Is TV Still Black and White?

[KristinaReapsMe]

So I just found this article this morning:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/olivi...seei_b_5627318.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

The gist of this article is a white woman writing about why she's tired of always seeing white people in movies and on TV and not enough leading roles featuring people of color. I was hoping to get everyone else's opinions/feedback on this subject. I know this is probably not gonna happen but can we please try not to attack each other for having different opinions? I'd hate for Amber to have to lock this thread because of tensions running high. No beef, just gravy.

Now opening this can of worms :-D

 

[Fay_Galore]

Love the title, I thought, wel Í have a colour tv

But this is an interesting thing yes. I don't know much about the american tv culture (apart from big shows and movies) I've never watched US news programs or reality things. so i can't really speak for that.

What I do notice in hollywood movies that there is often still a 'black guy part', which annoys me. (reading this back, might sound a bit weird, what I meant was that there are still particular roles for particular races in too many movies, I could have said 'white guy part, but I hope you guys get what I'm trying to say here)
I also do not like the modern blaxsploitation flicks. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea, but that would be the same thing as making a modern day all-white movie. just unnecessary. (unless of course the history/demographic/cultural nature of the narrative requires it)

I do however love the 70s blackxploitation films, they're badass and kitsch and wonderful.


What I can say for the dutch tv overall is that is it a pretty decent model of the dutch nation, race and heritage-wise. Especially our government-funded channels do their best to cover all of the modern dutch culture without making a big deal out of it (you know, like special shows for Caribbean people, special shows for arabic people etc, they don't or hardly do that, which I think is good). It's very well mixed IMO. without the pressure of positive discrimination either.


overall I quite agree with the article, however, there is só much more out there besides hollywood and often so much better too! And a lot less white-man orientated. I think if we all stop focussing on stuff like this and instead just root for more independent, original cinema, hollywood will get the message

 

[KristinaReapsMe]

What I do notice in hollywood movies that there is often still a 'black guy part', which annoys me. (reading this back, might sound a bit weird, what I meant was that there are still particular roles for particular races in too many movies, I could have said 'white guy part, but I hope you guys get what I'm trying to say here)
I also do not like the modern blaxsploitation flicks. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea, but that would be the same thing as making a modern day all-white movie. just unnecessary. (unless of course the history/demographic/cultural nature of the narrative requires it)

Glad you liked the title

What exactly do you mean by "black guy" part? Could you elaborate on that? Your wording brings to mind the "comic relief" role, like Romany Malco in Baby Mama. Then there's "modern blaxsploitation" films. Can you provide an example? Do you just mean movies with an all-black cast?

 

[MelissaLauren]

I'm afraid I'm not adding anything relevant to the conversation (I'd have to do some serious pondering and I haven't had my coffee yet, might re-visit this thread later), but thinking about black actors reminded me of The Wire, the best TV show. EVER.
Had a predominantly black cast and some amazing actors. We need more of Michael K. Williams and Idris Elba (just to name those two) on TV and on the big screen. Omar and Stringer Bell, oh how I miss you. That was some great TV and brilliant acting!

 

[Ann_Sulu]

What I do notice in hollywood movies that there is often still a 'black guy part', which annoys me. (reading this back, might sound a bit weird, what I meant was that there are still particular roles for particular races in too many movies, I could have said 'white guy part, but I hope you guys get what I'm trying to say here)
I also do not like the modern blaxsploitation flicks. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea, but that would be the same thing as making a modern day all-white movie. just unnecessary. (unless of course the history/demographic/cultural nature of the narrative requires it)

Glad you liked the title

What exactly do you mean by "black guy" part? Could you elaborate on that? Your wording brings to mind the "comic relief" role, like Romany Malco in Baby Mama. Then there's "modern blaxsploitation" films. Can you provide an example? Do you just mean movies with an all-black cast?

I'm still kind of waking up, but I think Faye is talking about how there's always ONE black person...and yeah normally they happen to be a guy. Sometimes it seems like a comic relief role, but often it seems as if they're just trying to be able to say. "Hey, look! We aren't racist! See? We have a black guy!"

 

[AllieYess]

Particularly, I don't care much about diversity on TV or on movies, but I can see and understand why it's important. I'm more annoyed by the token black/asian/hispanic/whatever roles on movies and tv series than by not seeing any POC on them.

Like, I see lots of criticism on shows like Mad Men for having a totally (or mostly, Idrk because I don't watch it) white cast but... no one needs to have POC roles on their shows if they don't want it. Sure it would be great if more producers wanted POC roles on their shows/movies but if they don't that's their prerrogative. Unless they come forward with a legitimately racist reason for not wanting it, I don't think people should automatically assume their motive is racist. Live and let live.

 

[Ann_Sulu]

Particularly, I don't care much about diversity on TV or on movies, but I can see and understand why it's important. I'm more annoyed by the token black/asian/hispanic/whatever roles on movies and tv series than by not seeing any POC on them.

Like, I see lots of criticism on shows like Mad Men for having a totally (or mostly, Idrk because I don't watch it) white cast but... no one needs to have POC roles on their shows if they don't want it. Sure it would be great if more producers wanted POC roles on their shows/movies but if they don't that's their prerrogative. Unless they come forward with a legitimately racist reason for not wanting it, I don't think people should automatically assume their motive is racist. Live and let live.

You said it way better than me. I require too much caffeine before noon. >.<'

 

[VallieBeuys]

Haven't read the article yet but I am so sick of TV being so WHITE. It's boring! And it's a cultural problem that contributes to the oppression of people of color. To the point where a lot of white people feel like they can't identify with anyone who isn't also white in the media. But people of color are supposed to be able to identify with white people no problem, right? :/ It's a pile of crap. A lot of my favorite shows have an all white cast, or nearly all white, and they're great shows.... But our country isn't being represented in our media when it's all a bunch of wonder bread. Diversity isn't something that we should have to force, because our country is so diverse to begin with! It should just be natural. It should be completely normal to see a wide range of skin tones and features on TV because if you look around the US that's what you'll see! I wonder what other countries think America must be like when they watch our TV. They probably think there's like six black people, 10 Latin@s, 10 Hispanics, like 7 Asians (all just from "Asia"). That's it. That's all we got. Everybody else is white, right? :roll:

I'm gonna read the article once I've woken up a bit more and can do the reading thing, but I just wanted to throw this in here real quick. MORE DIVERSITY IN MEDIA! More women and people of color doing the writing and creating. Better TV!

 

[mynameisbob84]

What I do notice in hollywood movies that there is often still a 'black guy part', which annoys me. (reading this back, might sound a bit weird, what I meant was that there are still particular roles for particular races in too many movies, I could have said 'white guy part, but I hope you guys get what I'm trying to say here)
I also do not like the modern blaxsploitation flicks. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea, but that would be the same thing as making a modern day all-white movie. just unnecessary. (unless of course the history/demographic/cultural nature of the narrative requires it)

Glad you liked the title

What exactly do you mean by "black guy" part? Could you elaborate on that? Your wording brings to mind the "comic relief" role, like Romany Malco in Baby Mama. Then there's "modern blaxsploitation" films. Can you provide an example? Do you just mean movies with an all-black cast?

I think Fay's referring to the "token black guy". So many films with an almost exclusively white cast seem to think that the best way to fix that is to cast one actor of colour in one small role that either has no effect on the story overall, or is just there for comic relief, or just there to be killed off if it's a horror film.

And by "modern blaxpoitation" films, I'm guessing she's talking about films like the stuff Tyler Perry makes, moreso than stuff like Black Dynamite or the Spike Lee films. Not that I would ever put words in her mouth (or anything else for that matter) and I'm sure she'll correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[mynameisbob84]

Particularly, I don't care much about diversity on TV or on movies, but I can see and understand why it's important. I'm more annoyed by the token black/asian/hispanic/whatever roles on movies and tv series than by not seeing any POC on them.

Like, I see lots of criticism on shows like Mad Men for having a totally (or mostly, Idrk because I don't watch it) white cast but... no one needs to have POC roles on their shows if they don't want it. Sure it would be great if more producers wanted POC roles on their shows/movies but if they don't that's their prerrogative. Unless they come forward with a legitimately racist reason for not wanting it, I don't think people should automatically assume their motive is racist. Live and let live.

As long as it makes sense, I see no problem with it. Mad Men is a drama about an advertising agency set in the 50s and 60s. The 50s weren't the most progressive of times and it's unlikely that there would have been many (if any) black people working for a snooty advertising agency like the one featured in Mad Men, so crowbarring people of colour into that show would be pointless.

Similarly, a film like Boyz N The Hood isn't discriminating against white actors by not casting any in its bid to depict the violent struggles of young black men growing up in a Los Angeles ghetto.

Something like Notting Hill though, is completely racist in my opinion. If you've ever been to Notting Hill you'll know that it's a very multi-cultural place with perhaps more black people than white. And yet there are no black people to be seen in the film. It's a deliberate white-washing of a real place that really exists in London, that the film-makers deemed appropriate to present as a place occupied exclusively by white people for the "benefit" of international audiences who might not know any better.

 

[AllieYess]

Something like Notting Hill though, is completely racist in my opinion. If you've ever been to Notting Hill you'll know that it's a very multi-cultural place with perhaps more black people than white. And yet there are no black people to be seen in the film. It's a deliberate white-washing of a real place that really exists in London, that the film-makers deemed appropriate to present as a place occupied exclusively by white people for the "benefit" of international audiences who might not know any better.

haha I'm definitely one of those people, since I had no idea of that about Notting Hill. I also agree with your other points.

 

[Always_Tim]

I think Fay's referring to the "token black guy".

 

[Fay_Galore]

What I do notice in hollywood movies that there is often still a 'black guy part', which annoys me. (reading this back, might sound a bit weird, what I meant was that there are still particular roles for particular races in too many movies, I could have said 'white guy part, but I hope you guys get what I'm trying to say here)
I also do not like the modern blaxsploitation flicks. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea, but that would be the same thing as making a modern day all-white movie. just unnecessary. (unless of course the history/demographic/cultural nature of the narrative requires it)

Glad you liked the title

What exactly do you mean by "black guy" part? Could you elaborate on that? Your wording brings to mind the "comic relief" role, like Romany Malco in Baby Mama. Then there's "modern blaxsploitation" films. Can you provide an example? Do you just mean movies with an all-black cast?

I think Fay's referring to the "token black guy". So many films with an almost exclusively white cast seem to think that the best way to fix that is to cast one actor of colour in one small role that either has no effect on the story overall, or is just there for comic relief, or just there to be killed off if it's a horror film.

And by "modern blaxpoitation" films, I'm guessing she's talking about films like the stuff Tyler Perry makes, moreso than stuff like Black Dynamite or the Spike Lee films. Not that I would ever put words in her mouth (or anything else for that matter) and I'm sure she'll correct me if I'm wrong.

yes, as the dutch call it the excuse-black guy, an added single minority, just for the sake of not having an all-white cast (this of course also goes for the only indian part, asian, etc.) in horror films usually gets killed rather quickly, in dramas falls in love with the only other black character, etc. Horrible stuff (both on a cinematic point, as humanity).

Blackxploitation was a genre in the early 70s when the black/white film dynamic was even worse than now, and some studios decided to make 'black' films, for a black audience with nearly exclusive black actors. The genre still exists and IMO is just as 'bad' as all-white films. Although there are a few véry good ones made, for instance Jackie Brown which was like an ode to the 70s genre.

and @bob, sure you don't.

 

[LilyEvans]

Haven't read the article yet but I am so sick of TV being so WHITE. It's boring! And it's a cultural problem that contributes to the oppression of people of color. To the point where a lot of white people feel like they can't identify with anyone who isn't also white in the media. But people of color are supposed to be able to identify with white people no problem, right? :/ It's a pile of crap. A lot of my favorite shows have an all white cast, or nearly all white, and they're great shows.... But our country isn't being represented in our media when it's all a bunch of wonder bread. Diversity isn't something that we should have to force, because our country is so diverse to begin with! It should just be natural. It should be completely normal to see a wide range of skin tones and features on TV because if you look around the US that's what you'll see! I wonder what other countries think America must be like when they watch our TV. They probably think there's like six black people, 10 Latin@s, 10 Hispanics, like 7 Asians (all just from "Asia"). That's it. That's all we got. Everybody else is white, right? :roll:

I'm gonna read the article once I've woken up a bit more and can do the reading thing, but I just wanted to throw this in here real quick. MORE DIVERSITY IN MEDIA! More women and people of color doing the writing and creating. Better TV!

Dat bolded part, doe

It isn't just TV and movies, it's everything. I saw a message board discussion of the new Spider-Man, Miles Morales, who is Black-Hispanic; there were literally people asking, "But who will be a role model for my White son?" without irony. OH GOD WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE WHITE CHILDREN FOR ONCE??! :icon-rolleyes:

I think an example of modern Blackxploitation films would be like Soul Plane, unless I am misunderstanding.

 

[VallieBeuys]

OH GOD WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE WHITE CHILDREN FOR ONCE??! :icon-rolleyes:

:lol: I'm totally in love with you now!

 

[mynameisbob84]

I'm afraid I'm not adding anything relevant to the conversation (I'd have to do some serious pondering and I haven't had my coffee yet, might re-visit this thread later), but thinking about black actors reminded me of The Wire, the best TV show. EVER.
Had a predominantly black cast and some amazing actors. We need more of Michael K. Williams and Idris Elba (just to name those two) on TV and on the big screen. Omar and Stringer Bell, oh how I miss you. That was some great TV and brilliant acting!

If you've never seen it, check out Treme. From David Simon (he of The Wire) and has The Bunk and Lester Freamon in it. Completely different to The Wire and if you don't like New Orleans jazz, you might struggle with it (there's a lot of New Orleans jazz in it) but it's another great show with a very ethnically diverse cast.

 

[MelissaLauren]

If you've never seen it, check out Treme. From David Simon (he of The Wire) and has The Bunk and Lester Freamon in it. Completely different to The Wire and if you don't like New Orleans jazz, you might struggle with it (there's a lot of New Orleans jazz in it) but it's another great show with a very ethnically diverse cast.

I happen to like jazz, so I'll definitely be checking this out! Thanks for the recommendation, I'm always on the hunt for a good TV show to watch.

 

[Violet October]

I think Fay's referring to the "token black guy".

I've maybe seen 10 episodes of South Park in total (want to watch more), and I JUST realized the comedy of his name.