tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post3901858924002413573..comments2024-01-04T04:31:00.481-05:00Comments on Mixed Race America: A Mixed Race Medley--Multiple PlugsJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-71876891786276319742008-03-03T13:45:00.000-05:002008-03-03T13:45:00.000-05:00I agree that the SNL issue is different from the J...I agree that the SNL issue is different from the Jolie/Pearl issue (and it strikes me as being similar to the ways in which white actors often donned "yellowface" in the 20th Century because Hollywood claimed there weren't qualified Asian American actresses, but look at Nobu McCarthy and Anna Mae Wong and you'll see what a lie this is). And I do think SNL does not do a good job at diversity of its cast members.<BR/><BR/>But in thinking about casting Armisen, a mixed race man, to play another mixed race man, it may be a brilliant strategy, in one sense, to highlight the instability and insufficiency of race as a category.<BR/><BR/>Problem with my interpretation is it only carries currency in limited realms--like the blogosphere or academic circles--the average person watching SNL is only going to be faced with Armisen in blackface and either be uncomfortable or be told this is OK and not really evaluate the political and social ramifications of it all.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by (h)apa thealogy--I appreciate your comments and hope you will continue to leave more observations!Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-14713887031474129112008-03-03T13:04:00.000-05:002008-03-03T13:04:00.000-05:00Re: SNL -- I've been mulling over this question as...Re: SNL -- I've been mulling over this question as well. On the one hand, it seems that this troupe that is limited in number has to use what resources it has. Also, I've been trying to decide if the fact that he's doing an impression versus doing a caricature is a factor. If he needs to look like the guy and added a nose or hair or padding, is that the same? Knowing the history of blackface, I have to say no, it's definitely not the same, but I'm not sure yet where the line is.I don't think it's on the same scale as the whole Marianne Pearl/Angelina Jolie thing, because there was room for casting a mixed-race woman in that role, and it went instead to a white woman with star power. It seems that SNL was trying to do what it could with what it had, and that also opens the floor up to questions of whether its cast is diverse enough. <BR/><BR/>If it gets people thinking and talking, that'd be good. I felt like Lorne Michels wasn't taking the issue very seriously, tho.<BR/><BR/>Hey, love your blog, BTW :)Babalonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17816245824483235962noreply@blogger.com