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Miram · 31-35, F
They are too fixated on skin.
It is a fish. Fish does not have a human race.
I am more puzzled by whether it lays eggs or gives birth.
It is a fish. Fish does not have a human race.
I am more puzzled by whether it lays eggs or gives birth.
SlightlyBelowAverageJoe · 36-40, M
@Miram IT? How backwards are you?
Whodunnit · M
Only that it doesn't conform to the original description by the author.
It's not a race thing. It's a wish to preserve the original vision and by extension European fantasy and folklore.
Yes, mermaids can potentially be any colour, I'd expect Greek mermaids and sirens to look Mediterranean, but Ariel specifically was described by Hans Christain Anderson as being white with blue eyes.
It's not a race thing. It's a wish to preserve the original vision and by extension European fantasy and folklore.
Yes, mermaids can potentially be any colour, I'd expect Greek mermaids and sirens to look Mediterranean, but Ariel specifically was described by Hans Christain Anderson as being white with blue eyes.
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SlightlyBelowAverageJoe · 36-40, M
@Whodunnit haha, sounds like a Grimms tale.
That's essentially my point though. It seems people cherry pick what they get upset about. Now, I don't know if too many people are actually upset about the race swap. I could see it either way (eithe they are, or it's just fake outcry created to divide people) regardless. I doubt may people would notice if Ariel's tail was blue instead of green (or vice versa). Is the story more important? Do little details make the story?
I'm no fan of making things woke just to be woke, but if race determines a make believe character instead of just the character itself, then it just brings up questions for me.
That's essentially my point though. It seems people cherry pick what they get upset about. Now, I don't know if too many people are actually upset about the race swap. I could see it either way (eithe they are, or it's just fake outcry created to divide people) regardless. I doubt may people would notice if Ariel's tail was blue instead of green (or vice versa). Is the story more important? Do little details make the story?
I'm no fan of making things woke just to be woke, but if race determines a make believe character instead of just the character itself, then it just brings up questions for me.
Whodunnit · M
@SlightlyBelowAverageJoe I'll be honest, I think a lot of this is manufactured to generate free publicity, which has worked well in the past and to a degree has offered some level of protection from criticism for some weaker films.
Disney, and by extension Marvel and Star Wars until recently had this down to a fine art. But you can only use the same tactic of baiting an audience a certain number of times before they get wise to it.
You can trace this form of hostile defence back to 2016 and the failed Ghostbusters reboot. The promotional material came out swinging claiming that anyone who didn't like the film was obviously a misogynist. Of course it transpired that the film was bloody terrible. But by that point the stage was set and since that time production companies have used this preemptive blackmail/coercion tactic to shame folks into watching some bland or outright terrible films. Terminator: Dark Fate and Charlie's Angels are good examples of this.
It's quite possible that the casting directors truly believed that Halle was the best person for the job, but a cynical part of me wonders if they've cast a black actress for protection from professional critics because they have another bland product on their hands. I'm pretty certain that once the film is released those critics will hail it as a huge success, the public won't be anywhere near as impressed, but any and all negative feedback from the public will be attributed to racist review-bombing. As I say, they've done this too often now and it's becoming predictable.
You never know though, I'm not infallible and I may be wrong. After all, some people would buy a dog turd if it had Mickey Mouse ears atop of it. That said though Pinocchio has absolutely tanked with both critics and the audience so perhaps people are getting sick of lazy remakes.
Anyway, it's almost 3am here and I'm in danger of rambling.
Disney, and by extension Marvel and Star Wars until recently had this down to a fine art. But you can only use the same tactic of baiting an audience a certain number of times before they get wise to it.
You can trace this form of hostile defence back to 2016 and the failed Ghostbusters reboot. The promotional material came out swinging claiming that anyone who didn't like the film was obviously a misogynist. Of course it transpired that the film was bloody terrible. But by that point the stage was set and since that time production companies have used this preemptive blackmail/coercion tactic to shame folks into watching some bland or outright terrible films. Terminator: Dark Fate and Charlie's Angels are good examples of this.
It's quite possible that the casting directors truly believed that Halle was the best person for the job, but a cynical part of me wonders if they've cast a black actress for protection from professional critics because they have another bland product on their hands. I'm pretty certain that once the film is released those critics will hail it as a huge success, the public won't be anywhere near as impressed, but any and all negative feedback from the public will be attributed to racist review-bombing. As I say, they've done this too often now and it's becoming predictable.
You never know though, I'm not infallible and I may be wrong. After all, some people would buy a dog turd if it had Mickey Mouse ears atop of it. That said though Pinocchio has absolutely tanked with both critics and the audience so perhaps people are getting sick of lazy remakes.
Anyway, it's almost 3am here and I'm in danger of rambling.
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BohemianBoo · M
TBH, I never like race-swaps. I just think the character should have consistent traits, including how they look. I wouldn't like it if Ariel had blonde hair instead of her trademark red hair.
But, hey, that's just me.
But, hey, that's just me.
SlightlyBelowAverageJoe · 36-40, M
@BohemianBoo Unless specifically it would change the outcome of the story.
BohemianBoo · M
@SlightlyBelowAverageJoe Like I said, this is just how I feel about it. The story can turn out the same, but if the character is portrayed as different, I just feel like it's not the same character.
SlightlyBelowAverageJoe · 36-40, M
@BohemianBoo I understand your point of view.
Convivial · 26-30, F
I'm sure they come in all colours ...
CrazyMusicLover · 31-35
Whoever has a problem with this and gulps down Marvel bullshit featuring characters from Norse mythology has a serious problem with hypocrisy. Come on...
Elessar · 26-30, M
MrBrownstone · 46-50, M
Does anyone have a problem with her being white?
SlightlyBelowAverageJoe · 36-40, M
@MrBrownstone Not that I'm aware. But the person they cast is supposedly a talented singer and actress.
nudistsueaz · 61-69, F
None I know of.....lol
SlightlyBelowAverageJoe · 36-40, M
@nudistsueaz I read somewhere people are getting upset about it. It could be made up fake outrage. I was curious if anyone here is upset, and if they were, why.
InOtterWords · F
@Whodunnit Have you actually read the story? It was a favourite of mine when i was a child and the Disney version is so far removed that it is a different story altogether.
The Little Mermaid was never described as white, ever.
In the book she is described as below: [quote]
but the youngest was the prettiest of them all; her skin was as clear and
delicate as a rose-leaf, and her eyes as blue as the deepest sea; but,
like all the others, she had no feet,
[/quote]
She is also not Danish, it is a magical story about a mythical creature. Andersen wanted his readers to use their imagination and he did not write names for any character or any place name.
The descriptions used in the story, first of the sea kingdom ....
[quote]the water is as blue as the petals of the loveliest cornflower, and as clear as the purest glass[/quote]
[quote]Outside the palace was a big garden, with flaming red and deep-blue trees. Their fruit glittered like gold, and their blossoms flamed like fire on their constantly waving stalks. The soil was very fine sand indeed, but as blue as burning brimstone.[/quote]
And then of the Prince's kingdom:
[quote]....was a building. Orange and lemon trees grew in its garden, and tall palm gateway[/quote]
It is quite clearly not Denmark but somewhere more tropical... so if they stuck to the original story and had to assign a race to a mythical creature then by your logic she should have been brown to start off with!
No-one was this upset when Disney completely altered the story from the original
The Little Mermaid was never described as white, ever.
In the book she is described as below: [quote]
but the youngest was the prettiest of them all; her skin was as clear and
delicate as a rose-leaf, and her eyes as blue as the deepest sea; but,
like all the others, she had no feet,
[/quote]
She is also not Danish, it is a magical story about a mythical creature. Andersen wanted his readers to use their imagination and he did not write names for any character or any place name.
The descriptions used in the story, first of the sea kingdom ....
[quote]the water is as blue as the petals of the loveliest cornflower, and as clear as the purest glass[/quote]
[quote]Outside the palace was a big garden, with flaming red and deep-blue trees. Their fruit glittered like gold, and their blossoms flamed like fire on their constantly waving stalks. The soil was very fine sand indeed, but as blue as burning brimstone.[/quote]
And then of the Prince's kingdom:
[quote]....was a building. Orange and lemon trees grew in its garden, and tall palm gateway[/quote]
It is quite clearly not Denmark but somewhere more tropical... so if they stuck to the original story and had to assign a race to a mythical creature then by your logic she should have been brown to start off with!
No-one was this upset when Disney completely altered the story from the original
KingofPizza2 · 36-40, M
Well none of them are going to admit it directly
SlightlyBelowAverageJoe · 36-40, M
@KingofPizza2 I'm not asking blatantly racist people this question. Some people may think "it's an already established character and making them black, just to be woke, is dumb". I'll be able to understand their thought process at least.
I dont but im sure some butthead somewhere does 😅
SW-User
Nothing wrong with having a Blariel
Jeephikelove · 46-50, F
No, it shouldn’t matter.
Nope
Jenny1234 · 51-55, F
I don’t. I think if mermaids were real they should come in all colours just VM like the colours of the fish in the sea
SW-User
I mean black fish tastes just as good as white fish ...i don't see the problem
TheLordOfHell · 41-45
I just don't care. I'm not a Disney fan, so it doesn't bother me. HOWEVER!!!! I wonder how people would react if Black Panter was rebooted, and the titular character was white?
SW-User
No
Justenjoyit · 56-60, M
As long as she does not have ginger hair lol
Chickie · F
I wanted it to stick to the original story and honestly it's black washing. I'm pretty sure there are Jamaican,Caribbean, or island mermaid folktales.
iamonfire696 · 41-45, F
She’s a mythical creature. She could be purple and I would be okay with it.
There was a post here the other day about it and the racists came out.
There was a post here the other day about it and the racists came out.
empanadas · 31-35, M
Yes, My name is hilter
stratosranger · M
@empanadas Wow Mein Herr! You’ve not only gone woke but you’ve really let yourself go too!
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