Zendaya rumored to play Ariel in Live action Little mermaid movie

[Borislshere 52,655]

15 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

No, her race should matter despite it being a magical world because I'm only using your logic here. I have never seen the "magical world" theory be used any time a character of colour is whitewashed in recent media (The Last Airbender, Pan, Ghost In The Shell, etc). Suddenly, then, magical world be damned, of course their race matters! Either race matters in magical worlds or it doesn't - pick one, because choosing both gives you a double standard and that isn't a good thing.

Once again, I have no problem with black people, I just want them in roles designed for them, as should every race. Unless the race isn't made obvious, of course. Film is a visual media, this is just how it works.

You keep listing movies that rely heavily on a character’s culture. The only thing the little mermaid relies on is the fact that she’s a mermaid. Also, Disney is rumored to be Filming this movie in Cape Town Africa. Their obviously not going for some Denmark themed look. And you do have a problem with black people. You are nitpicking little things just because she’s black. 

[lego 44,165]

 

 

 

 

[Cocaine Heart 4,768]

39 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

I don't get why people get up in arms about roles being whitewashed but then think it's perfectly ok to do it in reverse. 

Do you feel no shame to say these things omg 

[Borislshere 52,655]

27 minutes ago, lego said:

 

 

 

 

Why did it take me so long to see Deadpool in the back  

[TheodoreRx 1,540]

47 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

I had this reply ready for you and then some last minute information came up, so I've had to edit it somewhat.

I already said that the only ones I've ever witnessed who this can happen to are the ones who are the result of a mixed race union but look completely white. I read a story about a white woman who had twins with a black man and one was completely black with frizzy black hair and the other was completely white with straight brown hair, both looking completely different, you'd never believe either was mixed race or related. And then there was another case of a half black/white woman who had twins with a black man and one of them came out reasonably dark with frizzy hair and the other was white with strawberry blonde hair, again, they look polar opposite and like they couldn't be mixed or related. Instances like this can happen in mixed unions, I learned about it in biology. However, with some further looking into it, it turns out there can be some bi-racial people who do look part black yet have red hair. Though they can look very different from white redheads (more likely to have an abundance of freckles, different tones of red, etc). In any case, I'd be fine with a mixed girl like Halsey playing the part as even though she's half black, she looks completely white. But Zendaya is the kind of mixed that can be interpreted as completely black, so there's a clear change of dynamic here. I'm almost completely sure they'd dye her hair an unnatural red, if they bothered at all.

Yes, but the point is, the live action remakes have recently been trying to bring in elements that were more like the original story. Disney always change things when they animate classics, so to prevent telling exactly the same story again in the remake, they either add in never before seen additions when they make live action remakes (Cinderella interacting with the townspeople and meeting the prince before the ball) or hark back to more elements of the original book (Mowgli's more extensive interaction with the wolf pack). So, it would be nice if the setting went back to the original Denmark. And nice try with "black people can live in Denmark" but no, that may be the case today but the original story and animation is supposed to be sometime around 1837, so that doesn't apply. No, her race should matter despite it being a magical world because I'm only using your logic here. I have never seen the "magical world" theory be used any time a character of colour is whitewashed in recent media (The Last Airbender, Pan, Ghost In The Shell, etc). Suddenly, then, magical world be damned, of course their race matters! Either race matters in magical worlds or it doesn't - pick one, because choosing both gives you a double standard and that isn't a good thing.

Once again, I have no problem with black people, I just want them in roles designed for them, as should every race. Unless the race isn't made obvious, of course. Film is a visual media, this is just how it works.

Read what I said to the person above. Zendaya, if her hair was dyed, would look so obviously fake, as well. And mermaids hair obviously can't be dyed underwater.

Granted, I've never seen anything like this until literally right now. I've only seen half black/half whites (who looked completely white) with red hair at most, so this is an eye opener. So, you got me there, I admit. In a rare instance, thank you for showing me something I was completely unaware of.

By "obviously fake," I didn't mean it offensively, just purely from an observational standpoint. I've said this before: "It's hard to find a celebrity who looks like me because there's few redheads and even ones who have dyed their hair red choose an unnatural tone so it looks so obviously fake." It's in no way meant to be a racialised insult, just a factual observation. It's likely that if they do opt to dye it red, it will be an unnatural tone.

Yes, Ariel's hair is an obviously fake tone (see, used that line for a white person!) but that's understandable because she is a cartoon and certain things are more exaggerated, few cartoons have genuinely realistic hair tones. But I'd like to think that a live action remake would involve a woman who had a natural red tone. It would mean so much for those of us with natural red tones who only see red hair be held up as beautiful when it's an unnatural shade on a non-redhead.

Yes, bi-racial people can have blue eyes (and green and hazel) but my point was that Zendaya doesn't, so she'd either keep her brown eyes or made to wear blue contacts, another thing that would have to be altered to give the closest possible likeness. White people have had to wear coloured contacts for roles before, it's not beyond the bounds of reason to point this out. One of the gripes among Harry Potter fans when the film came to screen was that Daniel Radcliffe didn't have green eyes like in the books, so it happens to whites too.

Yes, I do fight this hard when a white person who doesn't look like the character they're supposed to be portraying gets a role. However, there's not a lot of records of me doing that as most of these cases happened before I started commenting on it online. But, yes, there have been weird choices for white actors as well. And I've been retroactively puzzled when I accepted a live action film adaption of a book but then went and read the book and realised that this white character was described as looking quite different. I've seen white characters get substituted for black before, even before it became popular to do so. And don't even get me started on changing locations and/or accents. I'm just a stickler for accuracy. I said previously that film is a visual medium, so we should expect visual accuracy. Again, there's so many double standards in "diversity casting" theory. When a story set in a majority white country is changed, it's fine because the characters matter more than the location but when a story set in a majority non-white country is changed, that's bad because race and location are tied into each other. When a historical white person's race is changed, historical accuracy is seen as meaningless but when a historical POC's race is changed, historical accuracy becomes of paramount importance. When a white person's character's race in a fantasy story is changed, it's fine because magical worlds have no racial rules, but when a POC's character's race in a fantasy story is changed, magical worlds suddenly shouldn't be an excuse for a race change.

I'm all about accuracy, no matter what race is involved and I'm all about consistency, no matter what race is involved. I believe characters should be kept the race they are - white actors for white roles, black actors for black roles, Asian actors for Asian roles, etc. I wouldn't dream of accepting a role that wasn't made for my race. I'm all for creating more films featuring POC at the centre of their own stories and suchlike, so there's no shortage of roles for non-whites. Equal opportunities for all, within the realms of accuracy. I don't get why people get up in arms about roles being whitewashed but then think it's perfectly ok to do it in reverse. Find a consistent standard and stick to it. I've said before that you can disagree with my standards but at least they're consistent for all races.

Ummm, mermaids are a fictional species. Is it that hard to imagine they have different genetics than humans? Zendaya is very light-skinned to the point of being close to passable. Red hair would look fine, and albino black people exist and are still black. 

[littlepotter 73,282]

On 8/23/2018 at 3:59 AM, Kulture Kiari said:

I thought the Harry Potter chick, Emma Watson, was going to get the main role?

that was beauty and the beast... she can't star in two disney live action movies tho she would be great

[StrawberryBlond 13,484]

3 hours ago, Borislshere said:

"MerMaIdS CAnT Be BlAck. mUsT bE WHITE!"

 

I have to hand it to you, that's a good call...because I actually still have that movie on VHS somewhere! For you or anyone who doesn't know, it's from a series called Adventures of Ariel or something, which were spin-off videos released in the 90's. I do remember this one - Ariel meets a mermaid called Gabriella who's deaf and speaks in sign language with the help of her octopus friend to translate and her biggest wish is to talk so she can sing beautifully like Ariel. You can find it on YouTube if you look up The Little Mermaid Wish Upon A Starfish (pardon the funny pitched audio!). It was such a touching story as a child and even as an adult, was one of the very first representations of a disabled person in a kids show and has such a heartwarming conclusion. It really made me understand how a deaf person could feel and is a great way to teach kids that it's ok to be different and you're still capable of living your dreams.

The thing is, with a name like Gabriella, I think the suggestion is that she was Hispanic. Still, she could have been a black Hispanic, appealing to two demographics. It was very progressive that she was a person of colour and deaf for a show in the 90's, although this is when more progressive choices were starting to become a thing. And I definitely don't mind this as the character's race is defined from the beginning. Making a new character for the purpose of diversity is fine too. I just want the main character to be the same.

2 hours ago, Borislshere said:

You keep listing movies that rely heavily on a character’s culture. The only thing the little mermaid relies on is the fact that she’s a mermaid. Also, Disney is rumored to be Filming this movie in Cape Town Africa. Their obviously not going for some Denmark themed look. And you do have a problem with black people. You are nitpicking little things just because she’s black. 

Yes, those movies do rely heavily on a character's culture and I'd definitely agree that their race should be respected (the Pan one is particularly bizarre as I truly don't know what they were going for with that race change). But how is Ghost In The Shell heavily reliant on a character's culture? Not that I've seen it but I understand the fact it's set in Japan with Japanese characters is as far as it goes and the girl's a robot as well, so not even human. Yet that was the most outraged example recently. As for location, again, I just wish they'd go back to the roots of the real story instead of Americanising it or putting it anywhere else for that matter. Setting it in Denmark with the role going to a Danish girl would be an amazing thing for Danes to see a major picture endorsed by Disney with someone of their own in it. I'm not nitpicking little things because she's black - if you know me well enough you know I nitpick with everyone. Zendaya's getting big movie roles these days - I think she'll be fine without this one. Treating her the same way I'd treat anyone else is not the same as racism, quite the opposite.

2 hours ago, Cocaine Heart said:

Do you feel no shame to say these things omg 

What's so shameful about saying that a character's race should be respected and kept intact when making casting choices? I support it for all races, not just white. Isn't that what you want? I just don't believe in the double standard of it being ok to change a race so long as the race you're changing is white.

1 hour ago, TheodoreRx said:

Ummm, mermaids are a fictional species. Is it that hard to imagine they have different genetics than humans? Zendaya is very light-skinned to the point of being close to passable. Red hair would look fine, and albino black people exist and are still black. 

Maybe so, although there's never been any black ones depicted in Scandinavian mythology which is what The Little Mermaid is based on. This particular one is white, so why can't it just stay that way? And I don't think Zendaya's light enough to pass as white, I've never mistaken her for white. I used to think she was completely black, actually. As for albinos, well, that's a very different thing as it's a condition, not a race, so not really comparable. And how so you know they'll even give her red hair? If they're going for diversity casting, they might well want her to maintain her natural black hair to really drive the point.

[Borislshere 52,655]

11 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

I have to hand it to you, that's a good call...because I actually still have that movie on VHS somewhere! For you or anyone who doesn't know, it's from a series called Adventures of Ariel or something, which were spin-off videos released in the 90's. I do remember this one - Ariel meets a mermaid called Gabriella who's deaf and speaks in sign language with the help of her octopus friend to translate and her biggest wish is to talk so she can sing beautifully like Ariel. You can find it on YouTube if you look up The Little Mermaid Wish Upon A Starfish (pardon the funny pitched audio!). It was such a touching story as a child and even as an adult, was one of the very first representations of a disabled person in a kids show and has such a heartwarming conclusion. It really made me understand how a deaf person could feel and is a great way to teach kids that it's ok to be different and you're still capable of living your dreams.

 The thing is, with a name like Gabriella, I think the suggestion is that she was Hispanic. Still, she could have been a black Hispanic, appealing to two demographics. It was very progressive that she was a person of colour and deaf for a show in the 90's, although this is when more progressive choices were starting to become a thing. And I definitely don't mind this as the character's race is defined from the beginning. Making a new character for the purpose of diversity is fine too. I just want the main character to be the same.

Yes, those movies do rely heavily on a character's culture and I'd definitely agree that their race should be respected (the Pan one is particularly bizarre as I truly don't know what they were going for with that race change). But how is Ghost In The Shell heavily reliant on a character's culture? Not that I've seen it but I understand the fact it's set in Japan with Japanese characters is as far as it goes and the girl's a robot as well, so not even human. Yet that was the most outraged example recently. As for location, again, I just wish they'd go back to the roots of the real story instead of Americanising it or putting it anywhere else for that matter. Setting it in Denmark with the role going to a Danish girl would be an amazing thing for Danes to see a major picture endorsed by Disney with someone of their own in it. I'm not nitpicking little things because she's black - if you know me well enough you know I nitpick with everyone. Zendaya's getting big movie roles these days - I think she'll be fine without this one. Treating her the same way I'd treat anyone else is not the same as racism, quite the opposite.

What's so shameful about saying that a character's race should be respected and kept intact when making casting choices? I support it for all races, not just white. Isn't that what you want? I just don't believe in the double standard of it being ok to change a race so long as the race you're changing is white.

Maybe so, although there's never been any black ones depicted in Scandinavian mythology which is what The Little Mermaid is based on. This particular one is white, so why can't it just stay that way? And I don't think Zendaya's light enough to pass as white, I've never mistaken her for white. I used to think she was completely black, actually. As for albinos, well, that's a very different thing as it's a condition, not a race, so not really comparable. And how so you know they'll even give her red hair? If they're going for diversity casting, they might well want her to maintain her natural black hair to really drive the point.

I’ve been watching every little mermaid related thing since I was a baby. I’ve seen the show hundreds of times. If this were a character like Snow White, who got her name based on her skin complexion, then I’d understand. I just don’t understand all of this outrage. Disney just wants to go in a different direction, happens all the time with remakes. And I wasn’t one of the people complaining about a ghost in the shell. I understood that she was a robot. 

This is just so extra and exaggerated as hell. 

[illySpencer 1,434]

Stop everything ! The Little mermaid casting has just announced ! 

Lady GaGa as Ariel 

 

Lady GaGa as Prince Eric : 

 

Lady GaGa as Ursula : 

 

Lady GaGa as Flounder : 

 

Lady GaGa as Sebastian : 

 

 

Lady GaGa as Vanessa : 

 

[TheodoreRx 1,540]

30 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

I have to hand it to you, that's a good call...because I actually still have that movie on VHS somewhere! For you or anyone who doesn't know, it's from a series called Adventures of Ariel or something, which were spin-off videos released in the 90's. I do remember this one - Ariel meets a mermaid called Gabriella who's deaf and speaks in sign language with the help of her octopus friend to translate and her biggest wish is to talk so she can sing beautifully like Ariel. You can find it on YouTube if you look up The Little Mermaid Wish Upon A Starfish (pardon the funny pitched audio!). It was such a touching story as a child and even as an adult, was one of the very first representations of a disabled person in a kids show and has such a heartwarming conclusion. It really made me understand how a deaf person could feel and is a great way to teach kids that it's ok to be different and you're still capable of living your dreams.

The thing is, with a name like Gabriella, I think the suggestion is that she was Hispanic. Still, she could have been a black Hispanic, appealing to two demographics. It was very progressive that she was a person of colour and deaf for a show in the 90's, although this is when more progressive choices were starting to become a thing. And I definitely don't mind this as the character's race is defined from the beginning. Making a new character for the purpose of diversity is fine too. I just want the main character to be the same.

Yes, those movies do rely heavily on a character's culture and I'd definitely agree that their race should be respected (the Pan one is particularly bizarre as I truly don't know what they were going for with that race change). But how is Ghost In The Shell heavily reliant on a character's culture? Not that I've seen it but I understand the fact it's set in Japan with Japanese characters is as far as it goes and the girl's a robot as well, so not even human. Yet that was the most outraged example recently. As for location, again, I just wish they'd go back to the roots of the real story instead of Americanising it or putting it anywhere else for that matter. Setting it in Denmark with the role going to a Danish girl would be an amazing thing for Danes to see a major picture endorsed by Disney with someone of their own in it. I'm not nitpicking little things because she's black - if you know me well enough you know I nitpick with everyone. Zendaya's getting big movie roles these days - I think she'll be fine without this one. Treating her the same way I'd treat anyone else is not the same as racism, quite the opposite.

What's so shameful about saying that a character's race should be respected and kept intact when making casting choices? I support it for all races, not just white. Isn't that what you want? I just don't believe in the double standard of it being ok to change a race so long as the race you're changing is white.

Maybe so, although there's never been any black ones depicted in Scandinavian mythology which is what The Little Mermaid is based on. This particular one is white, so why can't it just stay that way? And I don't think Zendaya's light enough to pass as white, I've never mistaken her for white. I used to think she was completely black, actually. As for albinos, well, that's a very different thing as it's a condition, not a race, so not really comparable. And how so you know they'll even give her red hair? If they're going for diversity casting, they might well want her to maintain her natural black hair to really drive the point.

This isn't the original version and the Disney version is only loosely based on the original mythos. Mermaids in the original have various ethnicities and hair colors, and I think it's inarguable that Zendaya is light-skinned. 

[StrawberryBlond 13,484]

13 minutes ago, Borislshere said:

I’ve been watching every little mermaid related thing since I was a baby. I’ve seen the show hundreds of times. If this were a character like Snow White, who got her name based on her skin complexion, then I’d understand. I just don’t understand all of this outrage. Disney just wants to go in a different direction, happens all the time with remakes. And I wasn’t one of the people complaining about a ghost in the shell. I understood that she was a robot. 

This is just so extra and exaggerated as hell. 

But they've kept the races intact for all their remakes so far? Why can't they respect that for this one? Why aren't white redheads getting the chance to finally see a live action Ariel like their childhood idol, just like the blondes who idolised Cinderella and the brunettes who idolised Belle? To be blatantly honest, I wouldn't have minded a black Ariel if she weren't redhaired. It's the hair that's the ultimate sore point for me. If a white blonde or white brunette mermaid was changed to black, it wouldn't bother me as blondes and brunettes already have all the representation they need and they haven't lost anything because one blonde or brunette character is lost. But because just 2% of the world has red hair, we crave a sight of ourselves. We're in need of representation and yet one of our most iconic fictional redheads is being taken away from us in one of the most highly anticipated Disney live action remakes of all things. I thought black people of all people would understand how much this matters to us.

1 minute ago, TheodoreRx said:

This isn't the original version and the Disney version is only loosely based on the original mythos. Mermaids in the original have various ethnicities and hair colors, and I think it's inarguable that Zendaya is light-skinned. 

But the remakes do sometimes try to hark back to the original in some ways, like The Jungle Book recently did. This is their chance to make it closer to the original, minus the sad ending, of course. Were the mermaids in the original really described as having different races and hair colours? I don't remember that. Zendaya is light skinned but light skinned is not the same as being passable for white. I'm sure she would tell you that too.