A few days ago over at the Megamind community over on livejournal kit_a_licious posted fanart of a blaxploitationized Megamind and Roxanne. An anonymous commenter replied with a link to a commenter on the New York Time's review of the movie talking about racism that they felt was in the movie.

Kit_a_licious makes another post talking about that comment, disagreeing with it any going on to say "I mean, yes, Megamind does have some black characteristics. He can rock the bald look. He can have a soul patch without looking like a total dip. He likes big butts. He probably also likes drums and watermelon, that doesn't make him a brotha."

There's some disagreement in the comments with how dismissive she (and other commenters) are being, but things really pick up going downhill when citizenjess shows up with the seemingly innocuous suggestion of changing "characteristics" to "stereotypes" in that quote up there. Kit's response is that it's just a joke, and later that "I can't agree with anyone who takes anything too seriously", spends some time whitesplaining when her blaxploitation fanart is brought up, and then her older sister torreadora show up and starts trying to defend her.

Note about ages: I know sometimes torreadora sounds like she's trying to comfort and defend a little kid who's just gotten into her first fandom fight, but kit_a_licious is actually twenty-five.

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	freezer 2011-01-11 02:11 am UTC (link)
	Yes, because when I finished watching Megamind, I thought "Y'know what this movie could've used? Racial diversity!" This is one of those wanks where you look at both sides and go "What is this I don't even." (Reply to this)(Thread)

	kylenne 2011-01-11 04:28 am UTC (link)
	...oh honey no, this is where you go, "what is this I don't even" at both "sides". Many of us who don't have the privilege of seeing characters that share our race or ethnicity in 99% of movies (or sometimes even see characters who do get whitewashed), OTOH, frequently ask that question. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	freezer 2011-01-11 04:30 am UTC (link)
	Okay then. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	snacky 2011-01-11 09:39 pm UTC (link)
	I have to say, I am enjoying your icon in the context of this thread. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	white_serpent 2011-01-12 01:45 am UTC (link)
	Seconding what snacky said. (I forget: why were you smiling?) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	freezer 2011-01-12 02:01 am UTC (link)
	Why? Wouldn't you like to know? (Real answer: Wedding photo [not mine]) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sorchar 2011-01-12 04:19 am UTC (link)
	So, were you smiling out of a genuine sense of happiness for the couple, or schadenfreude? (Reply to this)(Parent)

	sorchar 2011-01-12 04:17 am UTC (link)
	I wasn't going to comment, I was just sitting back and watching, but yeah. I have to say, you do have a sense of irony. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	tehrin 2011-01-12 10:24 pm UTC (link)
	There's more than one kind of privilage and there are ways that a person who doesn't have white privilage can support that institution, unknowingly or intentionally. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	agent_hyatt 2011-01-11 07:16 am UTC (link)
	21 is worse than just characters getting whitewashed, it's actual people. They even used the fact that they were Asian as a way to avoid suspicions of cheating the casinos. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	ecchaniz0r 2011-01-11 04:30 am UTC (link)
	sounds the clueless privileged dood* alarm* Come on, dude. Just come the fuck on. Think before you type and then think again before you post. (If the bitch with giant impulse control problems out the yin-yang has to tell you this, you're in sad shape indeed.) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

freezer
2011-01-11 04:38 am UTC (link)

Man of privilege, that's me. Yup.

Or perhaps when I see the people seriously discussing the racial overtones of a blue-skinned alien with a giant skull squaring off with someone who really REALLY should've have left it at "I don't see it that way.".. I LOL at the whole thing.

Then again, I think the whole discussion is on the same level as those who complain that there's no POCs in Mad Men.

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	kylenne 2011-01-11 04:39 am UTC (link)
	http://www.racialicious.com/2009/12/21/and-we-shall-call-this-moffs-law/ I'll just leave that right there for you. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ekaterinv 2011-01-11 05:07 am UTC (link)
	bookmarked (Reply to this)(Parent)

atropos_lee
2011-01-11 10:39 am UTC (link)

So - why aren't the handful of POC in Mad Men afforded the same attention backstory, homelife and character arcs as other marginalised groups in 60s society.

How come Sal, and Peggy, Faye, etc exist as rounded, flawed characters, while Carla and Toni exist only to highlight Betty's epic fail, Sally's angst or Lane's rebellion against parental abuse?

And don't give me "there were no African Americans in advertising". The Clio statuette which played such a big role in the last season of Mad Men was designed by an African American Art Director and VP at McCann-Erickson - George Olden.

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	fools_game 2011-01-11 05:37 am UTC (link)
	Yes, because when I finished watching Megamind, I thought "Y'know what this movie could've used? Racial diversity!" And because you didn't think it, it isn't a valid comment? Wow. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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