I feel the same way about characters of color. I mean, maybe its different for James Bond because part of his whole thing is being reinvented into a clearly different person with the same self destructive, alcoholic, womanizing tendencies. I certainly wouldn't think twice about a Doctor of color, as that seems like a reasonable change for that character. But generally speaking, I think we should making new stories and characters who are more diverse. By just making an existing character black what we are really saying is "being black isn't actually an important trait, this character is the same" and there HAS to be a less racist way to prevent characters of color from being stereotyped of that race.
Totally agree. Im still upset, really, about little mermaid. Those disney movies are supposed to be recreation, bringin to life a cartoon that already is in our midsn a vertain way. Create new classics with more variety!
I don’t know. I feel like it’s one of those things we get caught up on. I think sometimes the race/gender/hair color is important to the character and is sacred. But sometimes it’s just a feature. And if it’s a feature, why does it matter?
The Black Panther needs to be black. That’s an important aspect of the character. The race of the little mermaid is at no point an aspect of her character or the story, but her gender is. The little mermaid is decidedly female. 007 is decidedly male; does his race matter? I don’t really know.
I think we sometimes encounter characters that are portrayed in a way that is different from what we saw in our mind and that’s jarring, but it’s not always wrong. Sometimes it’s valuable to see a character we love portrayed in a way we found hard to imagine.
But a character's race is actually important. Maybe less so in fantastic stories that couldn't have taken place on earth, but still. When you have a character who was white, then you have the same character be black in the reboot, but nothing else changes about the character, what you are saying is "the struggles that people of color face and the differences in culture they grow up with have absolutely no bearing on who they become" or worse, albeit more realistically "should have absolutely no bearing on who they become".
That's not a good message. When you simply make a white character black what you are really saying is "being black doesn't matter" And that's insulting. Being black shouldn't be being portrayed as a bad trait because it isn't--but it is a trait. In real life the differences in culture and perspective in society that come with race shape a person.
Obviously that shouldn't be the whole of the character--but it should be an aspect that matters.
It is an important aspect, as is gender, and will affect the way the character is portrayed, but it doesn’t mean that the difference is destabilizing to the character.
I’m not an advocate for just changing a character just to meet a quota, but I think if it’s done thoughtfully it makes the presentation better. If the character is so static and nothing should change then Why bother with a reboot. Do something different or don’t do it.
I just beliebe it counts when it comes to the little mermaid because it is a recreation of the cartoon. Cinderella was blonde, Belle was brunette, Mulan is asian (although that is a huge main point of the movie and I get that) i like the fact that these specific movies are meant to bring the classics to life, how it will look in real life, and they are not doing that with little mermaid. Now if they were basing it on the book, or in another version of it be my guest she can be of any race or ethnicity, but to me they failed the little mermaid for is who were excited to see our favorite movi from childhood come to life. Now I know the girl they picked it is a super talented singer, no question on that, but I'm sure there are talented reheads too. They only have one movie whith an african american princess, maybe they just need to make more. And also, the have 0 latinas ... I would love to see a latina princess (not just tv show) but I don't expect for disney to make pocahontas a Mayan
@roanoke but that's the thing. It is not a reboot. In the case of Disney, it is the classings now with humans. Making it real. 007 I see it as Charlie's angels. They can be any race but the premise will always be it's 3 girls. Now I think they went overboard with the last one everyone was a girl and to mee it felt not organic like forces but whatever. 2000s version was a great reboot anyways I doubt think it needed a new one.
I grew up with the little mermaid too. And they did the right thing selecting an actress for her talent and ability and the way she works with the other talent. It will make the production better.
And if you’ve ever worked with a director to select talent for a production you know that sometimes the best talent to fit into your production isn’t necessarily the best talent in the room. There’s an important synergy to consider. And it’s incredibly hard to make those choices.
So maybe there’s a white girl out there that was amazing, but just didn’t fit the casting or wasn’t as good at the moves or the songs or was flat in the role. But in this story, race is not really an issue for the mermaid. There’s none of history that the land dwellers have regarding race (for her upbringing) and it may add interesting plot as they address that issue on surface.
I liked the differences in the Aladdin remake and I look forward to seeing the new little mermaid.
Hear hear. You shouldn't change characters just for diversity's sake. Make new, good stories with diverse characters, don't just shunt them into reboots.
Yeeesss thank you!!! Why to we have to change the character that have already a tradion, a description? Yes, create new characters, good new characters. She can be 006 even! But 007 is a guy.
Personally I'd love for "006" to make a cameo in a 007 movie and she'll be like this icon within the agency. Then she gets her own movie. And she is and older actress
The Black Panther needs to be black. That’s an important aspect of the character. The race of the little mermaid is at no point an aspect of her character or the story, but her gender is. The little mermaid is decidedly female. 007 is decidedly male; does his race matter? I don’t really know.
I think we sometimes encounter characters that are portrayed in a way that is different from what we saw in our mind and that’s jarring, but it’s not always wrong. Sometimes it’s valuable to see a character we love portrayed in a way we found hard to imagine.
That's not a good message. When you simply make a white character black what you are really saying is "being black doesn't matter" And that's insulting. Being black shouldn't be being portrayed as a bad trait because it isn't--but it is a trait. In real life the differences in culture and perspective in society that come with race shape a person.
Obviously that shouldn't be the whole of the character--but it should be an aspect that matters.
I’m not an advocate for just changing a character just to meet a quota, but I think if it’s done thoughtfully it makes the presentation better. If the character is so static and nothing should change then Why bother with a reboot. Do something different or don’t do it.
And if you’ve ever worked with a director to select talent for a production you know that sometimes the best talent to fit into your production isn’t necessarily the best talent in the room. There’s an important synergy to consider. And it’s incredibly hard to make those choices.
So maybe there’s a white girl out there that was amazing, but just didn’t fit the casting or wasn’t as good at the moves or the songs or was flat in the role. But in this story, race is not really an issue for the mermaid. There’s none of history that the land dwellers have regarding race (for her upbringing) and it may add interesting plot as they address that issue on surface.
I liked the differences in the Aladdin remake and I look forward to seeing the new little mermaid.
Personally I'd love for "006" to make a cameo in a 007 movie and she'll be like this icon within the agency. Then she gets her own movie. And she is and older actress