Will Snow White's Enchanted Wish suffer same fate as Splash Mountain following Peter Dinklage's comments?

[Professortango1]

Is that the angle they're going to go with for this remake? That there's a dark side to Snow White?

It seems so odd that they'd need to remake this Classic story to begin with.

What's next? Gone With The Wind In Space?

I don't need dark gritty Snow. Or butt-kicking girlboss Snow. Just make Snow a real character who wants things and affects the story rather than having things happen to her.

 

[TP2000]

I think in this case, the argument for Black Panther also applies to Snow White.

I would agree!

Can you imagine the outcry if they cast this kid as Black Panther???

 

[CaptinEO]

Yes, because a traditionally white role being cast with an actor who's race is often underrepresented isn't affecting the whole swath of white-led films and shows. Casting a lead role which is traditionally associated with a minority as a white actor takes away one of the less common instances of a minority race being represented as a lead in a film.

The situations are not equal, so you can't draw equivalencies between them. If Hispanic women were cast as often as White women in films, you'd have a point. But that isn't the case.

Another issue is that minority characters often have their race be a part of who their character is. Black Panther has to be black because his identity as a black African is tied directly to who is character is and what he represents. Whereas Peter Parker can be any race because he's just a nerdy kid who gets superpowers. His race isn't important to who he is as a character and what he represents.

We often see these with white characters. They have defining characteristics other than their skin color. They are just "normal" people. If Superman is Black or Indian looking, it doesn't affect his story of being an alien from another world trying to blend in and save humanity.

As for Snow White, she should be the fairest in the land. Now, if this land isn't a European-based land, fair might be a different complexion to what we consider fair. If Snow White was set in the heart of Africa and Zendaya played Snow, it would make sense. She's fair skinned for a Black woman. They might say that her skin is as white as snow.

All in all, I don't care what they do with Snow White. As a character, she is pretty dull. She's pretty and nice, those are her defining characteristics. She doesn't have any agency in the story. She flees when she's told to flee, she hides out with 7 men, and then she eats an apple from a stranger. If they make her interesting and compelling, then her complexion is a non-issue for me.

White is not a culture. Its a skin tone. A white American is not the same as a white Frenchman, a Nowregian, or a German.

Many of the white people in America come from very diverse backgrounds and are immigrants from the previous century.

If you want to talk about underrepresented people in American cinema. I'd argue that there is much less German representation in media than Latin.

 

[TP2000]

White is not a culture. Its a skin tone. A white American is not the same as a white Frenchman, a Nowregian, or a German.

Many of the white people in America come from very diverse backgrounds and are immigrants from the previous century.

If you want to talk about underrepresented people in American cinema. I'd argue that there is much less German representation in media than Latin.

The only German representation in American cinema of the past 50 years has been as Nazis, or Germans who were terrorized/killed by Nazis. It's a one-note song for Germans in American media; Nazi. That's all they are to Hollywood.

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

I recall the Germans in Beerfest... The greatest film of all time.

... was their representation in that film racist?

 

[TP2000]

I recall the Germans in Beerfest... The greatest film of all time.

... was their representation in that film racist?

Good point! Tally that movie in the Good German column, please.

 

[Midwest Elitist]

Can't we all just get along, man? All people are beautiful.

 

[Phroobar]

The only German representation in American cinema of the past 50 years has been as Nazis, or Germans who were terrorized/killed by Nazis. It's a one-note song for Germans in American media; Nazi. That's all they are to Hollywood.

Except those Germans are always played by British actors. See Raiders of the Lost Ark.

 

[SuddenStorm]

You're overcomplicating it. According to the unwritten rules of the current woke fad:

1) Any white character, real or fictional, can (and to some should) be played by a non-white person because "representation".

2) It only works one way.

This is why George Washington and Thomas Jefferson can be played by black men in Hamilton, but Lin Manuel could never cast a white man in a musical about MLK, Jr. or Frederick Douglass.

To argue that Washington and Jefferson being white was not relevant to their position in society or that they could have been black at the time is of course ridiculous. Just like MLK's being black is relevant to his historical significance.

Note I loved Hamilton and have no issue with the casting nor would I have an issue with a white MLK or Frederick Douglass in a musical.

Wokeness is a one-way street with movable goalposts. They will twist themselves into logic pretzels explaining why those are different because of representation, artistic interpretations, etc, but the logic remains the same.

In the case of MLK- I think a very strong argument can be made that his ethnicity is an essential part of his story and contribution to society. So casting a white actor wouldn't make sense for the story.

Otherwise I completely agree with your point.

 

[Professortango1]

She wants the prince.

What makes some tales endearing is how simple they are. Too much complexity ruins many tales. Especially when you're talking about Walt Disney making a cartoon musical.

All the characters are simple in the movie and thats what makes it fun to watch and easy to understand.

I love fairy tales, but Snow White always left me cold. She wants the prince, sure. But what does she do to achieve that objective? Nothing. She runs away to save her life, hides out, and is poisoned. I enjoy the Disney film, but the title character is most boring aspect of the film. Evil Queen is great. The Dwarves are fun and charismatic. Snow might as well be one of the furry animals who helps clean.

I'm just waiting for an adaptation of the full tale of Sleeping Beauty. Where her waking up with the kiss is the end of the first act. The rest of the story is about Briar Rose awakening to find that she has a husband and 2 kids and everyone she knows is dead. Her mother-in-law is trying to eat her children and she must connect with these strangers to save her offspring. It's a perfect allegory for marriage in that time. Women quickly married to people who live in other parts of the country. It is like waking up in a different time with no family or friends in sight.

 

[Professortango1]

And George Washington being white, a prominent member of the American gentry, and a slave owner was not relevant to his place in society and what lead him to be the general of the army and our first president?

Sure, why not. You are proving my point, thank you.

As mentioned, it comes down to who is given the voice and who is having it taken away. It is culturally appropriate to allow a minority voice to replace a majority voice because the majority voice dominates the discourse. Taking away a voice which is already in the minority and replacing it when a voice of someone who represents the majority does further harm. The majority have already monopolized the conversation and have a long history of dictating how minorities are represented. For that reason, it is socially inappropriate to allow a majority to represent a minority.

 

[Phroobar]

I completely agree with you and am glad to see others call out the supposed "colorblind casting" hypocrisy.

I also like Hamilton and think the double standard totally applies to that show as well.

You are right about wokeness being a twisted logic pretzel!

Wasn't that the point of Hamilton? To have the founding fathers rapping. It kind of started out for a performance for President Obama. Now if it would be different if they used a black man for King George in that musical.

 

[CaptinEO]

Now if it would be different if they used a black man for King George in that musical.

How so?

 

[Parteecia]

What is a majority though in your opinion? A person with light colored skin? Is someone from Finland a majority in your view? Switzerland?

I've seen Hamilton twice and neither show had any asian actors or actresses. Are they not allowed to represent anyone in the show?

Is a hispanic person playing Moana in Disney parks fine because they are both "not majority"?

China has 1.4 billion citizens and the US has 300 million. What makes something a majority?

The people with the power, who made the decisions and had the control and chose the perspective, controlled the narrative were white men in the US, which is the country we're talking about. Nowadays who is the majority and who are the minorities is changing. A better term is needed.

And Philippa Soo, who originated the role of Eliza Hamilton, is of half Chinese descent.

 

[Professortango1]

What is a majority though in your opinion? A person with light colored skin? Is someone from Finland a majority in your view? Switzerland?

I've seen Hamilton twice and neither show had any asian actors or actresses. Are they not allowed to represent anyone in the show?

Is a hispanic person playing Moana in Disney parks fine because they are both "not majority"?

China has 1.4 billion citizens and the US has 300 million. What makes something a majority?

Majority is cultural and specific to countries, but we are speaking about those who have held the power for generations. They steer the conversations and make the policies and have their voice heard as part of the norm. Like in my area of Southern California, White people make up around 20-30% of the population while Hispanic people are the technical majority at 50-60%. But they are still a minority when it comes to systems of power and American culture. Majority is not who is currently holding the mic, but who owns the mic, sound system, and the stage the person is speaking on.

The original casting of Hamilton had an Asian actress in a lead role, but you're right that its the exception, not the norm. The show is specifically interested in rap history and culture which is mostly African American.

I do agree that when people speak of diversity, they typically only mean Black. I've directed shows where we had LGTBQ actors, Asian American Actors, and Hispanic Actors, and received negative comments about me not casting a diverse group. It can be a little maddening.

 

[Parteecia]

I do agree that when people speak of diversity, they typically only mean Black

That does get frustrating. I remember trying to enlighten people in college back in the '70s that there were other minorities.

 

[Brer Panther]

You know the main reason why Disney won't go all "MUST REMOVE BECAUSE IT'S NOT PC" on Snow White's Enchanted Wish is because Snow White is a princess, ergo she's far too profitable to get rid of.

 

[Professortango1]

You know the main reason why Disney won't go all "MUST REMOVE BECAUSE IT'S NOT PC" on Snow White's Enchanted Wish is because Snow White is a princess, ergo she's far too profitable to get rid of.

Yep. People need to remember that Splash is being replaced because Song of the South is not a property they can make much money off of. This situation is no different than the retheme of TOT to Mission BO. Cheaply retheme existing E-Ticket to a property we will sell more merch for.

 

[Professortango1]

I think the people with the power are politicians and billionaires. You arent born into power because of your race.

But people were born into no power because of their race. When armed forces need to show up so that Black children can receive an equal primary education only 60 years ago...you can't tell me that doesn't have lasting effects. When only 1 President has been non-white and he was constantly accused of not being a real American.... I was born into certain advantages because of my skin. I was allowed to do and say things that others could not. I had a variety of role models and representations to watch anywhere I looked. Like, let's not pretend this isn't a real thing.

 

[CaptinEO]

But people were born into no power because of their race. When armed forces need to show up so that Black children can receive an equal primary education only 60 years ago...you can't tell me that doesn't have lasting effects. When only 1 President has been non-white and he was constantly accused of not being a real American.... I was born into certain advantages because of my skin. I was allowed to do and say things that others could not. I had a variety of role models and representations to watch anywhere I looked. Like, let's not pretend this isn't a real thing.

Thats a different argument entirely, but yes I agree discrimination of any kind is awful.