For centuries, ethnic minority groups have struggled to make an appearance in the entertainment industry. Reasons for this struggle include the apparent need for Hollywood to use white casts in their films. Whitewashing has given the entertainment industry a lot of backlash, calling them out for the multiple cultural appropriation and racial remarks.
Racism in the History of Hollywood Films
Dating back from 1830, the entertainment industry (especially Hollywood) created what is now a racial
act; blackfacing. Blackface is the intention of disguising someone who is not in any way black in clothing to appear that race. Actors would also paint their skins a darker shade. Although blackface appeared more in the entertainment industry in the past century, it still has made some frequent appearances in movies such as Good Boys (2019).
Yellowface also started appearing in the Hollywood industry, after a theatrical film, Madame Butterfly
(1915), produced a Chinese story, but with an all white cast. The movie was released 30 years later, where once again, no Chinese person was cast. This movie was not the only high-grossing film that included yellowface as, Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961), had Mickey Rooney star as a Japanese character, where he imitated an accent, and squinted eyes.
The White Saviour Trope Films have included POC as supporting characters, for the pure intention of having a “diverse cast.”
Because of the number of times this idea has been used, it has been considered a trope called white saviour, where the main protagonist (who is white), saves a supporting character or group that are ethnic minorities. This trope has been portrayed in countless movies and TV series including To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and The Walking Dead (2010). This trope does not show ethnic minority groups their true potential in films. It only pushes them into a category, as nothing more than supporting characters. The loss of identity ethnic minority groups have in starring in White Television stems from having them star as only supporting characters, allowing the white protagonist to look good, or be seen as the hero.
Ethnic Movies Produced By White TV
In 2020, Disney movie Mulan had an all Asian cast but still received backlash when released, because it was not a fully ethnic minority produced show. All backstage crew members were white, including the directors, producers, and hair and makeup team. Because of this, it did not make Asians who watched the film feel fully proud of the finished product, and the representation in it.
Ethnic minorities are not fully represented in Hollywood films. It is a problem that has been going on for centuries and has yet to be fully improved. Because of this issue, people of colour have had a sense of loss in identity within the entertainment industry, to the point where it is even rare to see someone who is not white on tv. The entertainment industry is something for all people to find ambition in, not just white people.
Mi Cao
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