All right, so, this is a bit of a continuation of a ShoutBox discussion Sonny, Jim (lol Sonnyjim), Liam, a few others and I were having earlier. Basically it revolved around how Walt Disney himself was anti-Jewish, and how there have been racist images placed into Disney films for years. And of course, whether or not those images have an effect on the viewers of the films. My argument was essentially yes, as it desensitizes us to racism. Others argued that if the kid can't grasp that it is a racist image, then there can't be any harm done.
So, completely coincidentally, two nights ago I was watching one of my favorite movies, The Nightmare Before Christmas. And as the movie is progressing, a thought strikes me. There are four characters in the movie that could be considered "black," or at least heavily influenced by black American culture. Three of those characters are the musicians, more on them a bit later. The other is Oogey Boogey. His voice is undoubtedly that of a black American man.
Oogey, for those of you who haven't seen the movie (WATCH IT IMMEDIATELY), is the main antagonist. That's correct, the only "black" main character in the entire movie is the bad guy. The "black" character is the Boogeyman. He is loud, brash, and ostentatious. He is made of a motley Oogey by showing him her bare leg. All of these can be tied back to stereotypes used against black Americans at one poincollection of bugs. He is a gambler. He is lustful - at one point in the movie, the female lead distracts t or another. Most specifically, the lustful one. After all, one of the stated aims of the Ku Klux Klan was/is to protect white women against the ravages of the sex-crazed black man (Ironic, considering the countless instances of white masters sexually abusing their female slaves. /tangent). Insects are generally considered unhygienic. Thus, Oogey being made of bugs could be considered him being dirty, another stereotype often thrown against blacks, as well as them being loud, happy-go-lucky, etc.
Now, am I calling Tim Burton (the director) or his animators/voice actors racists? No, I'm fairly certain I can say that the effect was unintentional. However, the issue lies deeper than that. Perhaps they created a "black" antagonist because subconsciously it would be easier for their viewing audience to accept a "black" antagonist who played off many of the existing stereotypes of black males. Perhaps they had seen so many caricatures of black males in the media they viewed growing up that it became ingrained in their psyche that this was how black males acted. That was/is the crux of my argument. If these stereotypes are embedded into the cultural psyche and subconscious, they will get repeated over and over again. The only way to defeat them - as much as it ever will be truly defeated - is to bring them to light and face them head on.
Such scholars as Patricia A. Turner note there are "objects in popular culture that depict blacks as servile, primitive, or simpleminded and explain how the subtle influences of such seemingly harmless images reinforce antiblack attitudes."
As to the musicians. They are jazz/blues musicians. One of the roles black Americans have always filled is that of the entertainer, the minstrel. Minstrel shows started out as white men in blackface lampooning the presumed lack of intelligence of black people through song and dance. There are many instances of black men doing much the same, making fun of themselves for the sake (and money) of white people. Through the years, the black entertainer has always been acceptable in mainstream white society, be they athletes or musicians. Never are intellectual blacks held in high regard. Only through their physical talents can blacks "serve" mainstream America. It's a stretch in regards to TNBC, as the three musicians are relatively minor characters, but it is food for thought.
Taken as an isolated incident, Oogey being black and the antagonist and his character resting on black stereotypes is unfortunate, but just that: an isolated incident. However, lined up with the other, innumerable instances of overt and subtle racism within popular media, you have to wonder how much of an effect it is having on our subconscious. If someone who, by all accounts, is not a racist can allow something that is arguably so very racist to slip into his film, how far from minstrel shows and The Birth of A Nation are we, really?
Anyway....... I'm getting a little verklempt. I've given you a topic. Talk amongst yourselves. /Mike Myers
So, completely coincidentally, two nights ago I was watching one of my favorite movies, The Nightmare Before Christmas. And as the movie is progressing, a thought strikes me. There are four characters in the movie that could be considered "black," or at least heavily influenced by black American culture. Three of those characters are the musicians, more on them a bit later. The other is Oogey Boogey. His voice is undoubtedly that of a black American man.
Oogey, for those of you who haven't seen the movie (WATCH IT IMMEDIATELY), is the main antagonist. That's correct, the only "black" main character in the entire movie is the bad guy. The "black" character is the Boogeyman. He is loud, brash, and ostentatious. He is made of a motley Oogey by showing him her bare leg. All of these can be tied back to stereotypes used against black Americans at one poincollection of bugs. He is a gambler. He is lustful - at one point in the movie, the female lead distracts t or another. Most specifically, the lustful one. After all, one of the stated aims of the Ku Klux Klan was/is to protect white women against the ravages of the sex-crazed black man (Ironic, considering the countless instances of white masters sexually abusing their female slaves. /tangent). Insects are generally considered unhygienic. Thus, Oogey being made of bugs could be considered him being dirty, another stereotype often thrown against blacks, as well as them being loud, happy-go-lucky, etc.
Now, am I calling Tim Burton (the director) or his animators/voice actors racists? No, I'm fairly certain I can say that the effect was unintentional. However, the issue lies deeper than that. Perhaps they created a "black" antagonist because subconsciously it would be easier for their viewing audience to accept a "black" antagonist who played off many of the existing stereotypes of black males. Perhaps they had seen so many caricatures of black males in the media they viewed growing up that it became ingrained in their psyche that this was how black males acted. That was/is the crux of my argument. If these stereotypes are embedded into the cultural psyche and subconscious, they will get repeated over and over again. The only way to defeat them - as much as it ever will be truly defeated - is to bring them to light and face them head on.
Such scholars as Patricia A. Turner note there are "objects in popular culture that depict blacks as servile, primitive, or simpleminded and explain how the subtle influences of such seemingly harmless images reinforce antiblack attitudes."
As to the musicians. They are jazz/blues musicians. One of the roles black Americans have always filled is that of the entertainer, the minstrel. Minstrel shows started out as white men in blackface lampooning the presumed lack of intelligence of black people through song and dance. There are many instances of black men doing much the same, making fun of themselves for the sake (and money) of white people. Through the years, the black entertainer has always been acceptable in mainstream white society, be they athletes or musicians. Never are intellectual blacks held in high regard. Only through their physical talents can blacks "serve" mainstream America. It's a stretch in regards to TNBC, as the three musicians are relatively minor characters, but it is food for thought.
Taken as an isolated incident, Oogey being black and the antagonist and his character resting on black stereotypes is unfortunate, but just that: an isolated incident. However, lined up with the other, innumerable instances of overt and subtle racism within popular media, you have to wonder how much of an effect it is having on our subconscious. If someone who, by all accounts, is not a racist can allow something that is arguably so very racist to slip into his film, how far from minstrel shows and The Birth of A Nation are we, really?
Anyway....... I'm getting a little verklempt. I've given you a topic. Talk amongst yourselves. /Mike Myers
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