(Untitled)

[glockgal]

AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER

There's a discussion going on at the TWOP forums about the movie, to which the lovely jedifreac and others are trying valiantly to debunk comment gems like:

Katara herself ACTS like modern white teenager albeit with some distinct differences.

and

I mean Zuko's character is practically a cliche (incensed arrogant honor obsessed

Comments

[cereta]

I dunno. sf_drama just got ahold of it, and I think they hit bingo in about five comments. I'm fairly sure there's lower in the barrel they can manage.

Bleh.

[glockgal]

Now with an extra helping of LOUD OPINIONS FROM PEOPLE WHO'VE NEVER SEEN THE SHOW. They're digging below the barrel at this point. Thanks for the head's up, though!

[cereta]

My particular favorite was the "well, penguins on the show have four wings!" Fortunately, a number of people shouted that down, or I would have gone stabbity.

[yeloson]

So... if a character doesn't act in a racially stereotypical way they shouldn't be played by people of color, and if a character does act in a racially stereotypical way they shouldn't be played by people of color?

In other words, in no way should any character be played by people of color?

(Nevermind, uh, that there's all kinds of people who act like Katara of any color, but, I guess only white folks can be normalized, right?)

[glockgal]

In other words, in no way should any character be played by people of color?

Well, that's the only reasonable way to please us crazy, racist-against-whites, oversensitive PoC, innit? Because this way everyone can be 'colourblind' We all see white! Oh and PS: all Americans are white.

[ali_wildgoose]

A friend emailed me about this this morning:

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?id=63052

:3

[ali_wildgoose]

Also, you know, if anyone involved in this is interested in radio journalism, there's a really great This American Life-style documentary to be made about whitewashing in Hollywood. Just this instance is one thing, but there's a larger context, you know? One that's pretty unsettling even to people who normally wouldn't care.

[jedifreac]

squee! But why doesn't it link to our letter writing campaign?

[glockgal]

I know, that's the saddest part! I'm pretty sure everyone who emailed them included the link to the letter-writing. Maybe they wanted to keep it more film-related and less...fandomy? Bleh.

[jedifreac]

Well, yes. Katara acts like a modern white teenager with distinct differences.

Such as not being white.

::facepalm::

[glockgal]

I...was gonna google '2 girls 1 cup', but I'm at work and somehow I'm guessing it is akin to googling something like 'tubgirl'. O.o

In short - YES. SENTENCE OF PAIN.

[ratcreature]

Have these people even watched Avatar? I mean, yeah, martial arts are integral to several characters including Zuko, but he has awesome character development. Even if he seems a two dimensional stock character at first, he doesn't stay that way. *headdesk*

[glockgal]

AHAAH your icon! XD XD XD Now if they populated the Avatar world entirely of rats, I...wouldn't complain as much.

Total headdeask, right? I love how the argument goes that Asian people can't play roles meant for Asains because that's 'too cliched'....so then white people should play it! BINGO!