if you think that you're strong enough

[reflectedeve]

Something I've been meaning to post about for awhile now: the Avatar: The Last Airbender movie casting. I know I mentioned it awhile back, when I first heard the news, but I think it could use some elaboration.

If you've never watched Avatar, I highly recommend it. It's not only one of the best cartoons I've ever seen: it's some of the best television I've watched, period. It has a large cast of well-developed characters; notably, a sizeable number of kickass female characters, who are "kickass" in more ways than just "they are hot and punch people." (I mean, female characters with character.) It has a gripping plot, completely fantastic worldbuilding, it's both hilarious and serious, doesn't talk down to the kids who are its intended audience, and is certainly complex enough to hold adult interest. (It also has several adorable canon het couples, and plenty of slash and femslash potential.) Oh yeah, and it's a fantasy world more or less entirely based on Asian cultures (the way so many of the high fantasy worlds I grew up were based on England/western Europe).

Frankly, this is the kind of show, the kind of storytelling, that we desperately need more of.

So of course, for the live-action Hollywood adaptation, white kids have been cast to play the heroes. All of them. (One of those kids has been heard to comment that he'll "need to get a tan.") More recently, they've cast actors of color in all the major villain roles.

I can't say my expectations for a Hollywood version of this brilliant show were ever exactly high, but this is truly abominable. It's so blatant, I . . . honestly, it's hard to find words. It inspires a visceral, sick-to-my-stomach kind of anger.

For much more thorough information and actual, you know, eloquence, check out this website. The site was established by fans who have been working their asses off to raise awareness and bring their concerns right to the studio, and it has all kinds of resources and suggestions about how to help. Speaking of which!

Even if you're not an Avatar fan, I hope you'll consider signing this petition in protest of the whitewashing. This isn't an issue of fannish entitlement, this is racism in action; and while I don't usually put much stock in online petitions, I doubt it can hurt. (Particularly since it's meant to be delivered physically; these people are dedicated, they'll get it done.) It's so easy to do, too.

Comments

[sphinxvictorian.livejournal.com]

I signed the petition. Hollywood cannot go on making stupid, bigoted decisions forever. I hope that the petition will be successful.

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon, I'm glad. ♥ And, me too.

[sphinxvictorian.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I am a big Airbender fan. I came upon the series a little late in the run, but our local vid store had them for rent so we rented the series from the beginning. I've never found a "children's" series that was so well-written and well-characterized. And the Asian fantasy world was so refreshing and interesting. I found it fun to pick out different places where I could see influences of Asian religions and cultures.

[bluevsgrey.livejournal.com]

Is Zuko white?

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

I assume you're asking after the ethnicity of the actor playing him in The Last Airbender (movie). He was originally cast as Jesse McCartney, but they later recast the role to Dev Patel (who recently starred in Slumdog Millionare). So no, he's not white.

Actually, since they seem to have decided to match the ethnicity of each entire nation to the representative major character, this means that the entire Fire Nation (largely portrayed as villainous) will be cast as people as color, while the heroic Water Tribe is whitewashed.