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TobuIshi — AtLA - Color-Safe
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Published: 2008-12-13 17:12:44 +0000 UTC; Views: 21538; Favourites: 204; Downloads: 115
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Description
Because 'tis better to laugh, than to weep.
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My first reaction to the casting list was mild annoyance.
Then I read the reactions of my fellow Avatards, the minority fans who found a touchstone in this series.
I am not the black girl who rejoiced to find--for the first time--a relatable animated heroine of a race similar to her own. I am not the minority parent who will have to explain to his children why their heroes don't look like them anymore.
But I can still be frustrated, disgusted, and infuriated on their behalf--and on my own behalf, at the realization that this choice was made "for" me and people like me, white fans who love this show for its diversity and yet are expected to avoid the movie if it displays the same quality.
(I'm leaving Shyamalan off the hook for now--directors often don't have much say in casting, and his brown daughters' love for Katara was what got him interested in the first place. I assume he's as crushed as we are by this.)
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For the record, yes, there is something you can do. The casting call ain't over till the Cabbage Man sings.
To folks with something to say--let's keep the comments on this as mature and sensible as you awesome people always do in this little gallery of mine. Peace, y'all.
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Comments: 246
No XD
I knew it was an Asian-influenced show but I never thought of the characters being Chinese or anything.
In my head I just imagined them as American teenagers, especially Zuko and Suki.
Aang was the only one I thought should be Asian, since he's a monk.
There are already a thousand fantasy films starring Asian people too. Race shouldn't really be an issue, besides this is an American-made movie from an American cartoon, I wouldn't expect all Asian actors, that's not really being diverse either.
Movies should always be judged on the acting skills, people shouldn't just not go to a movie because they have an issue with the races.
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Well, honey, American teenagers are Asian. And black, and Latino, and Native American...
Can you name three fantasy films that star someone Asian? I'll accept the full spectrum of Asia, not just East Asian.
And of course I wouldn't expect all Asian actors--just brown kids would be a good start. Sokka and Katara could be played beautifully by a Latino and Latina, or black actors, or mixed-race...just not white.
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You know what I meant by American.
With European ancestors.
And no I can't, actually
I don't watch fantasy live-action movies because they're usually bad.
I don't think I'd be able to name three with all-white casts either.
And again, their skin color shouldn't matter
we have tans, movie-quality tans look more natural than just your average spray tan.
The actors and actresses look like the characters, just because they're white doesn't change that. What's-his-name-the-guy-from-Twilight totally has Sokka's face, although he looks more like 19 than 15.
I'm not saying there shouldn't be Asian actors in the movie, I just think having white people is fine too, as long as they can act as the characters.
LOL I don't know where they'll find someone for Iroh though.
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I do know what you meant--I simply do not agree that American equals European ancestry. We're called a melting pot for a reason.
I'm not asking for an example of an all-Asian cast. How about...naming three fantasy films where the hero, the love interest, and at least one major friend or supporting character under age twenty-five or so are Asian--or, for that matter, black, Latino/a, etc.--or any combination thereof. They don't even have to be all the same race--just not white. That's pretty reasonable, right? ^_^
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I probably think that way because of the way people say their race, like how black people have to be African American and Indian Americans but I never hear anyone say 'European American' so I just assume 'American' means they're a white person.
Honestly I don't know of any without white people
In fact, the only movies in general that come to mind when someone says 'fantasy' are Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia.
I don't really pay attention to peoples' race when I'm watching a movie though. It's just like 'That's Harry Potter'. Not 'That's a white British person.'
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*nods* White people like us can afford to not think about race when we watch movies, but we're not everybody. There's a really nifty essay by a black fantasy fan that you might want to read, about what it's like to be a minority fan... [link]
I don't know if you realize it, but please take a second and think about the message that "white = American, everything else = Something Else-American" sends.
(I'm Scottish-Dutch American, for the record, and grew up dancing at Robbie Burns Nights, eating mince and tatties, attending tulip festivals, and using words like sgian dubh (my brother's preferred HS graduation gift), drookit, and mondje boven in daily conversation. White's an ethnicity, too, not just a blank template or an automatic default.)
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If race is really something people think about while they're watching a movie, they just need to not watch movies. If someone's just going to sit there and be like 'This movie is ruined for me because I'm ____ and there's no ____ people in this movie' then that's really their own problem. (I skimmed the essay and that's what it sounded like to me)
White people just usually never say "I'm European-American" whereas a lot of the black people I know demand to be called "African-American" instead of black.
However I just think that if you're born in Africa and moved to America, you can be African-American, if you're born in America you're American.
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So...what would a person of Asian descent, born in America, be? I'm a little confused by your argument, since I thought you just defined "American" as meaning "white".
(And I've heard many white people describe themselves as Italian-American, Dutch-American, German-American, Norwegian-American...the list goes on.)
Are you really just calmly suggesting that black and brown people should either put up with an industry that insistently casts their own people as bit parts, sassy sidekicks, thugs, wise old kung fu masters, fat mammys and villains, or stop enjoying the medium of film completely?
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I meant that when someone just says they're American, I assume they're white because most other races want to be "Asian-American" or "African-American".
An Asian person born in America would be an American.
I can see how the movie industry can be racist with things like that
But yes
If someone won't watch movies because there are white people in them, that's their own personal problem. If they're having so much trouble watching a movie because there aren't any main minority characters, unless the movie is being prejudice and casting the Asian guy as a kung fu master for white kids, then they should just not watch the movie.
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*nods* Just a touch of advice, but you might want to avoid using the word "Americans" to mean white people. Referring to specific groups by a hyphenated name is an old practice meant to honor our heritage while also including us in the overall melting pot, but applying the blanket term "American" to just one group gets a little, um, awkward? I know this probably isn't what you meant, but it implies that only white people are 100% American, and other races are something else. Might want to be careful, there--we're all pretty recent immigrants to these shores, except for the First Nations.
You know, though, if you really believe it's better to ask non-whites to stop watching movies and trying out for main-character roles, than it is to mount a peaceful protest to try and change the industry and make it more tolerant and diverse, then I don't think this discussion can go anywhere. Want to just shake hands and agree to disagree?
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I just find that most people who have a problem with race in movies or mostly anywhere else aren't doing anything about it. If they're going out and trying out or petitioning against it, those are the people who are allowed to complain. If they're just sitting there complaining and not doing anything to fix their problems, they shouldn't watch movies.
XD My whole point was that I don't think Avatar needs Asian actors to be a good movie, not that I don't think there should have been Asian/other actors.
Yeah, I'm pretty much done with this argument too. XD
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*nods* I am definitely petitioning (or, rather, writing a letter) about it, and I know a lot of other folks are, too.
Avatar may well be a good movie--but although Memoirs of A Geisha could have been a good movie with white ladies in the kimono, it still would have been a bit odd, eh what? (Chinese actresses playing Japanese geisha raised enough eyebrows as it is.)
A'ight then. Let's get some movies made that these folks can watch by anyone's standards.
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XD I guess I'll just worry about how they do the bending effects and Appa
.__. And Momo and all the other animal hybrids and dragons and things.
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=-= , they could at least give those acting as katara, sokka and zuko a tan and a wig for the film
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*sighs* Are we going back to the 1930's and the days of blackface and yellowface? There's no shortage of talented minority actors out there. Tans and wigs are all very well for cosplayers, but...
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There's more to this situation than looking the part, yeah?
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i know. I said "AT LEAST" as in at the very least. I hate racism with a passion and besides that point id really like to know from those that took the auditions why these people were chosen. Aren't live-actions supposed to at least depict the characters >-< ?
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*nods* Quite so--it's hard to believe that out of an open casting call in Texas, the only kids with any talent were glittering white.
Then again, it looks like the only person they got out of that casting call is Aang. The other three have all got acting careers already.
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I'm just ignore the casting until they start filming XD
/This/ on the other hand, is too fabulous to be ignored. Haha, awesome work
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I'm still waiting for Mike and Bryan to come out of the closet laughing, saying "got you," or something. Desperately waiting. I am not happy with the casting decision at all.
But I also don't know if I support the whole writing letters to Nickelodeon thing, because wouldn't that be discriminatory too? Perhaps these kids who were chosen really did beat out all the othes who auditioned in terms of talent. There's a chance in a million that that happened. In our anger, we already started writing them off, saying they were only chosen because they were white and therefore these children should be taken off because they're white.
So we can't just start lashing out our anger just yet, based on these three tiny pictures provided in the article that hardly do any of the actors justice. We have every right to be frustrated by the choices made, but I wouldn't start demanding another audition just yet.
On the other hand. Jesse McCartney. I can't find a single logical reason for casting him as Zuko except for [link]
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*sigh* I hate to say it, but...I do think they should be taken off because they're white. Or, rather, I think these roles belong first to the most talented minority actors out there, and only if none whatsoever could be found, should any of these roles have been handed to white actors.
There are a thousand hero-opportunities for white actors to every one for racial minority actors. And, sadly, I think it's naiive to believe that among all the role-starved minority kids clamoring for the parts, they were unable to find a decent non-white actor for--not just one or two, but--all three of the main supporting roles.
Twilight is, at this point, more racially diverse than Avatar. Something isn't right here. >.>
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I totally agree. When I first looked at the article, the very first thing I noticed as I scrolled down was that the people cast as Sokka and Katara were totally wrong. I didn't even care about the facial features. What struck me first was the fact that they'd chosen white people, and even moreso the palest of the pale -_-;
I can't shake the feeling of injury, especially considering all of Avatar is supposed to be about racial diversity. I feel like even if there was a chance that these kids who've been cast were more talented, I didn't care. I felt like even then, someone of color should have been chosen for Sokka and Katara at the very least. It was just so blatantly obvious in the show that those two are of First Nations background. And for the casting directors to go and choose two white people instead felt like a direct blow to the fans of the show. I was actually offended.
But after reading ~swan-swan 's journal about the fandom being mightily judgemental, I guess I decided to calm myself down about it. There's still time. We have yet to see these people in action.
But I've decided that be that as it may- having to be fair and giving them the benefit of the doubt- I'm still not going to like it one bit
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*sigh* Taking a direct blow like that, my choice was to politely point out that they'd hit me (and thousands of other fans). I wrote a politely-worded letter of protest to Paramount, and may write others to other media sources.
I really don't think it's fair to our fellow POC fans to let this one slide for the sake of not troubling the filmmakers...or to let them believe that the white fans are as closed-minded as they believe. Doesn't mean we have to be screaming and burning effigies of Shyamalan, but peaceful protest is perfectly reasonable.
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Peaceful protest sounds like the best and only way to really get our points across.
I just hope it works, or at least has some effect D:
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I hope so, too. ^^ It has a history of doing so, but only when it gets enough momentum going. I'll be spreading word of the letter-writing to my friends, definitely.
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i'm really dissapointed for the casting of sokka and katara. that's... just... infuriating.
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*nods* Well, there's always the letter-writing campaign. And as Katara likes to remind us, HOPE.
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I couldn't laguh at this. I think our movie is going to suck horribly. Hollywood = racists
I still love your art though.
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No, it's not. There is such a thing as casting for talent and noteriety as opposed to race.
This is what stage makeup was made for. For centuries, theater in all it's forms have turned
whites into blacks and vice versa. It's taken all sorts of actor of varying diversities to play
other ethnicities. I'm a mixed actress who's done roles that were different from my ethnicity
on small stages with the help of stage make-up. It's about talent. Not race.
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Ever heard of black or yellow face?
It's not right. I'm japanese, mexican and white but that doesn't mean it's right to slap on anothers culture , asians should be cast in asian roles , not white assholes with no respect for others heritage in yellowface.
There are talented actors of " ethnic" origins out there. So really yes , it is about white washing , not talent.
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Talent is not the reason they picked an all white cast. It about good ol' fashioned racism, and Hollywood has plenty of that (EX: The new Dragonball Movie).
The story is the most important part of any movie, and race must be remember for the sake of authenticity.
If you remade Roots with an all white cast, or the Life of Martin Luthar King JR played by a white guy, everyone with common sense would get pissed.
Shakespeare is very different from an ANIME show made live action, that not only supposed to take place in ASIA with ASIANS, but that will also be filmed in freakin VIETNAM! Every extra is going to be ASIAN and there are going to be like 4 toe-headed aryans walking around trying to blend in.
This means IROH will be White. WTF!
And if you do think that casting is about talent, why the hell are they casting Jesse McCartny for Prince Zuko?! He's the most emotional deep character in the show and Jesse is as shallow as a shower.
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You seriously need to relax. Your attitude isn't doing much for your cause. In fact, I sriously think you're twisting a lot of things yorself.
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Who the hell are you?!
It's an internet chat, you need to serious stop taking it seriously.
I am NOT twisting anything. Anyone with eyes can see the common sense and anyone with a nose can smell the bullshit.
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I still can't believe people are trying to justify the casting...
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Word. Some people are incredibly blind.
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indeed
the same goes for making Sean Farris to play as kyo who is Japanese....
not flipping white.....
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Thank you. 
(Those are some of the first self-caricatures I've ever been satisfied with.)
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Lolz! I keep thinking/hoping that the cast list that's out is a spoof... And that come closer to the release they'll be saying 'gotcha' but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I think I'm about the only one around here who actually likes Jesse McArtney ... maybe not the perfect choice as Zuko, being that yes, he is white, but I think he'll be interesting to watch pull off the angry fire-bender persona. I wonder if they're going to get him to cut off all his hair though... The thought of him with the top knot style makes me giggle a lot.
Excellent point of view on this.
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If only, if only, the woodpecker sighs...
I will be as happy as anyone if it turns out to be a prank. (And, for the record, I don't think McCartney would necessarily fail at the acting portion of his role--he hasn't had much chance yet to prove himself either way. I just think there must be some Asian or half-Asian guys out there who would do it just as well, who may not have another chance like this in years--whereas McCartney literally has his pick. -_-)
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Lol. That's a true statement. It could be worse than McArtney... Though some fans might beg to differ.
And that's a good point, McArtney pretty much has the pick of what he'd like, I think, with the popularity he's garnered from teeny America. Though, he hasn't done a lot of acting. I don't think. *checks imdb* Other than some voice acting and guest appearances. I'd be super stoked though if they would turn to some actors who would represent the original material a little more... faithfully.
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good news they ditched mcartney, rejoice!
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Lol, I don't know if I'd call his conflicting performance schedule 'ditched', but I am happy to see Dev Patel as Zuko!! It's going to be pretty sweet!!
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I'm just glad blondies gone.
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