Fandom: Tin Ear Trumpet

[nebroadwe]

This morning I wrote and posted my letter about being irked by the whitewashing of The Last Airbender live-action film. It's hard to be pithy when ranting, but I did my best:

Dear Kathleen Kennedy/Frank Marshall/Mark Bakshi:

I write to express my disappointment with the casting of the upcoming Nickelodeon production of The Last Airbender and my offense at the remarks of casting director Deedee Rickets regarding an open call for extras in Philadelphia.

By now, you have no doubt received many letters from fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender concerned with the fact that thus far no actors of color have been slated to play any of the lead roles in its live-action adaptation. I would like to add my voice to that chorus and urge those responsible to reconsider this decision. One of the strengths of Avatar was its respectful reimagining of various Asian traditions in the telling of an exciting story; surely it must be possible for Paramount Pictures and M. Night Shyamalan to be as respectful in their treatment of the material.

Or perhaps not. I was dismayed to read the following quotation from Deedee Rickets in the January 23rd issue of the University of Pennsylvania's student newspaper, The Daily Pennsylvanian:

Deedee Rickets, the casting director for the film, said she is looking to cast men and women ages 18 to 65 and children ages six to 15. Casting officials are seeking candidates with military or martial arts experience, athletes, gymnasts and people of various races and cultures.

"We want you to dress in traditional cultural ethnic attire," she said. "If you're Korean, wear a kimono. If you're from Belgium, wear lederhosen."

I am appalled at the lack of understanding revealed by this statement, which manages to mis-associate not one but two different nationalities with the stereotypical garb of a conquering oppressor. Evidently all "traditional cultural ethnic attire" is interchangeable. If Ms. Rickets is representative of the level of cultural sensitivity and historical knowledge among the production staff of The Last Airbender, I have little hope that the film will be as entertaining or as imaginative as its source.

I would urge you to stop and consider the cumulative effect of these actions and statements by the staff of this film and take steps to ameliorate the lack of respect which they demonstrate. I have enjoyed several of M. Night Shyamalan's films in the past and was looking forward to his take on The Last Airbender. However, if the whitewashing of this production continues, I shall neither attend a screening of this film myself nor encourage anyone I know to do so.

Sincerely,
nebroadwe

I'm not normally given to writing letters to the editor (or, in this case, the producer), but every once in a while I do. It's not much, but at least it's something. I suppose the trick now is to try to explain my annoyance to my godchildren, big Avatar fans, in terms they can understand. It's never too early to teach people what's right.

EDIT: Oh, snap. Turns out that Mark Bakshi is no longer at Paramount. Must find some way to let aang_aint_white know about this ...

Comments

[kanja177.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear.

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

*applauds*

[(Anonymous)]

Kudos! I don't watch this show, but I've been following the imbroglio with interest. They're blatantly whitewashing - a loathsome and discriminatory act in its own right - and worse, they don't care. Gross. Gross gross gross.