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In reply to the discussion: I did not remember "Breakfast of Tiffany's" being so racist. [View all]unblock
(52,196 posts)31. hollywood and tv thrive on stereotyping. it's a shorthand for introducing characters.
i'm not saying it's justified, and surely better writing and acting can overcome it, but the argument is that it takes precious screen time to develop a character, and any way you can lean on a stereotype saves valuable time.
anyway, hollywood has always propogated stereotypes, down to wearing glasses to communicate intelligence. it continues this to this day. it doesn't seem as jarring in today's movies and programming only because it's better tuned to today's sensitivities.
but note that the vast majority of gay characters are (still) of the flaming variety; the vast majority of smart people wear glasses and are socially inept; big-time american drug dealers are still black; etc.
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I bet we didn't think much of it at the time -- we've come a long way, thankfully. nt
gateley
Apr 2012
#1
I still marvel at Italian Al Pacino playing a Cuban Tony Montana in "Scarface."..n/t
monmouth
Apr 2012
#39
That actually was not so bad considering the lack of Cuban actors at the time.
vaberella
Apr 2012
#62
I never realized that was Mickey Rooney. The one I remember when this comes up is Hop Sing
brewens
Apr 2012
#8
Yes, but Joel Gray almost seemed to be praising Koreans in Remo Williams.
Snake Alchemist
Apr 2012
#13
"The Korean is the most perfect creature ever to sanctify the earth with the imprint of its foot."
Snake Alchemist
Apr 2012
#26
PBS did a series, Frontier House, where they reference a historical merchant with a similar name
belcffub
Apr 2012
#23
My bad. I thought they'd released them last year, as they said they were going to.
Johnny Rico
Apr 2012
#33
Gore Vidal on Capote: "He's a full-fledged housewife from Kansas with all the prejudices."
Tom Ripley
Apr 2012
#27
That person doesnt think anyone has the right to be offended by anything bigoted, ever, unless...
stevenleser
Apr 2012
#43
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think maybe the first regular black character on TV
Art_from_Ark
Apr 2012
#47
Now that I think about it, I Spy, starring Bill Cosby, also debuted in 1965.
Art_from_Ark
Apr 2012
#52
There was also the episode where Grand Kleagle Ernest T Bass killed those civil rights workers
Tom Ripley
Apr 2012
#66
hollywood and tv thrive on stereotyping. it's a shorthand for introducing characters.
unblock
Apr 2012
#31
That's right! And you have also reminded me of Heston wearing a heavy coat of Man Tan as
Tom Ripley
Apr 2012
#65
We progressed, but that progress stopped in 1981 and we've been backsliding ever since. n/t
Egalitarian Thug
Apr 2012
#35
I'm not good at calling people out on soft racism. Then I feel like a heel. We are all a product of
applegrove
Apr 2012
#46
I can tell you as a child I saw it as racist. Watch any western for crazy racism.
vaberella
Apr 2012
#61