African American
Related: About this forumWhy Won’t Hollywood Let Us See Our Best Black Actors?
Idris Elba is in four major studio films this year, but you wont see his face in any of them. Three of those high-profile jobs are voice roles: In addition to playing Chief Bogo in Zootopia and Shere Khan in The Jungle Book, Elba has a supporting part in Pixars upcoming Finding Dory. His only live-action role in the lot is playing the villainous Krall in Star Trek Beyond, where hes buried under so many facial prosthetics that hes more than unrecognizable hes a different color entirely.
I cant fault Disney for wanting to cast Elba in all of those cartoons: The mans got one of the best voices in cinema, rich and insinuating. And now that Elba has become something of a sci-fi staple in films like Prometheus and Pacific Rim, perhaps it was inevitable that hed don makeup for a franchise like Star Trek. But as one of the few black leading men in Hollywood, Elba means something. So what does it say when we see so little of him?
I wish I could call all these castings a fluke. I worry theyre not. Look at Lupita Nyongo, whose most notable roles since winning the Oscar for 12 Years a Slave have been playing the orange alien Maz Kanata in Star Wars and the white wolf Raksha in The Jungle Book. In this summers video-game adaptation Warcraft, Paula Patton is slathered in green paint as the half-human, half-orc Garona, which makes me wonder if she consulted Zoe Saldana for advice before taking the role: After all, Saldana has already played green in Guardians of the Galaxy and blue in Avatar. (Its become so common for Saldana to play a different color on film that they even gave her another skin tone for the controversial clusterfuck Nina and thought nothing of it.)
You dont see Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock, and Tom Cruise painting their faces to win roles, but this color-changing gambit has practically become required of black dramatic actors who want to appear in big-budget movies. Of our A-list movie stars, the only white one regularly tinting her skin is Jennifer Lawrence, who signed a three-film contract to play Mystique in the X-Men films well before she was an Oscar-winning superstar, and whose latest go-round in the role is her least blue yet. Fox was savvy to put Lawrences famous white face front and center for X-Men: Apocalypse, since they now know its a face that sells movie tickets and magazines. So, too, could Lupita Nyongos, yet since her Oscar win, no white director has cast her in a live-action role that lets her live in her own black skin.
http://www.vulture.com/2016/04/hollywood-black-actors.html?mid=facebook_nymag
littlemissmartypants
(22,853 posts)leaves me speechless great. I am watching Luther and am utterly in love. Thanks for the post, MrScorpio.
Love, peace and shelter. lmsp
Firebrand Gary
(5,044 posts)Last edited Tue May 3, 2016, 08:03 AM - Edit history (1)
While I do believe that Hollywood does in fact have a problem, I think this is a poor example of this. Very poor.
Idris Elba recent roles include MLK, Thor, Bastille Day and he will be helm-ing Stephen Kings Dark Tower. Zoe Saldana has been cast in some seriously iconic roles, such as Gamora (Guardians of the Galaxy), Uhura of Star Trek, Neytiri of Avatar-Avatar, a film revolving beings of different species trying to coexist. Zoe was also cast in lead roles like Columbiana and Nina (Columbiana-awesome action movie btw). Nina a film where she was criticized for being cast in the role to which she wasn't black enough.
Lastly we have the incredible Lupita Nyong'o, who's still relatively new to the scene. Never less she's earned an Academy Award for her soul jolting performance of Patsey in Twelve Years a Slave. She landed a role in Star Wars as Maz Kanata-easily the most liked character in Star Wars recent film. She's also in the movie the Jungle Book where ALL of the main characters are animals with the exception of the role of Mewgli played by actor Neel Sethi, 12 years old at filming. Lupita, I believe is only at the very beginning of her career and by the looks of it, it's going to be huge!
I get the argument about Lupita, but I would caution patience, she's not as seasoned as some of the others. John Boyega is a good example, Star War's would not be the same without him, he's beloved and his role is massive! He's had a solid quantity of work since he's been on the scene and keeps grabbing more and more impressive rolls.
It's subjective really, but if you're a fan of comics like Guardians of the Galaxy or of TV series like Star Trek, these roles are cherished by by all who loved them. These actors are lucky to have them at these points in their careers, people will back and say "Wow, yea they did that too."
uhnope
(6,419 posts)that whole argument (The Oscars = Racism) was so specious, time-wasting and counterproductive; the OP article is just an extension of it
JustAnotherGen
(32,025 posts)We will continue to have it whether they like it or not.
Orrex
(63,263 posts)(Not to imply that you need my approval, of course!)
JustAnotherGen
(32,025 posts)This is why the 'minorities' know so much about the 'dominant culture' - yet so little is known about us.
When we do share - we get - 'silly waste of time'.
If I can use DU as a platform to say - If you still your fingers and shut your mouth you just might learn something . . . then I will.
This conversation is a 'gift' and should be treated as such.
Orrex
(63,263 posts)Last edited Wed May 4, 2016, 12:54 PM - Edit history (1)
A little diversity would be more than welcome and is long overdue.
uhnope
(6,419 posts)The one where one of the most powerful men in Hollywood boycotted the Oscars because he felt discriminated against... The one where the Oscars was taken so seriously, as if it's anything but a silly self-referential evening anyway (which used to not be taken very seriously, btw)... The one where the Oscars in 2014 were viewed by racists/conservatives as proof that Hollywood liberal activists had taken over the academy, and then the Oscars in 2016 were viewed by activists/"leftists" that the academy was racist... It was really an embarrassing cultural moment, saved only by Chris Rock's deft handling
JustAnotherGen
(32,025 posts)Always the one to put down our discussions right?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1187&pid=21827
Too bad - you just can't see it. Enjoy your bubble of 'wisdom' where you know better what black people should talk about or be concerned about. Call Chuck Pacheco - maybe he'll make you an associate producer!
uhnope
(6,419 posts)But I would think you of all people would avoid telling anyone that their opinion is invalid because of the (presumed) hue of their epidermis, but we all know the Internet is where irony went to die
JustAnotherGen
(32,025 posts)I'm pointing out to my Co-Group Hosts that you have disrupted before. Always the same spiel - going back to 2013 in this group. I just pointed it out.
And I did address your Dominant Culture 'Explaining'
Let me make myself even more clear -
You are wrong.
Wrong headed.
You have NO CLUE what you are talking about.
YOU don't get to set our priorities -we do.
Me? Why me? Why point out 'hue'? I'm black woman of half white parentage married to a European immigrant.
I think it's YOU who is doing the presuming.
Or maybe you've just missed that thing the past few years black women in America have run out of fucks to give about who we offend?
uhnope
(6,419 posts)you haven't addressed a single point, and you apparently think this is discussion:
Wrong headed.
You have NO CLUE what you are talking about.
YOU don't get to set our priorities -we do.
It's embarrassing, and your pride in offending people is rather childish, and your view that someone's points are not valid due to the color of their skin is...well, I don't think I need to connect those dots.
you're totally counterproductive, and you've become what you oppose.
Jackie Wilson Said
(4,176 posts)or valued posters at DU.
You, on the other hand
.....
uhnope
(6,419 posts)that I can't speak truth to a "respected" DUer (known for conspiracy theories and threads about UFOs) and now that supposedly respected poster's account is under review for throwing a tantrum and calling other DUers Nazis.
This kind of "appeal to false authority", where you say that something must be true because it comes from a certain source, is a logical fallacy. This is also one of the main features of cognitive dissonance on the Internet--where someone can get respect just by hanging around years on an anonymous chat forum.
& BTW I don't give disrespect until I get it.
JustAnotherGen
(32,025 posts)You made clear your absolute lack of respect for how Black Americans experience America. Now you are bringing in shit from ANOTHER THREAD to attack another member who doesn't post back here and I don't even think reads here.
What is your purpose for being in this Group on this thread?
You have done a hell of a job ignoring us until you wanted to throw testicles/ovaries around. Did you just want attention?
uhnope
(6,419 posts)you boast that you have "run out of fucks to give about who we offend."
So it's clear that you demand respect, but you refuse to give it.
That's actually very enlightening about the situation, which I understand better now, so thank you.
JustAnotherGen
(32,025 posts)JustAnotherGen
(32,025 posts)This is why we can't have nice things.
He/She could have taken five minutes, gone back to the posts in February and read to understand why the OP posted this back here.
Below I'm reading a post with links to another thread where he's downright insulting to another DUer who never posts or reads back here.
JustAnotherGen
(32,025 posts)Thank you for "policing me" and giving me such a great education about what you believe my intent to be.
Why are you trying to brow beat me into arguing with you.
And you just accused me of racism. Shame on you.
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)defined criterion are perpetuating a specious argument.
JustAnotherGen
(32,025 posts)Nina experienced not only the dominant culture's disapproval of 'african features' but colorism within. Saldana is an opportunist as I believe most entertainers are. She took the opportunity - but it would be like casting me as Ms Scarlett when I would be better suited for Queen.
On that note - Queen was well cast (Made for TV movie starring Halle Berry).
sarge43
(28,946 posts)Any scene where there's a gathering of five or more humans - all white faces. Especially egregious - The Avengers, the battle in New York City. I believe a black kid was rescued, otherwise, it could have been Oslo instead of one of most racially and ethically diverse few square miles on the planet.
Firebrand Gary
(5,044 posts)When we talk about the Marvel Universe, I'm looking towards the whole body of work... Captain America: Civil War which will be a much more diverse film which is integral to the MU. For example, T'Challa or better known as Black Pather will make his debut played by actor Chadwick Boseman. Anthony Mackie will reprise his role as Falcon and Don Cheadle is returning as his character War Machine.
I cannot wait for this film, it's going to be the best of the lot!
JustAnotherGen
(32,025 posts)A good movie for you - The Words.
It's awesome because race is not at the center - and it's very true about most mixed race marriages.
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)in the dystopian future? I saw one that was supposed to be SF/Bay Area and another that was Chicago, very diverse cities, but in the future, they are envisioned as almost all white people. No one explicitly mentioned genocide, neither do the books that they are taken from. And yet, they seem to be exclusively populated by white people.
The Matrix was the last big scifi movie that had some balance, that I have seen. Admittedly, I don't see many movies, but that might be because I am BORED with only seeing white men and skinny, 27-year-old white women in every single part. TV is a bit better. The zombie apocalypse seems to feature actors from many backgrounds.
Orrex
(63,263 posts)Although the films featured pretty good ethnic diversity, one gets the sense that the Zion crew chooses which pod people to de-pod based on their resemblance to Abercrombie & Fitch models. What happens to the not-as-beautiful people in this rave-till-dawn dystopia?!?!?
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)The costumes still look sharp, and it was made almost 20 years ago. I guess people wearing Crocs and cargo shorts didn't fit the artistic vision And let's be honest a personal trainer, good lighting, and makeup can make average people look amazing.
Orrex
(63,263 posts)I'd be interested to hear what Elba has to say on the matter, for instance. Well, honestly I'd be interested to hear Elba read a phone book, so maybe he's a bad example.
JustAnotherGen
(32,025 posts)My girlfriends and I have deemed him the 'back fill' for Redford. Looks, voice, the way he walks. . . That kind of tells you how I 'view' people.
I'd like to produce a movie -
Redford and Idris Read the Escort Service Ads in the Yellow Pages
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)JustAnotherGen
(32,025 posts)wildeyed
(11,243 posts):RaisesHand: I want to see Elba's face! You really can't see too much of the man, IMO. Stupid of the movie moguls to ignore a talent of that magnitude.
Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)and it's comprehensive look at black people in speculative fiction. It's taking the filmmaker years to make.
Invisible Universe: A History of Blackness in Speculative Fiction
Here's an overview by the filmmaker, M. Asli Dukan
The Invisible Universe Documentary Channel
From the origins of the genres, images of Black people in fantasy, horror and science fiction or speculative fiction (SF) have been inauthentic at best in the imaginations of white creators. From the Fantastic Voyages of the 1700s where Black pirates kidnapped white explorers to far off alien lands, to technologically advanced futures where Black people didnt exist in any significant population, to post-nuclear holocaust America where modern Blacks took on aggressive pre-civilized behaviors, many of these ideas have created lasting impressions in the minds of their audiences and future creators. And though there were a few attempts by some white writers to use the genres for social commentary, for instance on race relations, these efforts were few and far in between. There is, however, a significant output of work by Black creators, who used the techniques and themes of the genres to write alternative stories and to produce films that spoke closer to the realities of Black life http://www.theberkeleygraduate.com/documentary-review-invisible-universe-a-history-of-blackness-in-speculative-fiction/#sthash.oUUvCA53.dpuf
littlemissmartypants
(22,853 posts)Thanks!!