Duds Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-black-father-of-confederation-luke-ignace-confederation-centre-arts-charlottetown-1.4193238 "The Confederation Players may represent Canada's founding fathers back in 1864, but this summer the Confederation Centre's roving troupe of actors also made the leap into the 21st century by hiring their first black Father of Confederation. Luke Junior Ignace plays John Hamilton Gray, the pro-Confederation premier of P.E.I. in 1864 — who was white. Ignace is from Bahamas and is studying business at Holland College." What are your thoughts on this? Is reverse white-washing progressive or offensive? Should actors appearance match the person/character they portray? In my opinion, when the movie/play is about a fictitious character, nationality or general appearance doesn't matter as much (a la Sean Connery as Bond, Scarlett J in Ghost in the Shell, Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher, etc). When the character is a historical figure it's a bit odd to cast someone who does not physically match the part. If it were radio it would be different, but movies & plays are a visual experience. Above all, it would be nice to see the general public approach these issues in a consistent manner, so if white-washing is offensive then the opposite would be offensive as well; or if the above story isn't offensive then neither is Scar-Jo as Major. Thoughts? Please keep it civil, I'm curious what the general consensus is on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmonberries Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 I think it's a silly idea but don't really care. If I were black I might perhaps have a problem with pretending that was possible in 1864 though. It's been a long hard struggle as we al know and I think this whitewashes that fact if it whitewashes anything. I wonder how First nations folks would feel about being portrayed as important figures in this society in the 1800s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riviera82 Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 If a motion picture is non-fiction then the cast of actors should match the real-life ethnicities of the characters they're portraying. If not then it doesn't matter as much; unless it's a character who's always been of a certain background, ie: James Bond, etc... Just one guy's opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Vandelay Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 Fiction-wise, If the persons skin colour, or their "looks" are important to the story, then authenticity does matter. Otherwise, I wouldn't care (though I would notice). Personally, I think non-fiction should be authentic. And to comment on your title, skin colour does matter. I'm white. And my whiteness does matter to me. I'm not Art Vandelay if I'm not white. I think other races would feel the same way? I could be ignorant on this subject... Are you, yourself, without your skin colour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerrDrFunk Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 Do I have an issue with a black guy playing a white guy in a historical re-enactment society? No. Because I have actual **** to worry about. Idris Elba would be an amazing James Bond though. Make that one happen, Hollywood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rounoush Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 If a white guy was hired to play a prominent black person in history, the world would explode. Why should it be acceptable the other way around? I'm a person who enjoys accurate history so let's keep it accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortorella's Rant Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 2 minutes ago, Rounoush said: If a white guy was hired to play a prominent black person in history, the world would explode. Why should it be acceptable the other way around? I'm a person who enjoys accurate history so let's keep it accurate. Or in place of an Asian guy. This already happened actually. There were two instances: one I don't remember and the other being Matt Damon in that Great Wall movie. They weren't based on any real events of anything, but merely a story. Anyway,of course to nobody's surprise, only some white liberal people were pissed about this. But they also conveniently ignored the fact this movie had Asian costars/producers/production company(ies) all obviously evidently a-okay with Matt Damon and such doing their thing. That being said, I don't really care who the actor is. If it's based on real events then obviously that actor should be white, black, whatever. Otherwise if it's a fictional character then it shouldn't really be that big of a deal. People throw a fit about Idris Elba possibly being the next Bond. I don't give a $&!# if he's black. I think he's great for the role because he's a strong actor. Kind of like Matt Damon and being one of the top actors in the world. Or we could account for everyone's feelings and go with someone lesser or sub par just because. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-AJ- Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 It seems a bit odd as the original guy was white. If there were reasons aside from PR reasons, (ie. stylistic choice, etc.), I could see it being more justified, but choosing a black man to play the role of a white man seems unnecessary if it's just a move for political correctness. In the end, I don't really care that much, as it's not a huge deal to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VancouverHabitant Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 Can you imagine casting a white guy to play 2Pac in the latest movie that came out hahahaha That would be hilarious. This would be as well if the story and the movie were better known amongst the public but nobody knows and very few people care about this movie. I'm not saying it's right, just how I feel it is. So, I think it's funny and it doesn't immerse me into the movie more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dral Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 Eventually you get old enough to realize a$$holes come in all shapes, sizes and colors.... everything else after that is just funny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 10 hours ago, Duds said: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-black-father-of-confederation-luke-ignace-confederation-centre-arts-charlottetown-1.4193238 "The Confederation Players may represent Canada's founding fathers back in 1864, but this summer the Confederation Centre's roving troupe of actors also made the leap into the 21st century by hiring their first black Father of Confederation. Luke Junior Ignace plays John Hamilton Gray, the pro-Confederation premier of P.E.I. in 1864 — who was white. Ignace is from Bahamas and is studying business at Holland College." What are your thoughts on this? Is reverse white-washing progressive or offensive? Should actors appearance match the person/character they portray? In my opinion, when the movie/play is about a fictitious character, nationality or general appearance doesn't matter as much (a la Sean Connery as Bond, Scarlett J in Ghost in the Shell, Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher, etc). When the character is a historical figure it's a bit odd to cast someone who does not physically match the part. If it were radio it would be different, but movies & plays are a visual experience. Above all, it would be nice to see the general public approach these issues in a consistent manner, so if white-washing is offensive then the opposite would be offensive as well; or if the above story isn't offensive then neither is Scar-Jo as Major. Thoughts? Please keep it civil, I'm curious what the general consensus is on this. I can see how and why people would be upset about this. A historical figure should NOT be changed. It would be like having a Phillipino play Lincoln. Historical accuracy and truth to the arts should be paramount. But then now I am apparently being racist or some such nonsense. Which is EXACTLY what will be said to anyone who says this doesn't seem or feel right. If the founding father was a specific gender or pigment, stay true to it. Yet speaking up or out about this will result in the usual cries from the usual groups about why you cannot hold people back or generalize them that way and how it is just a play so it's ok and since you need or want him to be historically accurate it's only because the new rendition is black so you're a racist because because because It's 2017 right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nucker 67 Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 Authenticity is important in selling the story. If they made a movie about Wayne Gretzky and got say, Denzel Washington to play him, I would probably watch something else because it doesn't appear real. I want to see someone who looks like Wayne, acts like Wayne, is Wayne. I need to be convinced the actor is the actual person, otherwise I don't believe the story. Denzel is a fine actor, but he'll never be a good enough actor to convince me he's Wayne Gretzky, for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM_ Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 What would have been awesome though is if one of Canada's founding "fathers" really was from the Bahamas. We'd be such a chill country. What da wybe is, eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toni Zamboni Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 what about Jesus?...wasnt he brown and usually portrayed as a white dude? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-AJ- Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 28 minutes ago, Toni Zamboni said: what about Jesus?...wasnt he brown and usually portrayed as a white dude? Yeah, he's unfortunately been misrepresented for hundreds of years. It still irks me when he's represented as a white man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyJoeJoeJr. Shabadoo Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 51 minutes ago, Toni Zamboni said: what about Jesus?...wasnt he brown and usually portrayed as a white dude? As many have already stated, when it comes to fictional characters, skin colour doesn't matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logic Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 12 hours ago, Rounoush said: If a white guy was hired to play a prominent black person in history, the world would explode. Why should it be acceptable the other way around? I'm a person who enjoys accurate history so let's keep it accurate. my thoughts exactly. If history is offensive that is exactly why we are supposed to remember it, in order to not repeat it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancaster Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 I'm cool with it.... once when having a white Shaft is okay with everyone as well, or a Michael Jackson documentary... except he goes from white to black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerrDrFunk Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 The thought of people's reactions once Miles Morales gets some love from the MCU makes me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM_ Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 This is silly. People are upset over the kind of historical fact that put most of us to sleep in high school. 99.5% of Canadians could not tell you who John Hamilton Gray was, and I think thats a generous estimate. If there was a news story today saying one of Canada's founding fathers was originally from the Bahamas most people would have been like, "huh, cool, didn't know that" and not even question whether or not it was true. But throw in the slightest whiff of modern identity politics and suddenly people are history professors battling over the importance of this guy to the Canadian fabric. its really laughable, and we still don't really know what the guy did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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