Racebending.com needs to walk the walk
It is the summer season and now is the time for butt-kicking blockbusters and good, no-nonsense fun at the movie theatre. But this season’s glut of Blockbusters is plagued by a movement that has reared its ugly head just this last year, a movement that seriously needs to take a look at itself in the mirror and ask what it is TRULY fighting for… Racebending.com.
This site and grass roots movement was born out of rage from Asians and Asian-Americans concerning the casting for M. Night Shyamalan and Paramount Picture’s film The Last Airbender, and has since spread to Disney and Bruckheimer’s new film Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The interesting subtext to the criticism of both of these films is that they are: 1. Two of the most expensive movies of the year and 2. Based on pre-existing, popular material. For those who don’t know, I’ll elaborate.
The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is an action/adventure/epic based on the first installment of the wildly popular video games series Prince of Persia. The Last Airbender is also an action/adventure/epic based on Nickelodeon’s television series, Avatar: The Last Airbender (Avatar was dropped from the title so as to avoid confusion with James Cameron’s film), and was created by Michael Di Martino and Bryan Konietzko.
Both films are based in fictional realms, with Prince of Persia taking place in a romanticized and fantastic version of ancient Persia and The Last Airbender taking place in a wholly fictionalized realm with Asian/Nomadic/Western influence driving the storyline, but primarily Asian culture influencing the aesthetics of the world.
Both films have been lauded as visually capturing the aesthetics of their respected worlds, so where does the controvery come from? Simply put: Casting. Now before I continue, I should note that what follows is purely my own opinion based on the information that has been presented to me, unlike my counterparts at Racebending.com, I do not claim to know the minds of the creators/filmmaker/cast/producer and will do my best not to make any assumptions heretofore beyond what has been confirmed by either Paramount, Shyamalan, Marshall (producer) and/or Konietzko/Di Martino. Despite this disclaimer, I realize my own fallibility and biases, I must and do recognize this for the sake of professional fairness.
Racebending.com’s general qualm with both of these films is that, put simply, since they are influenced by Persian and Asian culture respectively, they should have cast Persian/Asian actors in the lead roles. The logic in this argument is sound, you would be a fool not to recognize it. However, just because the logic of the argument is sound, doesn’t mean the argument itself is sound. Which it isn’t.
Racebending.com asserts that since both films are confirmed by their respective creators (for the record, all of who are caucasian in both camps, but this argument I realize holds no water, it is a point, though, that I feel needs to be acknowledged) as being heavily influenced by Persian and Asian culture, art, mythology and theology. This fact is incontrovertible, as Racebending.com recognizes and tauts. The problem with Racebending.com’s argumentation comes with the WORDING of this fact, namely, ‘influence’. The whole of Racebending.com’s argument is based on the confirmed fact (and blatantly obvious representation) of these respective influences. They assert that since a film/world/etc. is based on a culture or aesthetic, then the corresponding people who are usually (and mostly stereotypically) asso0ciated with the specific culture/aesthetic in question are the only people suitable to fill the roles of the stories taking place in the worlds in question.
This is where the problem lies with Racebending.com. To say that simply because a film/story/world is based upon a realm/culture in the real world they (the filmmakers) should cast individuals who sometimes correspond to the aesthetic presented is, in and of itself, completely and utterly racist. Especially in today’s world of acceptance and understanding, saying that because Persia and/or Airbender have Buddhist/Hindu/Asian/Middle Eastern influences constitutes the restrictive casting of individuals who are racially connected to these influences is not only a contradiction of its own proclaimed message, but it is the very definition of racism.
Let me review (I realize the long-windedness of the previous, for which I apologize), 1. Confirmed Asian/Middle Eastern/Western influences. 2. Logically, Influence =/= Race. Now, again let me reiterate that this is simply my opinion and mine alone, but Merriam-Webster (dating back to 1933) gives a chilling definition of racism, one that when considering Racebending.com’s argument, should send a sickening chill of familiarity down the spines of anyone who is reading:
Racism: 1: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.
Yikes. This is exactly what I thought when I first read Racebending.com’s doublespeak filled website. I was raised to believe that no human being is different from another and that any cultural differences we have as a species should be recognized, honored and respected in all instances, even when used fictional and/or humorous outlets (I believe in the ability to poke fun at and laugh at one another’s cultures, beliefs and stereotypes, including my own, but that is another blog and issue entirely). Essentially, I was raised to be colorblind, but not culture blind. The problem is most people believe that culture and color go hand in hand. For example, because I am white/caucasian, my primary language should be English, I should be Judeo-Christian in religious orientation, live somewhere in a westernized country and wear khakis and polos to work…ridiculous right? Insulting right? While this is admittedly an exaggeration, it is the quintessential argument that Racebending.com is making.
If calligraphy, asian iconography and martial arts and the fact that some characters were drawn with darker skin, different eyes, different clothes, etc. means the film has to feature asian actors in its main roles, then by the same exact logic, films that occur in a fictionalized version of England can only feature pasty white/caucasian, tea-drinking, bad-teeth touting, english accented prigs in fancy hats/dresses? All because that is the cultural association? Insutling, isn’t it? Racist, isn’t it? This sounds ridiculous, and it is, but it is absolutely no different from what Racebending.com is asserting about The Last Airbender. If I were a member of the asian community, which admittedly I am not, I would be downright embarrassed by what the people who claim to speak for me are saying, much less willing to rally behind their cause. If you want to see an example of racism wearing a different hat, look no further than Racebending.com.
Additionally, apparently the casting of multiple actors/actresses of Middle Eastern/African American/Asian descent or heritage in pivotal/key roles does not constitute a culturally/racially diverse film for the supporters of Racebending.com. Why? Because they are not strictly Asian, a point that is reiterated over and over again on the Racebending.com webpage (Don’t believe me? Go read for yourself: http://www.racebending.com). Not culturally diverse just because it does not exclusively cast asian/nomadic actors/actresses in the lead roles? That is racism at its ugliest if I have ever seen or heard it.
A few things to note:
I am very hard on Racebending.com, because I DO believe that while their intentions are noble, which they most certainly are, their views and methods are inflammatory and increasingly verging on libelous. They also do this, in part, because many of them are fans of the original show, something we most definitely share as I followed the show since its very first season and it, its story of hope, love, friendship and quest for peace, has enriched my life. Lastly, I do recognize their frustration concerning the lack of casting of asians in films, as well as their point regarding the third-party casting agencies poor choice of words on their casting call, saying “Caucasian or any other race”, for which there is absolutely no excuse. However, these frustrations taken into account, going about it by boycotting films that increase awareness of asian influences/culture (despite the casting) and may possibly break ground for more films like it is not, in my opinion, at all the way to go about it. I equate it to the Christian community’s boycotting and protesting of The Golden Compass. Now the film’s inadequacies notwithstanding, the Christian community’s protest and eventual success (again, in my opinion) in ruining the financial success of the film did not do anything in the end for the Christian community. It did not increase the number of Christian/Christian-based films in the mainstream market, increase awareness of the Christian message and/or cause, and it did not stimulate conversation between believers and non-believers. At the end of the day, all that movement did was destroy the American box office success of a film that could have potentially stimulated questions and the opportunity for conversation/ministering to non-believers, not to mention unfairly discounting a story as “satanic” and ‘dangerous” that touts poignant messages of hope, courage and love. I am a Christian, and it was sad what my own people did to The Golden Compass, and I would really hate to see the same thing happen to The Last Airbender and by unavoidable extension (whether right or not) the Asian community.
I would never dare tell you what to think. I can only voice an opinion. You, my readers, must ultimately make the decision for yourself. I, nor Racebending.com, has the right to tell you that either one of is definitively right or wrong (who am I to judge?). What I can offer are my primitive observations and one seriously passionate opinion. In the end, it is your choice and that is the one thing no one can take away from you.
Thanks for reading and leave a comment below (disrespectful or hateful comments, directed at myself, Racebending.com, Paramount, or anybody else, will be deleted, at my subjective discretion, without warning or explanation, so please think before you write).
EDIT: For those who read my blog (all ten of you), note that I realize that this is not at all in tune with my normal pieces of writing and I will return to my normally light hearted writing. Regardless of what people think or say about the above entry, I just had to say something or I knew I would regret it. I’ll be back this week with more fun blogging! Thank You to everyone who reads!
I’ve read so many arguments from purported fans of the series who think that in order to prove themselves fans, they must be fans of the film too, sight unseen. Let me ask you this: why would you support a film that disrespects everything the original “Avatar” stood for? Why would you think that the creators who put so much emphasis on respecting the cultures it patterned that world off of – would ever condone the blatant cultural appropriation going on in this film?
I know you mean well, but make no mistake. “Avatar: the Last Airbender” was Asian-themed, and this must extend to the ethnicities of the characters. It’s absolutely vital. If the characters were not Asian, the entire premise falls apart. It becomes an awful example of cultural theft, with Caucasians replacing minority heroes in the stories of their own peoples and heritage – which is exactly what the film version is doing. Every one of the creators of the original cartoon who has spoken up so far – directors, consultants, animators – have affirmed the original cartoon’s characters were Asian and Inuit.
The point is not to kill the “Airbender” franchise. Frankly, it was dead the moment the casting announcements were made at the end of December ’08. The point is to garner enough negative attention so that the next time the Hollywood executives sit down to cast “Akira” or “Death Note” or “Bleach,” they stop and *think* for a second that maybe the guy playing an Asian character should be an Asian actor this time.
It’s too late to save “Airbender.” But we can make sure they *never* try something like this again. That’s the goal. That’s what’s at stake.
If I had a buck for each time I came here.. Amazing writing!
Super great read! Truely.
andrewvest.wordpress.com’s done it again. Superb article.
I know you mean well, but make no mistake. “Avatar: the Last Airbender” was Asian-themed, and this must extend to the ethnicities of the characters. It’s absolutely vital. If the characters were not Asian, the entire premise falls apart. It becomes an awful example of cultural theft, with Caucasians replacing minority heroes in the stories of their own peoples and heritage – which is exactly what the film version is doing. Every one of the creators of the original cartoon who has spoken up so far – directors, consultants, animators – have affirmed the original cartoon’s characters were Asian and Inuit.
+1