Whitewashed Avatar Cast

Originally Posted by Flames of Valor

They don't call them 'cream' or some white implying name though, if they did they would be crucified, but it's ok for black to separate themselves, just not white people? What makes those magazines 'white'?

The fact that they're made by whites makes it a white magazine.

To be honest, we did sorta take them from their homeland and enslave them for a hundred years, so it makes sense that they can have their own month/magazine and shizz.

Originally Posted by Margar

But it's a little different when you take somethign that is traditionally Japanese or racially diverse, and change it to be all caucasian. whether it was intentionally pandering to racist undertones is debatable, but still, it took one thing and changed it significantly enough to warrant notice.

If people want to harp on racism then at least harp on something that isn't based on one mans preference for his movie. Rather, harp on something where someone is creating a separation deliberately, that is what I am making this about.

As far as things like ebony goes, race exists. racism exists. if people want a magazine that empowers and affirms their identity in society, let them. as long as it's not preaching hate or violence against other races, there's nothing wrong with lifting up a minority race. you can't just pretend that everyone is the same color and that thousands of years of history mean nothing. with difference in skin color, also comes difference in culture, religion (in some cases) and tradition. We can't expect everyone to homogenize into one culture.

My point is that only people that aren't white get to do it. That is absurd and people are damn hypocrites about this. There is no difference between a white people magazine and a black people magazine, but people would be up in arms about the white one.

Also, who gives a crap about slavery? White people enslaved white people too, and black people enslaved other black people. It's as if only the black peoples slave history matters to people.

Of course we are all different but we need to be treated the same way. If white people can't have their own magazines then neither should blacks. I begs the question, are these progressives really so progressive?

The fact that they're made by whites makes it a white magazine.

To be honest, we did sorta take them from their homeland and enslave them for a hundred years, so it makes sense that they can have their own month/magazine and shizz.

Who the creators?

So what? White people took land from white people, black people took land from black people. It makes no difference. Especially since no one alive today was ever a slave in this country.

Originally Posted by Flames of Valor

They don't call them 'cream' or some white implying name though, if they did they would be crucified, but it's ok for black to separate themselves, just not white people? What makes those magazines 'white'?

Get off your soapbox plz.

Uhh, I really think people are making a much bigger deal out of this than it is. It's a movie. You should care more about if the plot or actors can accurately portray the original rather than the colour of their skin. For example, Minerva McGonagall had black hair in the novels, but Maggie Smith the actor who portrayed her had grey. Did Harry Potter fans get bent out of shape out of this? No.

Originally Posted by Me, elsewhere

When I was in high school I didn't get a major part in one of the musicals I auditioned for, and the teacher said it was too bad we weren't doing South Pacific.

I wouldn't call it racism -- I'd call it marketing. Type casting has always been an issue with entertainment, hasn't it?

This doesn't actually seem like a big deal to me; if the script is good, the acting is good, the visuals are good, then whatever. If the movie's good, it's good. I'm not going to get hung-up on what race they chose to play which characters.

If you are an Avatar fan, PLEASE do not see the Avatar: The Last Airbender movie comign out in July 2010. They have whitewashed the entire cast

Oh my god that cast is white!

Big deal. This totally makes the movie not worth watching. If you ask me, the only racist thing here is the fact that you don't want people to watch it because it was "Whitewashed"
The air nomads were white in the show anyway. White Aang makes sense anyway.

And you know what's funny? The genocidal Fire Nation is all Asian.

'
Alright... The fire nation was, from what it looked like to me, the only asian nation in the show.
So first you complain that the cast is white. You get people who arn't white to play in the movie, and you complain again.

Sorry for sounding a bit like a jerk, but c'mon...

He's wearing tibetan pants and looks monk...ish. Again, this is set in an Asian fantasy world.


Look how caucasian Katara is! /sarcasm


Wow, Sokka's so pale. Go get a tan buddy! /sarcasm again

”I think it's one of those things where I pull my hair up, shave the sides, and I definitely need a tan. It’s one of those things where, hopefully, the audience will suspend disbelief a little bit.”
- Actor Jackson Rathbone (Sokka), on portraying his character

You know how not yellowface that is? So not yellowface.

Originally Posted by Flames of Valor

If people want to harp on racism then at least harp on something that isn't based on one mans preference for his movie. Rather, harp on something where someone is creating a separation deliberately, that is what I am making this about.

well, the whole point of this thread is (or was) to discuss whether the "whitewashing" of the movie was deliberate or not.

Originally Posted by Flames of Valor

My point is that only people that aren't white get to do it. That is absurd and people are damn hypocrites about this. There is no difference between a white people magazine and a black people magazine, but people would be up in arms about the white one.

There are white people magazines, to- they just don't have race-oriented names. Women's day, Reader's Digest, TV guide, anyone? lol!

Originally Posted by Flames of Valor

Of course we are all different but we need to be treated the same way. If white people can't have their own magazines then neither should blacks. I begs the question, are these progressives really so progressive?

like I said- race exists. different does not equal negative. with different races and ethnicities, come different cultures and interests. As long as the race-oriented publications don't preach hatred, what does it matter? the reason "white" magazines don't exist (not blatantly, anyway) is because white is the majority in the US. It's like the default setting. whether this is right or not is debatable, but you can't deny that Black culture exists, and therefore, it is reasonable to have some magazines devoted to such. it's not like white people aren't allowed to buy "ebony". likewise, no one of color is barred from buying women's day

why was my post deleted it was perfectly valid.

this is just a movie who cares what race the actors really are? It won't affect the quality of the story being told.

Originally Posted by Flames of Valor

So what? White people took land from white people, black people took land from black people. It makes no difference. Especially since no one alive today was ever a slave in this country.

However the legacy of slavery lives on, with many black people growing up in impoverished areas.

On the other hand, if there were a whites-only country club, it would be illegal because it's segregation. It's starting to encourage black supremacist thinking - I believe there was a video going around recently about a black man calling for the extermination of whites? So maybe it's time that everyone stops setting up ways to differentiate people based on skin tone. As a descendant of Irish Catholics who were second-class citizens in their own country while the whole slavery thing was going on in other countries, I'm really annoyed that I'm getting lumped in with slave-owners who died over a century ago in another part of the world.

Originally Posted by TheLastRito

He's wearing tibetan pants and looks monk...ish. Again, this is set in an Asian fantasy world.


Look how caucasian Katara is! /sarcasm


Wow, Sokka's so pale. Go get a tan buddy! /sarcasm again

”I think it's one of those things where I pull my hair up, shave the sides, and I definitely need a tan. It’s one of those things where, hopefully, the audience will suspend disbelief a little bit.”
- Actor Jackson Rathbone (Sokka), on portraying his character

You know how not yellowface that is? So not yellowface.

Yes. Aang does look very white though. Just because it's an "Asian fantasy world" does not mean he must be an asian character. He doesn't look asian, he looks like he's whiter than me...

Katara and Sokka are Inuit. I know that already.
Still, i don't see what the big deal is. Besides, it's more than just looking the part.

Originally Posted by Koulatio

Besides, it's more than just looking the part.

I will agree, and expand by saying this-
How many actors of asian descent d you think auditioned for hte part? how many actors are clamoring to be in an Avatar movie? We don't know the answers to these questions.

In the end, it all comes down to this: Does it really matter? Can you seriously say this is going to be the sole downfall of the movie? Do you sincerely believe that?

Would you prefer a bunch of Asian stereotypes in the movie?

Originally Posted by Xeno

In the end, it all comes down to this: Does it really matter? Can you seriously say this is going to be the sole downfall of the movie? Do you sincerely believe that?

I agree with this statement. I do not see how it matters one lick. I dont think that the people making this movie thought about this whitewashing business. Especially considering the fact the director isnt even white. So yeah. If the cast pulls off the characters well, then the color of their skin matters not.

Originally Posted by Margar

There are white people magazines, to- they just don't have race-oriented names. Women's day, Reader's Digest, TV guide, anyone? lol!

But like I said they aren't blatantly white.

like I said- race exists. different does not equal negative. with different races and ethnicities, come different cultures and interests. As long as the race-oriented publications don't preach hatred, what does it matter? the reason "white" magazines don't exist (not blatantly, anyway) is because white is the majority in the US. It's like the default setting. whether this is right or not is debatable, but you can't deny that Black culture exists, and therefore, it is reasonable to have some magazines devoted to such. it's not like white people aren't allowed to buy "ebony". likewise, no one of color is barred from buying women's day

It doesn't matter, but people make it matter, that is the whole problem. There should be no problem with white magazines in society if they are so quick to embrace colored magazines, these are the same people crying for equality but when it doesn't agree with what they think they decide that is somehow unequal, or racist.

Also I am just wondering, what makes those magazines and whatnot you listed 'white' magazines? They aren't self proclaimed white magazines as the 'Ebony' ones are, so what lead you to believe they are somehow 'white'? The 'ebony' magazines proclaim they are 'ebony/black' but those that you list do not proclaim they are 'white'. I don't see the comparison.

Get off your soapbox plz.

Uh, no?

However the legacy of slavery lives on, with many black people growing up in impoverished areas.

On the other hand, if there were a whites-only country club, it would be illegal because it's segregation. It's starting to encourage black supremacist thinking - I believe there was a video going around recently about a black man calling for the extermination of whites? So maybe it's time that everyone stops setting up ways to differentiate people based on skin tone. As a descendant of Irish Catholics who were second-class citizens in their own country while the whole slavery thing was going on in other countries, I'm really annoyed that I'm getting lumped in with slave-owners who died over a century ago in another part of the world.

Exactly, but the point I am trying to make is how absurd general society has grown, how these 'progressives' preach against what they claim to practice, tolerance, respect, blah blah blah...

Yet they do the exact opposite when it goes against what is politically correct in their eyes instead of what is fair to everyone. So if you are going to allow someone of one race to set up a racial division then you need to let every race do that, without societal punishment.

Everything is racist these days. Everything.

I think the key statement is "so what". Reverse racism is so much bigger of a problem, no need to start **** about a movie.

I wouldn't call this racism. :/

Just a bad choice of cast but I don't think they intended to be racist. Probably it is just the impression people just get.

When issues like this comes up, we tend to forget about truly racist groups of people such as Combat 18.

Originally Posted by TheLastRito

Zuko was Asian, so was Aang, Katara and Sokka were African/Inuit, the Earthbenders were all Southeast Asian, it's set in an Asian fantasy land, the LOGO HAS CHINESE CHARACTERS IN IT, whitewashing is just not going to work.

I'm talking about the actual voice actors.

So... the characters are supposed to look Asian based on skin tone? Right... Does anyone actually realize that the 'popular' trend in various Asian countries (china, japan and I think korea) is to have a LIGHTER skin tone. Not white... but lighter. "Younger Asian women in particular want their skin to appear lighter " (Shashi Gossain, 2006)

It's the same how majority of Caucasians want that 'perfect' tan. The light brown all over our bodies. Hell.. I just came across a website with an article on 'How to lighten Asian Skin' (although not directly coming out and mentioning trends etc...)

I don't think it should really matter to much for a TV show/Movie. I mean, would some of you be angry if they decided to use a darker skin tone for the characters? So who knows.. perhaps the animators wanted to cater for Asians with a lighter skin tone being shown? Or maybe they do want to cash in the western audience? In the end, it shouldn't really matter as I'm sure those who see the movie would rather come out thinking "That was a great movie !", instead of thinking it was total rubbish. But since M. Night's on the job... I'll expect many will think the latter.