Author Topic: Diversity Culture  (Read 744 times)

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Offline Squidward von Squidderson

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Diversity Culture
« on: August 12, 2022, 04:52:20 pm »
I recently made the mistake of looking up what the denizens of the interwebs were saying about the newest Middle Earth adaptation coming to Prime.  I thought the trailers looked very interesting.

Most of what I saw were rants about how “woke” the characters are now vs what Tolkien originally wrote. 

Here’s a good take on it. 

https://gamerant.com/lotr-rings-of-power-diversity-important/
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The fans that are opposed to the addition of diversity, whatever their argument may be, are completely dismissing the perspective of entire groups of people. Many of the individuals that are passionate followers of Tolkien’s works and the recreations made of them, have been fans of the stories for years- maybe even their whole lives. For those people, Tolkien’s worlds were a unique and immersive experience that inspired the reader to be courageous. In most cases, they even had a character, or multiple, that they connected to and saw themselves in, but being an almost entirely white cast, this was an experience that in many ways, only white viewers could have.


By making some of the prominent and respectable characters of the world people of color, or by fleshing out the story arcs of a few female characters, the Rings of Power writers made the world more accessible to a broader audience. Now, a whole new generation of young people, at a greater number, can watch this series and see themselves in the characters. That is the purpose of diversity in film, so that the immersive, connecting effect of the characters is not reserved for only one group of people.

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Offline Black Dog

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2022, 05:20:45 pm »
I recently made the mistake of looking up what the denizens of the interwebs were saying about the newest Middle Earth adaptation coming to Prime.  I thought the trailers looked very interesting.

Most of what I saw were rants about how “woke” the characters are now vs what Tolkien originally wrote. 

Here’s a good take on it. 

https://gamerant.com/lotr-rings-of-power-diversity-important/

*Guy watching show set in a world with dragons, orcs and magical angels* "Whaddaya mean there are Black people here!?"
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Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #2 on: August 12, 2022, 07:48:32 pm »
The fans that are opposed to the addition of diversity, whatever their argument may be, are completely dismissing the perspective of entire groups of people. Many of the individuals that are passionate followers of Tolkien’s works and the recreations made of them, have been fans of the stories for years- maybe even their whole lives. For those people, Tolkien’s worlds were a unique and immersive experience that inspired the reader to be courageous. In most cases, they even had a character, or multiple, that they connected to and saw themselves in, but being an almost entirely white cast, this was an experience that in many ways, only white viewers could have.


By making some of the prominent and respectable characters of the world people of color, or by fleshing out the story arcs of a few female characters, the Rings of Power writers made the world more accessible to a broader audience. Now, a whole new generation of young people, at a greater number, can watch this series and see themselves in the characters. That is the purpose of diversity in film, so that the immersive, connecting effect of the characters is not reserved for only one group of people.

I don't particularly have a big problem with a few black characters or more prominent female characters.  I think it's lame and unnecessary hypersensitive politically-motivated weaksauce, but if it turns out to be a really good show then whatever that's by far the most important thing.  I'm a bit worried about some of visuals/special effects for the show, but that's a different subject.

I think the above argument is pretty stupid however.  We are all human beings regardless of skin colour.  You don't need to see someone with your own skin colour in order to relate to them.  That's like saying people with blue eyes or red hair need to see people with characters with blue eyes or red hair in order to relate to them.  Some of my favorite films and shows like The Cosby Show have all-black casts and I can relate to those characters quite a lot because those characters were quite like my family.  The gender argument is a bit more poignant since gender affects your lived experience more than the pigment of your skin.  But having a relatable and likeable character doesn't have to be of your same gender either, especially if they are elves from Middle Earth.
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guest18

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #3 on: August 12, 2022, 07:52:26 pm »
To paraphrase: I don't like it but I don't dislike it because I don't care and neither should anyone else...but I don't like it.
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Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #4 on: August 12, 2022, 07:59:28 pm »
To paraphrase: I don't like it but I don't dislike it because I don't care and neither should anyone else...but I don't like it.

No more like that's annoyingly unnecessary but whatever, carry on if it makes you feel better.
"Nipples is one of the great minds of our time!" - Bubbermiley

Offline Squidward von Squidderson

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #5 on: August 12, 2022, 08:47:51 pm »
No more like that's annoyingly unnecessary but whatever, carry on if it makes you feel better.

Unnecessary for whom?

Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #6 on: August 12, 2022, 09:20:58 pm »
"Nipples is one of the great minds of our time!" - Bubbermiley
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Offline Squidward von Squidderson

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #7 on: August 13, 2022, 12:52:22 am »
Well not you apparently.

I honestly don’t care. I’m white.  If there are all white characters, I probably wouldn’t even notice.

But, I have empathy for other people, so I understand why one would care if they never see themselves represented in the popular culture, like these large tv productions.

And, since I’m not a bigot, I don’t mind if people of colour are represented in tv shows that I watch.  If it’s a good show, with good acting and writing, then why would I care?
« Last Edit: August 13, 2022, 01:01:18 am by Squidward von Squidderson »

Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2022, 05:50:40 am »
I don't mind either, because part of the experience is watching a story staged in 2022.

So I expect a new production of Shakespeare to have trappings of modern production, camera technology, pacing and diverse casting.

What I don't like is that such things seem to be the limit of social progress in our society.  And that people are satisfied with that.

Offline Black Dog

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2022, 09:58:41 am »
I don't particularly have a big problem with a few black characters or more prominent female characters.  I think it's lame and unnecessary hypersensitive politically-motivated weaksauce, but if it turns out to be a really good show then whatever that's by far the most important thing.  I'm a bit worried about some of visuals/special effects for the show, but that's a different subject.

*Guy who doesn't like quotas in workplaces voice* there should be quotas on women/PoC characters in TV shows.

Quote
I think the above argument is pretty stupid however.  We are all human beings regardless of skin colour.  You don't need to see someone with your own skin colour in order to relate to them.  That's like saying people with blue eyes or red hair need to see people with characters with blue eyes or red hair in order to relate to them.  Some of my favorite films and shows like The Cosby Show have all-black casts and I can relate to those characters quite a lot because those characters were quite like my family.

Spoken like someone who's never experienced a lack of characters who look like him on screen. If you genuinely didn't think representation mattered, you wouldn't care how many non-white or women characters were out there, but you obviously do.

Quote
The gender argument is a bit more poignant since gender affects your lived experience more than the pigment of your skin.  But having a relatable and likeable character doesn't have to be of your same gender either, especially if they are elves from Middle Earth.

Cite required.
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Online Spike The Hike Shady

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2022, 11:27:18 am »
I don’t really have a problem with this kind of diversity.  As long as well established characters are being changed.
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guest18

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #11 on: August 15, 2022, 11:50:34 am »
I don’t really have a problem with this kind of diversity.  As long as well established characters are being changed.
I disagree. I don't have any problem with a movie about a government agent who happens to be a Filipino woman, but making James Bond into a Filipino woman would be silly. Fortunately, it appears only you are in favour of that....unless you're too dumb to write what you actually think and write the opposite instead.

Online Spike The Hike Shady

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #12 on: August 15, 2022, 12:35:56 pm »
I disagree. I don't have any problem with a movie about a government agent who happens to be a Filipino woman, but making James Bond into a Filipino woman would be silly. Fortunately, it appears only you are in favour of that....unless you're too dumb to write what you actually think and write the opposite instead.
Sorry, typo, I meant aren’t being changed.  Although I would love to see Edris Ilba as James Bond.  He would be fantastic.
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Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #13 on: August 15, 2022, 03:26:37 pm »
People forget that these are the ARTS.

Changing the 'type' is fine, but it still needs to be done artistically.

Elba would be a cinch for Bond.  Probably racists are preventing this one.

But if you make Bond a Filipino WOMAN:
1) She had better be AMAZING in it
2) If it only stands to make money because of the novelty, that doesn't work for a franchise.  Sh needs to come back.

Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Diversity Culture
« Reply #14 on: August 15, 2022, 10:11:13 pm »
*Guy who doesn't like quotas in workplaces voice* there should be quotas on women/PoC characters in TV shows.

Spoken like someone who's never experienced a lack of characters who look like him on screen. If you genuinely didn't think representation mattered, you wouldn't care how many non-white or women characters were out there, but you obviously do.

Cite required.

If you moved to India would you start complaining or feel bad because some 80 year old Indian novels written by an Indian were made into a tv show and featured all brown skinned characters?  I definitely wouldn't give a f***.  Would you be less apt to watch because OMG no white people?

Somehow Big Bird was relatable when I was a kid and he's a giant yellow bird.  Because he acted and reacted like I would and his color had nothing to do with anything.
"Nipples is one of the great minds of our time!" - Bubbermiley
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