely.

The characters and the setting are in China for this movie...so why are all the characters white?? Jeez....just putting it out there...

[jinx]

Hey, I know a guy that's in this movie. He works at our gym...

[Shawnee123]

Was he ever in a movie with Kevin Bacon?

[Gravdigr]

[Sarcasm]This is different from all the American actors in Chinese/Japanese-made movies?[/Sarcasm]

[monster]

Um yes, there aren't a greath wealth of Anglo-Chinese and no Anglo-Japanese for those countries to choose from, but there are plenty of Asian-Americans. Great melting pot and all....?

[lumberjim]

sorry

[Flint]

As an Asian American it does kinda piss me off that this movie, the last Dragonball Z (a Japanese cartoon with an all white cast) movie, take away the Asian influence almost entirely.

freshnesschronic, it is my understanding that manga ("anime") characters have been illustrated, traditionally, with western features. This is because the pioneers of manga animation were heavily influenced by the success of Walt Disney, and emulated the Disney illustration style. In other words, characters in Japanese cartoons have NEVER been depicted with Asian features.

In this context, how is the "racism of Hollywood" to blame for a style originated in Asia, by Asians?

[freshnesschronic]

Originally Posted by Flint

freshnesschronic, it is my understanding that manga ("anime") characters have been illustrated, traditionally, with western features. This is because the pioneers of manga animation were heavily influenced by the success of Walt Disney, and emulated the Disney illustration style. In other words, characters in Japanese cartoons have NEVER been depicted with Asian features.

this is not correct at all. I watch anime and read manga. There are plenty of "Asian" features in the Japanese illustrations.

I just agree with most of the article, wanted to put it out there for everyone to read, form own opinions. As a recent Asian American graduate, a lot of my Asian American friends do not support this film. Don't blame the actors, blame production.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by freshnesschronic

this is not correct at all. I watch anime and read manga. There are plenty of "Asian" features in the Japanese illustrations.

And there are PLENTY of obviously western features as well (in many cases the features are predominantly or almost EXCLUSIVELY western). You never noticed that and wondered WTF??? I always did. Apparently I was more concerned about asian heritage then you were. How can that be???

[jinx]

It's a process. The examples from the past really illustrate how far we've come don't they? I'm not saying we've achieved racial equality, but take a minute to appreciate the successes and to see where this will eventually go.

[Gravdigr]

If you watch a movie filmed in Russia, by a Russian studio...Shocker of all shockers, it will contain predominantly (hold on to your hat) Russian actors. I can't watch 'Das Boot' and gripe because they didn't have the common decency to speak English. It's a German film. Imagine if they peppered several Asian-Germans into the story.

If the Swiss remake 'Amistad', on the other hand, they're fucked.

[Clodfobble]

...But Gravdigr, that means what you're essentially saying is that America = white. If your statement is valid, then how is it an American studio managed to make Amistad with black actors in the first place?

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

...But Gravdigr, that means what you're essentially saying is that America = white. If your statement is valid, then how is it an American studio managed to make Amistad with black actors in the first place?

There were no colors mentioned in my post. Do not paint me with that brush. I am no racist. If I were, I would have bitched about why they needed black actors to make a slave movie. But, I didn't, 'cause I aint.

I've said this before: Hear what I say, not what you think I think.

And now I'm done bitching.

[gvidas]

kind of a tangent -- sexism, not racism -- but interesting fpr how simple it is: The Bechdel Test

1. It has to have at least two women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by freshnesschronic

this is not correct at all. I watch anime and read manga. There are plenty of "Asian" features in the Japanese illustrations.

There are "plenty," yes. But there are also "plenty" of series that contain nothing but very obviously white features, especially the ones targeted at the younger audience, which Airbender happens to be.

Incidentally, Airbender isn't anime: it was made by an American studio attempting to imitate popular anime styles. Here is an actor/animation comparison. Just look at those Asian features on the main character's animation (top photo.) There's actually some debate on the internet as to whether the actor's half-Asian. Meanwhile, the bad guy (second photo) is Indian, the chick is Russian, and the best friend is white. Could they have gone for more Asian-looking actors to stay true to the backstory? Sure. On the other hand, the animators could have too.