View Full Version : 'Clones' has racial stereotypes
George Lucas, sometimes accused of reinforcing racial stereotypes with his movies, has done it again, according to critics.
Latino critics in particular charge his latest Star Wars epic, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, toys with American paranoia about Mexican immigration with its cloned army of swarthy lookalikes who march in lockstep by the tens of thousands, and ultimately end up serving as Darth Vader's white-suited warriors.
Modeled on bounty hunter Jango Fett, the clones, we're told, are genetically modified for docility and obedience. The breeding project, conducted by long-necked aliens who look like refugees from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, takes place on the planet Kamino -- soundalike for the Spanish word "camino," which means "road" or "I walk."
Temuera Morrison, the actor who plays Jango, is a New Zealander of Maori descent. But that didn't get in the way of some members of an eight-person Detroit News panel assembled to review the film.
"He looked totally Latino," says Martina Guzman, a Detroiter who's managing a State House election campaign.
"And his kid," says Wayne State history professor Jose Cuello, referring to the young Boba Fett, "looked even more Latino."
It reminds Cuello a little bit of "those Reagan ads in the 1980 campaign, that suggested if Nicaragua went communist, you'd have wild-eyed Mexicans with guns running across the California border."
A flabbergasted Lucasfilm spokeswoman, Jeanne Cole, says "This is the first we've heard of this. Star Wars," she says, "is a fantasy movie filled with creatures and aliens from all different planets and universes and galaxies. There is no basis for this."
{snip}
If the planet name "Kamino" caught some Latinos' attention, three Arab-Americans on The News' panel seized on the fact that Jango's son calls him "Baba."
"I frankly think the bounty hunter is Arab," says college counselor Imad Nouri of Royal Oak.
"He's basically a terrorist," explains Nouri, "and 'baba' is Arabic for 'father.' "
Whole article here: http://detnews.com/2002/entertainment/0205/21/d01-492788.htm
--------
:rolleyes:
DoPeY5007
05-22-2002, 12:53 AM
Originally posted by sbp
--------
:rolleyes: :stupid:
that is just lame
well, the queen's protector/pilot was also of ethnicity. the films over all show some diversity, like irl. i mean, the ultimate "bad guy" is a white guy (darth sidious).
i wonder what race the clones should be to please everyone. i mean, i might not see the big deal...but at the same time who am i to say it's not offensive if i'm not of that race?
jase71
05-22-2002, 04:12 AM
Originally posted by sbp
:rolleyes:
:stupid:
Try and create an alien race that's humanoid that doesn't
have at least SOME characteristic of a major ethnic group.
I don't think it could be done.
Geesh.
I guess butt-kicking Yoda is obviously Asian.
All those nasty little trading Jawas, they must be Jews. Even
SOUNDS alike!
Ewoks? They're our backwards Native American tribes.
Look hard enough for something, and you'll find it. Even
if it isn't there.
Speedfreak
05-22-2002, 04:35 AM
Maybe all the characters should be blond hair, blue eyed white guys. Thay way, the movie would truly look just like our world does. Seeing as we have no ethnicity here, we should show that in the movies.
:rolleyes:
Merlin
05-22-2002, 05:07 AM
Let's see....
Death Star II blown up by a black fellow
Higheat ranking humanoid Jedi a black fellow
Jango/Boba Fett very highly sought after role given to actors who are "brown"
The Queen's protectors in Episode I & II are men of color
The new Naboo Queen, though she wears a lot of make up, you can tell she is not white
Women are given roles of authority and strength
I think Lucasfilm's track record speaks for itself on the matter of race/minorities.
Oh and to those dumb-ass arab critics - It is BOBA not Baba. And yes he is a bad guy but he is a bounty hunter not a terrorist.
And I love this one...
Temuera Morrison, the actor who plays Jango, is a New Zealander of Maori descent. But that didn't get in the way of some members of an eight-person Detroit News panel assembled to review the film.
"He looked totally Latino," says Martina Guzman, a Detroiter who's managing a State House election campaign.
This is probably the most racist thing I've heard in a while. "I don't care where he is from, he looks latino" He might as well say they all look alike to him. Very disappointing.
takes place on the planet Kamino -- soundalike for the Spanish word "camino," which means "road" or "I walk."
Now everytime you make up a word you need to find out if it even sounds like any word (offensive OR NOT) in any language spoken. Last time I checked "road" or "I walk" wan not offensive to anyone.
To all of them I say "Get a life"
topane
05-22-2002, 05:15 AM
Some people need to get a life.
xsiled2
05-22-2002, 05:23 AM
"we're being invaded"
Burzhui
05-22-2002, 06:47 AM
what's next?
whitak24
05-22-2002, 06:51 AM
"He looked totally Latino," says Martina Guzman, a Detroiter who's managing a State House election campaign.
i'm sorry, but someone in a position like this is highly unlikely to be objective in any way. i'm sure she has an agenda, which is why she's in politics.
how about we have a cross-section of normal, everday americans of different races get together and watch the movie. then we'll see what they think.
BigJon
05-22-2002, 06:53 AM
Jeez, why don't they pick apart something else...
I can do that too:
My computer, Gateway.
Gateway = an opening, a passage, maybe a path to... <churchlady>Hmmm...Satan?</churchlady>
The "cow box" = possibly saying to eat meat? (pisses off vegitarians) or maybe saying stuff a cow into a small, clear box (pissing off PETA)
Get over it...
and another thing:
Originally posted by sbp "I frankly think the bounty hunter is Arab," says college counselor Imad Nouri of Royal Oak.
"He's basically a terrorist," explains Nouri, "and 'baba' is Arabic for 'father.' "terrorists tend to be cowards. jango isn't a coward :hehehmm:
xsiled2
05-22-2002, 08:54 AM
jango isnt much of anything, quite the bit character.
Lothar
05-22-2002, 09:59 AM
people look waaaaaay too far into things
its a movie, just enjoy it jeezum
Thunder
05-22-2002, 04:52 PM
people need to seriously lighten up...
hehe funny how the G|A community reacts when someone someone points out something like this in something they like (Star Wars) as opposed to pointing something out in something they hate (Abercrombie).
Ladogaboy
05-22-2002, 09:21 PM
Personally, I find Jar-Jar's character far more offensive...
Oh, and, with all these weird interpretations running around, should we assume that Boba Fett is actually symbolic of a little tapioca ball? :hmm:
xsiled2
05-22-2002, 10:06 PM
does jar-jar represent the gay AND lesbian commuinity, its oviously a confused he/she.
Originally posted by UT Memo
hehe funny how the G|A community reacts when someone someone points out something like this in something they like (Star Wars) as opposed to pointing something out in something they hate (Abercrombie). it might be a little different if lucas had definite stereotyping presented as opposed to alleged. he didn't have dry cleaners named "two wongs can make it white" or whatever. this is totally different.
coleslaw
05-22-2002, 10:51 PM
Originally posted by DarkFury
Dayuuum... no he didn't forget that Pimp... Lando Calrissian.When did Lando become a Jedi?? :hmm:
http://www.theforumisdown.com/uploadfiles/052102/lando_saber.jpg
:P
Merlin
05-23-2002, 04:47 AM
Originally posted by DarkFury
Dayuuum... no he didn't forget that Pimp... Lando Calrissian.
http://www.theforumisdown.com/uploadfiles/052102/lando.jpg
That's what I'm missin' --- A cape!
The Bull is takin' Charge!
ProMinx
05-23-2002, 12:36 PM
Originally posted by DarkFury
Dayuuum... no he didn't forget that Pimp... Lando Calrissian.
http://www.theforumisdown.com/uploadfiles/052102/lando.jpg
See, they even represented the wife beaters! Now that is a true sign of equality.
ProMinx
ProMinx
05-23-2002, 12:46 PM
Besides, if they had made the clones to be an army of tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, slender guys...you know, an army of me...every minority in the world would've complained about how George Lucas portrayed the Nazis as saving the universe. I am certain that's why he didn't make Boba and Jango blonde. He remembered his problems with the asians bitching about the trade federation...but I did laugh at the french aristocrac accent representing the banking clans.
ProMinx
molecularfire
05-23-2002, 02:05 PM
I dunno... I think they may have a point. Remember in episode 6 when Darth Vader took off his helmet. Underneath he was a crusty old white guy. They're saying that deep down, all black people want to be white. :hehehmm:
Originally posted by molecularfire
I dunno... I think they may have a point. Remember in episode 6 when Darth Vader took off his helmet. Underneath he was a crusty old white guy. They're saying that deep down, all black people want to be white. :hehehmm:
Actually, he was white all along. The actor didn't even know his voice was going to be dubbed over with James Earl Jones's voice until the movie came out.
craziepanda
05-23-2002, 03:08 PM
i think molecular fire was talking about darth vaders black suit
brainsmile
05-23-2002, 04:13 PM
wasn't passwird darth vader?
Originally posted by brainsmile
wasn't passwird darth vader?
My understanding was he was an ewok.
:heh:
ProMinx
05-23-2002, 05:40 PM
Actually, molecularfire was quoting Chasing Amy, a beautifuil film by Kevin Smith, in which an african american comic book artist goes into a derisive rant how "always some white dude gotta quote the holy trilogy. bust this ****. those movies are all about how the white man keeps the brother ma down, even in a galaxy far far away."
Unfortunately molecularfire still misquioted the scene...but oh well.
"well isn't that true?"
ProMinx
molecularfire
05-24-2002, 08:54 AM
Yep. I was trying to remember how the quote went. Been quite a while, since I've seen Chasing Amy. If you have the quote, I'd appreciate it if you could post it... save me the trouble of renting the vid. :)
IntegraTypeR
05-24-2002, 10:08 AM
some people have way too much time on their hands. instead of studying films so ridiculously closely to look for racial stereotypes they could channel that energy into more productive things.
Originally posted by ProMinx
Besides, if they had made the clones to be an army of tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, slender guys...you know, an army of me...every minority in the world would've complained about how George Lucas portrayed the Nazis as saving the universe. I am certain that's why he didn't make Boba and Jango blonde. He remembered his problems with the asians bitching about the trade federation...but I did laugh at the french aristocrac accent representing the banking clans.
ProMinx i heard you got your butt kicked on that tv show at the end, tho. in light of that, i doubt minorities would have a problem with it really.
yippiekiyeh
05-24-2002, 05:28 PM
I have to agree with merlin... that's a classic quote...
"He looked totally Latino," says Martina Guzman, a Detroiter who's managing a State House election campaign.
I didn't know that they were from New Zealand... but I was thinking Pacific Islanders (Samoans... it's Boba's accent that made me think that).
As for the new queen of Naboo... she sounds like she's from India.
And It was Mace Windu they're referring to DarkFury... Not Lando...
Ladogaboy
05-24-2002, 06:22 PM
Originally posted by yippiekiyeh
And It was Mace Windu they're referring to DarkFury... Not Lando...
Mace Windu did not blow up the second Death Star... :2far: Come on people!!!
Originally posted by yippiekiyeh
And It was Mace Windu they're referring to DarkFury... Not Lando... i believe df that when df said "no he didn't forget lando..." he was saying that he forgot lando. the way he said it was putting emphasis on the oversight...as in "i can't believe he forgot..."
this kind of thing usually happens after the event. some guy bumps into you...you say "oh, no you didn't just bump into me"....or someone steps on your foot, and you say "oh, no you didn't just step on my loafers."
Merlin
05-24-2002, 06:47 PM
I remembered Lando! How could I possible forget the pimp who got away with saying..."You truely belong here with us among the clouds" Man if I tried that line I'd get slapped. But then, I usually get slapped anyway.
Originally posted by Merlin
I remembered Lando! How could I possible forget the pimp who got away with saying..."You truely belong here with us among the clouds" Man if I tried that line I'd get slapped. But then, I usually get slapped anyway. my bad. i misread again :disa:
he was agreeing. it all depends on tone. in any case, i didn't think that df meant that mace blew up death star II. he was too busy working for marcellus wallace at the time :hihi:
(i know that the timeframes of the movies don't overlap...but i fig he was working for marcellus a while before we finally saw him in pulp fiction :P )
now that i think about it...jules said he was gonna walk the earth like cain in kung fu...
and mace does have him looking more like cain :hihi:
he traded that for a lightsaber and flowing robe :P
Ladogaboy
05-25-2002, 08:22 AM
Originally posted by cpugeek04
man, you be a dumb bitch if you don't know that it was a Sullestion who was the co-pilot in ROTJ :disa:
:hihi: :P
I guess you have to sleep with one to know one! :P
All I can say is he was one ugly mofo, but I'll go no further because he probably represented a racial group... :rolleyes:
leemaj
05-25-2002, 02:46 PM
some ppl will do anything for attention..sigh
ProMinx
05-26-2002, 04:21 AM
Originally posted by mojo
i heard you got your butt kicked on that tv show at the end, tho. in light of that, i doubt minorities would have a problem with it really.
Hey...let's bear in mind the difference between getting your ass kicked and having your nose broken by a bad shot. I was still going to continue fighting the son of a bitch until everyone pointed out that blood was pouring all over the place. Besides, I hadn't been a real fight in 4 years.
Oh well...what do I have to do to convince certain people to shut their damn mouths when they don't know what they're talking about. Do I need to deck Mr. T the next time he drives through LA? or maybe just invite mojo over for a challenge and have one of my roommates DV the confrontation? That's just foolish and stupid (but the invitation stands).
ProMinx
ProMinx
05-26-2002, 04:31 AM
I just thought I'd reference this SW Galaxies thread (http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=44818) for all of you Star Wars fans.
ProMinx
Abstract: Star Wars Galaxies beta registration has begun.
Originally posted by ProMinx
Hey...let's bear in mind the difference between getting your ass kicked and having your nose broken by a bad shot. I was still going to continue fighting the son of a bitch until everyone pointed out that blood was pouring all over the place. Besides, I hadn't been a real fight in 4 years.
Oh well...what do I have to do to convince certain people to shut their damn mouths when they don't know what they're talking about. Do I need to deck Mr. T the next time he drives through LA? or maybe just invite mojo over for a challenge and have one of my roommates DV the confrontation? That's just foolish and stupid (but the invitation stands).
ProMinx sore spot huh? well, you talk like you epitomize the nazi vision, but just because you have german blood doesn't mean they had you in mind when they thought they were the superior race. and if you go to germany today, they don't talk half what you talk.
i won't be driving up to LA to fight you tho. just because i don't fight...not because i'm afraid of you by a long shot. your "invitation" was noted, but i see it just as one of those things to stab at getting your dignity back because you know i'm not gonna do that silly stuff. what is this? 8th grade? you want me to meet you at the flagpole after school? :heh:
anyhow, i had to bring it up because you just keep saying that stuff like someone thought it was true. if you're kidding, you gotta remember that what you're saying might be funny to you, but it's offensive to others. and if you're serious, then get a grip...cuz you ain't any more intimidating than the next person.
Two Cents
05-26-2002, 08:04 AM
Originally posted by sbp
three Arab-Americans on The News' panel seized on the fact that Jango's son calls him "Baba."
"I frankly think the bounty hunter is Arab," says college counselor Imad Nouri of Royal Oak.
"He's basically a terrorist," explains Nouri, "and 'baba' is Arabic for 'father.' "
Baba also means Father or something like that in Chinese, I think. I think people are jumping to conclusions.
Originally posted by Two Cents
Baba also means Father or something like that in Chinese, I think. I think people are jumping to conclusions. what about baba o'reilly by the who? i don't think o'reilly is very arabic :hihi:
eSDee
05-26-2002, 02:06 PM
I saw AOTC last night. I didn't think Jenga Phet(sp) looked Latino. I agree that these people who are causing trouble are acting ignorant.
eSDee
05-26-2002, 02:07 PM
Originally posted by ProMinx
Hey...let's bear in mind the difference between getting your ass kicked and having your nose broken by a bad shot. I was still going to continue fighting the son of a bitch until everyone pointed out that blood was pouring all over the place. Besides, I hadn't been a real fight in 4 years.
Dude I saw that fight. You got punked. But I did think it was an overmatch. That guy was obviously an athlete. I don't even think he was in your weight class. If that makes you feel any better.
Ladogaboy
05-27-2002, 10:53 AM
Originally posted by EsDeeLoco
Dude I saw that fight. You got punked. But I did think it was an overmatch. That guy was obviously an athlete. I don't even think he was in your weight class. If that makes you feel any better.
oooh, prominx in a fight... this sounds interesting... Anyone care to give me the background info? :hihi:
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.12 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.