Comments on: The Secret of Kells That Should’ve Been Kept http://godheval.net/the-secret-of-kellis-that-shouldve-been-kept/ Writer, Philosopher, Dreamer, Idealist Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:02:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Godheval http://godheval.net/the-secret-of-kellis-that-shouldve-been-kept/comment-page-1/#comment-812 Godheval Fri, 16 Apr 2010 05:13:36 +0000 http://godheval.net/?p=1338#comment-812 There is so much more I could say on this matter, about the "neutrality" or "normativity" of whiteness, and how the black aesthetic does not fit within the Western beauty standard. That is to say that those features commonly associated with darker people are seen as ugly, inferior, or in the case of blackface, something to laugh at. Can you even imagine what that feels like? Based on your willingness to dismiss this issue, I would guess not. There is so much more I could say on this matter, about the "neutrality" or "normativity" of whiteness, and how the black aesthetic does not fit within the Western beauty standard. That is to say that those features commonly associated with darker people are seen as ugly, inferior, or in the case of blackface, something to laugh at.

Can you even imagine what that feels like? Based on your willingness to dismiss this issue, I would guess not.

]]> By: Godheval http://godheval.net/the-secret-of-kellis-that-shouldve-been-kept/comment-page-1/#comment-811 Godheval Fri, 16 Apr 2010 05:11:34 +0000 http://godheval.net/?p=1338#comment-811 "Everyone in the movie is a caricature" Even if that were true, what you don't understand is that this particular caricature has a history - one associated with the shaming and invalidation of the black aesthetic. Look up "blackface" for a better understanding, and you'll find that because African-Americans were not allowed in films, white actors painted their faces pitch black with bright red lips and then acted like buffoons - their interpretations of how black people acted, or a way of presenting black people mockingly for white people's amusement. It is not just about caricature but about how black people have been represented historically in the media, and it has almost always been bad. In this case, it is about knowing better. It is well established that this particular "caricature" as you call it, is symbolic of a painful past for African-Americans, and to use it NOW is to either be woefully ignorant of that history, or to plainly make a statement that you don't give a fuck about it. If they wanted to make a caricature who happened to be African, that's fine, but as I said: "There is a lot of room for stylistic interpretation of different ethnicities. Darker skin, thicker lips? Par for the course. No problem. But bright red lips that occupy a third of Assoua’s face leave no room for interpretation." This image specifically invokes the blackface tradition. It is not merely a caricature. "Everyone in the movie is a caricature"

Even if that were true, what you don't understand is that this particular caricature has a history – one associated with the shaming and invalidation of the black aesthetic. Look up "blackface" for a better understanding, and you'll find that because African-Americans were not allowed in films, white actors painted their faces pitch black with bright red lips and then acted like buffoons – their interpretations of how black people acted, or a way of presenting black people mockingly for white people's amusement.

It is not just about caricature but about how black people have been represented historically in the media, and it has almost always been bad.

In this case, it is about knowing better. It is well established that this particular "caricature" as you call it, is symbolic of a painful past for African-Americans, and to use it NOW is to either be woefully ignorant of that history, or to plainly make a statement that you don't give a fuck about it.

If they wanted to make a caricature who happened to be African, that's fine, but as I said:

"There is a lot of room for stylistic interpretation of different ethnicities. Darker skin, thicker lips? Par for the course. No problem. But bright red lips that occupy a third of Assoua’s face leave no room for interpretation."

This image specifically invokes the blackface tradition. It is not merely a caricature.

]]> By: ZCP http://godheval.net/the-secret-of-kellis-that-shouldve-been-kept/comment-page-1/#comment-808 ZCP Fri, 16 Apr 2010 04:36:29 +0000 http://godheval.net/?p=1338#comment-808 Come on guys, this is ridiculous. EVERYONE in the movie is a caricature. There are way bigger things to get offended over than this, especially when the movie itself isn't trying to be racist in any way, nor are any of these characters (including the African guy) being portrayed as unintelligent or inferior. Isn't that what's most important? Come on guys, this is ridiculous. EVERYONE in the movie is a caricature. There are way bigger things to get offended over than this, especially when the movie itself isn't trying to be racist in any way, nor are any of these characters (including the African guy) being portrayed as unintelligent or inferior. Isn't that what's most important?

]]> By: godheval50571 http://godheval.net/the-secret-of-kellis-that-shouldve-been-kept/comment-page-1/#comment-786 godheval50571 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:08:57 +0000 http://godheval.net/?p=1338#comment-786 Thanks for your input, Jont. You raise a good point. They were exposed to enough to racial stereotypes to be able to come up with such an image, so we can't assume that they were somehow selectively unaware of the meanings associated with it. So I wonder, do they just not care, or do they think it's funny? Thanks for your input, Jont. You raise a good point. They were exposed to enough to racial stereotypes to be able to come up with such an image, so we can't assume that they were somehow selectively unaware of the meanings associated with it. So I wonder, do they just not care, or do they think it's funny?

]]> By: Jont http://godheval.net/the-secret-of-kellis-that-shouldve-been-kept/comment-page-1/#comment-774 Jont Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:57:50 +0000 http://godheval.net/?p=1338#comment-774 As an Irish guy abroad, I would love to be able to show this movie to people and say, "look, we can actually do things!" But because of this I have to hold my tongue. What excuse do they have? Cultural difference isn't really an excuse for anyone over the age of twelve. Even presuming that these artists have existed in a cultural vacuum, far removed from a long established history of racial degradation, would that allow them create one anew. As you say there is a lot of room for interpretation of various ethnic characteristics, and it's not an entirely bad design, but those lips are unforgivable. Stylised features are one thing, but where in real life have the animators found inspiration for those? As an Irish guy abroad, I would love to be able to show this movie to people and say, "look, we can actually do things!" But because of this I have to hold my tongue.

What excuse do they have? Cultural difference isn't really an excuse for anyone over the age of twelve. Even presuming that these artists have existed in a cultural vacuum, far removed from a long established history of racial degradation, would that allow them create one anew.

As you say there is a lot of room for interpretation of various ethnic characteristics, and it's not an entirely bad design, but those lips are unforgivable. Stylised features are one thing, but where in real life have the animators found inspiration for those?

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