What should Catholics think of "whitewashing"?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Maxirad
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
It’s the entertainment business. I do not see the moral component here.
 
1Lord1Faith said:
I read the blog and I’m still not sure what you’re getting at.
Click to expand...
Here are two key paragraphs from this blog commentary:
Now, I will concede that this [the 1970s] was a time when there were not as many opportunities for Asian actors, even in roles that should have been a no-brainer. Why was David Carradine playing a Chinese monk in Kung Fu?

The series was a success and he imbued the character of Caine with dignity, but this type of bigoted casting was an unfortunate holdover from the era when John Wayne played Gengis [sic] Khan.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
1Lord1Faith said:
I read the blog and I’m still not sure what you’re getting at.
Click to expand...
In the context of the video, whitewashing is casting white actors in historical roles where the historical person was of a minority race. For example, a movie where the leading characters is a Middle Eastern man in the story might have the role played by an American white man (usually a popular star). It was much more common in the past but still happens today.
Maxirad said:
To understanding what I’m getting at, check out the following links:
Click to expand...
As a Catholic, I am always interested in the truth rather than some modified story, so I prefer they cast people that best fit the history. At the same time, I understand it’s sometimes hard to find a person that fits that also is a good enough actor to pull it off. Most movies are about making money, so they sometimes have make compromises. I don’t think whitewashing is some deliberate act to push minorities out of film. I think they are probably doing this for more innocent reasons, even if not ideal. In the past it was definitely done on purpose under the notion that minorities were not capable of “sophisticated” jobs like acting, but I don’t think that’s happening anymore, at least in modern America.
 
Last edited:
Casting is all about who will make the most money, either because of what an actor can bring to a role, or by attracting viewers with his name and popularity. I know it is a rarity, but sometimes a person is cast the other way, as with Idris Elba, as the blue-eyed Roland Deschain in The Dark Tower.
 
Last edited:
Just let the free market work.

Having someone play a character that has an obvious identity dimension who doesn’t fit that description won’t really fly in today’s market, and I don’t just mean PC stuff.

It’s just so much easier to find actors who match the description of the characters race or m/f gender who are that.
 
Keep in mind, that the US government considers Middle Eastern folks white
 
I remember a woman from Scotland telling me (after I told her my heritage), “you just don’t look it”. I responded that I do, but she’s never actually seen a real one. 🕶️😎
 
I think it is silly. We aren’t supposed to pay attention to race, but if a White person played a historically Asian character we are supposed to notice that and be greatly offended? Hollywood made movies that appealed to their target market. The Blessed Virgin Mary is often represented as looking like whatever ethnic group makes the image. It isn’t offensive at all.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top