RE: The era of tolerance. Why is a black actress in “The Little Mermaid” infuriating everyone?
There are actually people that have spoken out against the casting of all sorts of actors in roles that should be played by someone of another race. Some of those people might speak out against this casting...but probably only a small minority.
The realities of Hollywood mean that you probably cast whoever they tell you to cast that somewhat fits the role. Someone in production wants this famous actor, because they feel like they would bring in more money to the film. Same goes for new actors. Someone saw someone in something and thinks they're an up and comer or some shit. The realities of casting in Hollywood, in America, often where it's people with connections, means that a certain amount of white washing will happen in a lot of movies.
There aren't a ton of asian actors, for example, that are big names that will be up for roles in many films. Of course, they could bring in ones from other countries and give them voice coaches if necessary.
But all of this only excuses so much. You might try to pick the best actor for the job, and one that will bring in more money, but when so many rolls are given to white actors when there have to be other actors that likely better fit the roll, but maybe aren't quite as famous, you gotta start to wonder.
I hope this beautiful actress was chosen because she was the best for the role...just as I hope various white actors were chosen because they were the best for the role...but that's really doubtful. I doubt that she would be very happy if she thought she was only chosen because she has melanin in her skin. I would guess that they're going for a more musical note, so they chose someone that's a singer. I hope that her skills were the primary reason they chose her.
But...it's hard to ignore that Hollywood has been pandering in recent history...
Maybe in another 50 years we won't have to worry about these things quite as much...if we haven't blown ourselves up.
Thank you very much for your opinion! I share it.
I’m sad about the fact that lately art is more and more like a very profitable and simple business. This is already anything - a policy, an arena for the struggle of interests, someone's connections or the availability of money. Art in the movie has very little.
Of course, I still continue to believe that this girl really was the best among all the other applicants for this role. And they took her solely for talent, and not because it is required by politics or tolerance.
Authors are also being told not to write historical fiction about minorities or gays unless they are themselves that race, that sexual orientation, even that "mental illness." This would seriously reduce the number of good books out there, if only those who've "been there, done that" are allowed to publish. Empathy and imagination have to fill in for experience, or we'd never have fairy tales, Star Wars, Harry Potter...
They should do the proper research to make sure they're correct...but you can't just bring forth stupid things that people say now days that have nothing to do with the subject. :P If that were possible, I could dismiss every argument anyone has. There are a lot of stupid people these days with stupid arguments. The idea that you should have control over your own body is not one of them. It is a fundamental argument against quite a number of things. Of course, someone's rights over one's own body are also regularly "violated" by the law. There are laws on what you can imbibe, an what procedures you can have, etc.