Wayans' Movie White Chick- White Face Dialouge @ CC
 

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...t=white+chicks

We had a photo of Marlon and Sean in "character" as the 2 white chicks. What are your thoughts on actors being in "white face" as opposed to those who were in "black face" years ago? Is there a comparison?


http://www.sonypictures.com//groups/...e/gp044400.gif

Does it carry the same historical baggage as black face? No.

Are they still mocking the characteristics of certain members of a particular race? Yes.

Is that wrong? Yes. But having not seen the movie, I'd have to know more about the context in which it is done.

i just saw a poster for this today as I was leaving the train.....I almost caused a backup as I stopped in mid-stride to look at it! I saw their names, but those images just didn't connect.

The movie looks funny, but it still isn't right. Think about how offended we get after all of the recent incidents with white frats dressing up like us. We would have a march on Washington if Ashton and Colin dressed up as black girls for a movie. I guess time will tell how the white community will react to the movie

Honestly, I only think that a few people who believe that such a concept as "reverse racism" exists would scream.

but then people can always talk about

"well, what about extenuating circumstances and they're just having fun."

some people don't like it when it's them.

and there also is a problem when the TRUTH speaks. When it does, it speaks VOLUMES.

Doesn't have the same historical connotation...idea looks pretty silly, but am I offended? Not at all.

Couldn't care less about it.

There are numerous impersonation scenarios out there. I LMAO at an eddie murphy skit on SNL where they wear make-up to see what white people were really liked.

Hysterical scene on a bus where the other black person gets off and the bus bursts into sometype of cocktail party.

Conversely Soul man was pretty cool actually, did anyone whine about that?

Not necessarily, it would depend on the context. When Tracy Ullman was made up as a black woman, no one had a problem with it. Her black character wasn't portrayed in an offensive way.

I forgot all about that one!

I agree.

If you watch Blazing Saddles on DVD, there is a director's commentary audio track. Mel Brooks talks about the mail that he received from people who were offended by the racial dialogue. It was all from overly sensitive white people. Black people didn't complain because the racists in that movie, who repeatedly used the dreaded "n" word, were portrayed as idiots. Racism, in general, was ridiculed by that movie.

It is all about context.

On a related side not, there was one thing about Blazing Saddles that was racist. Richard Pryor, who was one of that movies screenwriters, was originally cast as Sheriff Bart. Studio executives replaced him with Cleavon Little because he seemed less black. Little did a great job in that movie, but imagine it with Pryor. We know, from movies that were later made, that Pryor and Gene Wilder had great comedic chemistry. That would have been something.

FINALLY - a decent convo about this...
 

I concur with you ST.

In essence, I don't think people (black/white) mind when the "____face" is done is a comedic fashion, pointing to example of SNL skits, such as Billy Crystal as Sammy Davis Jr., or Dave Chapelle etc.

When doning "racial makeup" (when I think of blackface, I think of the skin painted black with white, exagerated lips, eyes, etc.) there is a big different between playing a character vs. degrading a group of people - which is what "blackface" is. For those that are famailiar with it, along with the make-up there is a certain behavior, speak, and mannerism that go along with it.

Re: FINALLY - a decent convo about this...
 

I agree with her. I don't even see how people can be offended at this movie and those that are will be doing it in a "I can't do blackface, but you can do whiteface" kinda way.

-Rudey

I don't know if this was mentioned, but Eddie (Murphy) was in "whiteface and blackface in "Coming to America."

LOL

Remember that.

I THINK C. Thomas Howell did receive some flack about Soul Man. It's been sooooooooo long ago. ;)

Dan Aykroyd did Blackface in "Trading Places" and I didn't hear any complaints

I haven't seen White Chicks.

I don't think anyone is really complaining about this movie either are they?

-Rudey

Nope no one was complaining at all. I liked the movie. I also LOVED Blazing Saddles and I enjoyed Soul Man. I might see White Chicks because I like the Wayans Bros

I haven't seen the movie yet, but the premise is that you have two Black Men who have to go undercover as White Chicks, I think this film is a parody, if you think about it - that would be the most unlikely cover a Black Man could have. I was viewing one of the talk shows this week I can't remember which one- and I did here comments that some White women were offended by the movie.

I think it is all about the context in which it is done. I took my little sister to see it & I was pleasantly surprised. It was funny & entertaining when I expected pure foolishness. The movie wasn't about whiteness or blackness so in the movie the issue about them being "white" was really not the main focus.

I saw White Chicks and the movie was sooo funny. I will definately see it again! Like the previous post said the movie was not about blackness or otherwise it was just a movie about 2 brothers going undercover. The movie isnt pointing fingers at any one race, but at all of them. The movie has the brothers dressing up as two older Latin men in one scene, and joking about many races in the entire movie. Simply put it is just a comedy!