IIRC Georg Von Trapp was about to be conscripted. It was either flee, or join the forces of evil.
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Ah, right, that’s a good point: I was thinking of the movie only, because that’s what the image came from.
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I’m not middle class. Definitely not white. I find this in extremely poor taste, i’d say the intent was not racist… that’d mean that someone at Disney put this out with a nefarious purpose. But arguing over what you want to label this costume as is unimportant at the end of the day, it shouldnt’ve been put out and dismissing people’s dissatisfaction with it as you’re doing right now is exactly the problem.
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Maui has the power to transform into a bird. Done.
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I think they mean more moving away from the anatomically improbable body-types that emphasize traditionally sexual characteristics…the sort of character that Jessica Rabbit parodied almost thirty years ago.
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I do find it ironic that Disney has culturally appropriated Maui for a cartoon movie, but people are getting all up upset about the costume.
I mean, I do understand the reasons, as I’ve written about above, but funny how the film itself is getting a pass.
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Fuckin’ A!
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So… does anyone have any ideas how it could have been done ‘better’?
What if my kid totally loved the movie and now wants to be Maui, because he’s an awesome Maori god and totally kicks ass? The character is a huge, dark skinned, curly haired, crazy awesome tattooed hero. What part of any of that wrong? So, brown skin suit is a bad idea and putting on tattoos is cultural appropriation. And I’m also assuming that putting on a big black fro would also raise some ire. A grass skirt alone doesn’t emulate the true character.
This isn’t about black-face ridicule and racism, it’s about loving and idolizing a character that was written to be a positive representation of a unique culture. How should we explain to our kids that they cant be a Maori god because they are white; heck, even if you are black putting on a grass skirt would just be an actual racist stereotype of an African jungle native.
Should I explain it like not telling my son that he can’t be a princess, or my daughter that she can’t be a cowboy or astronaut?
So, again, since this is a sensitive issue, how should it have been done better? Just not at all?
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That’s just lame. Sounds like selling cookies you bought at a store. I’ve only heard about it, does that really happen?
So sorry for her (and you), probably it was very nice and original, would love to see it.
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By this definition then any commercial animated movie that does not feature white characters should not get a pass because it’s appropriation, and should not be made. Got it.
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I think you are missing the irony part.
She certainly has a more realistic body type than most princesses. Arms and legs actually have meat to them and more realistic shapes. But, you know, no matter what anyone does, even in an attempt to be more inclusive, someone will find a way to complain.
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The general consensus in this thread seems to be that it shouldn’t be done at all, because it is inappropriate to emulate, or in any way act on aspirational feelings towards someone who appears to be a member of a different race, regardless of intent, because it is cultural appropriation.
Black characters are only for black people, polynesian characters are only for polynesian people, etc. and so on. (But white people are not inherently white, everybody can aspire to be a white person!)
Which I personally think is pretty garbage.
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That lack of empathy is not necessarily rooted in racism so much as the general sociopathy that surrounds corporate decision making, and the nature of filling in checkboxes.
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Problem solved!!
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I got the sarcasm. But this line:
“funny how the film itself is getting a pass.”
Leads me to understand that the movie shouldn’t be getting a pass. Unless i misread that, it’s hard to parse the exact tone of posts sometimes so i very well could be.
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Wrong. It should’ve been put out. Sales would’ve determined if most were satisfied or dissatisfied. It’s the twitter mob and those who dismiss others’ views like you’re doing in the belief that you’re right that’s the problem.
Or sex her up later, like they did Merida.
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My point isn’t whether the movie should get a pass but rather why a movie should get a pass but not a costume. Why should a corporation get to appropriate a character for profit, but not kids for fun?
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