Does the King Kong movie have racist overtones?

by enlightenedcynic 97 Replies latest social entertainment

• 

  mrsjones5

  
  Actually it would be better to put it this way:

  I have to say this.... Why do some blacks NOW complain about racism. They call racism when a white person offends a black person, but when a black person offends another race, it's just "funny". I know everybody has their own experiences with different races, here is my experience with some black people.
  

  First of all, I'm Mexican. I went to a dominant black high school. The first day I just told myself I would just mind my own business. The first day wasn't so good since I got "jumped" by five of my fellow black students. I sucked it up and had patience for two years till I graduated. In that time I heard so many racist slurs coming from the black students towards me. I just wondered that was ironic. The last people I thought I would face racism, since their people have been there. They always complained about how the white people were racist and that they tried to keep them down, and here they were treating me as lower than them, I swear it was the same students that were stereotyping me. I remember that in English class they spent the whole class talking about how stupid white people were. I wanted to say something but I wouln't have survived the rest of the year.

  Now, I don't have any problems with people stereotyping me because those people don't know me, I choose the people that show my true self to. In fact, yes it's a fact, most of the steretypes are true, not in all the people but most of it, there's a reason why it's a stereotype.

  The point is that there are a section (I would not put majority here) of (black)? why the "()"? people that crie "racist!" but they are racist themselves as well.

  I am black. I will not say that I don't have a racist bone in my body. I will say that some of my opinions can be of a racist slant. I think everyone (or mostly everyone) has those tendancies. I for one work hard to educate myself about other cultures and to show respect therein and teach my children as such. Your experiences were unfortunate but not unusual. Picture a black child going in to an all white school in the deep south...

  Josie
• 

  AuldSoul

  Stereotypes are pandemic to human cultures. Almost every culture stereotypes other cultures (I say almost, although I am unaware of a single exception). To many oriental nations we US natives are "round-eyes," and it is not a compliment.

  To imagine that portrayal of stereotypes is an act of racism is to pretend that one of the most basic motivations of the human experience doesn't exist and/or never did exist. As my wife can vouch for, I do not see people as skin colors, hair colors, or a specific collection of ethnic features, but I also do not find racism everywhere I look.

  Respectfully,
  AuldSoul
• 

  mrsjones5

  I have a cousin (who happens to be black) who finds racism where ever she goes. Being around her can be quite tiring. I can't live my life like she does (with a bounderline hatred for all white people) always looking for a slight from a white person. My youngest brother is married to a wonderful woman (who happens to be white and if he didnt marry her I would have told him he was a fool) and my cousin has often inquired as to how my brother's marriage is holding up. She doesnt like the idea that he is married to a white woman and feels that my sil will only bring my brother down like her brother's wife (who is also white) has done. I've told my cousin that my sil is a wonderful woman and I am honored that she is in my family. I'm not sure if my cousin was happy about that reply but she has never brought it up again.

  Josie
• 

  AuldSoul

  Mrs. Jones,

  I was one of three white children bussed into an all black school district in the deep south, when they finally desegregated. I know what racism is, firsthand. But I married a black woman. A strong black woman. My wife and I have fun at the expense of closet racists down here in Georgia on a routine basis. We love staring back at people who stare.

  Kids are an amazing portal into the thinking of the parents. Black and white children alike stare at us with anything ranging from awe to sneering contempt. The older the children, the more likely it will be sneers. The very small children see nothing unusual. Racism is learned behavior, and I am amused by threads like this, too.

  Forum,

  In my opinion, King Kong isn't any more racist than my big toe. I'm sorry, but suburban america doesn't get much play in the theater for a reason...people go to the movie to ESCAPE reality. They live suburbia EVERY DAMNED DAY 'til they die, they know the movies aren't real. However, if anybody thinks Training Day was "over the top" or "stereotypical" I'd like to know how much time those people have spent in the barrios. What credentials do they bring to make such statements?

  Stereotypes are based on reality, there is no way of getting around it. They are unfair because the factual realities they are drawn from are exaggerated to the degree of caricature. But stereotypes pervade entertainment. Look at the camp film Taxi with Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon. RIFE with stereotypes of all kinds from start to finish. How about Barbershop 1 and 2?

  Yes, it is exaggerated. But it is exaggerated reality, otherwise it wouldn't be funny.

  I don't see much stereotype beyond film noir nods of horribly exaggerated suspense in King Kong, much less racism. I would say anyone who draws the parallels to archaic white supremecist beliefs that the black man always wanted the white girl might be themselves a racist, but that doesn't make the movie racist. And anyone who thinks the portrayal of a giant gorilla corresponds to a black man never met this man, one of the most feared black men in the world.

  Respectfully,
  AuldSoul
• 

  mrsjones5

  lol my hubby looks like a cross between Spike Lee and Ghandi...damn I wish I could scan this one picture I have of him. lol
• 

  Spectrum

  "This reminds me of a stance I took in an essay. There's a popular school of thought in Literary studies that certain authors, like Rudyard Kipling, are racist.
  
  Just as 'sexist' loses it's meaning the further back in time you go, as there was no 'correct' attitude to compare it with amongst the tide of misogyny, so to does 'racist'. A book written at a time when most people (even those who thought of black people in a positive light) would be called racist by modern standards will tend to show some of those unreconstructed attitudes. "
  
  Clever but sorry this arguement though has some truths doesn't really cut it. Simply ask any Black slave "you know it's 1750 everybody expects you to be a slave so do your bit for white society and don't worry be happy. Jolly good show"
  Slave, "Yes sir massa I is a happy slave I knows yo ain't racialist its 1750"
  
  "Also, books and films do not always express the attitude of the author, but may present reportage or fictionalisation of actual events and attitudes."
  
  I know this abaddon. But reality is that too many hollywood films portray too many times the the groups I've mentioned in a bad light, whilst stereotyping their own in good light. That's just a fact. If you want to use that as ammunition to call me a anti-semetic it up to you.
  
  "This showed convincingly that Rudyard may, compared to today, have had some racist attitudes, but that he mostly created characters like those in the world he saw around him; reportage is not racism.
  
  It depends what you do with it. What spin you put on it.
  
  Lets talk about the recent history which still affects these stereotyped people. So we pick racist tendencies from the wider society I then happen to be a film producer and reflect all these in the films I choose to produce. I'll produce a string of negative stereotyping films to report on the state of our society. What's left is white society being reminded whose "good" and whose "bad".
  
  "
  In which case Geobels could be justified and accepted as the norm. Right?
  
  Wrong. Portrayal of Goebels is not justification or acceptence of his actions as a norm."
  
  That was my point. It's wrong
  
  
  
  
  
  A predominantly WHITE society representing corrupt WHITE cops is not much of an issue.
  
  
  "You miss my point. If (as is so) black people are more likely than white to be a/ poor, and b/ have a criminal record, then a portrayal of areas with large black populations as being poor and criminal is simply reflecting society."
  
  "Like I said. Again. It's the frequency that is the problem."
  
  "The fact that black people are more still likely than white to be a/ poor, and b/ have a criminal record is a sign that despite efforts, in practise society in the USA is still racist even if far fewer individuals are racist than thirty years ago."
  
  And Hollywood knows exactly what to do with this racism.
  
  "I think addressing the issues that prevents true parity in society no matter what race one is is FAR more important than assembling a list of movies someone can assert are racist. "
  
  Well meaning people addressing the issue of drugs is not helped by Hollywood's glamorisation of it. Racism likewise.
  
  "I mean look;
  NO, YOU missed the point, a black man in jail AGAAAAAAAAAAAAIN. Give it up Funky
  
  Okay, you going to tell me black people are NOT disproportionately represented in American prisons? Well, you can if you want, but you'd be wrong. It is a fact. Rather than saying a thing about this awful fact, you talk about movies!!!!"
  
  I know it's a fact but "a black man in jail AGAAAAAAAAAAAAIN
  
  "Damage? There's MORE damage from the social ills that are portrayed than in the protrayal of social ills. And the existnece of social ills is where the real racism lies."
  
  Correct so let's not give the predominantly white society any more excuses to find these groups unsavoury.
  
  I grew up believing that Native Americans were the savages where as in fact whites were the savages.
  
  I'd figured that one out by age seven (33 years ago). About the same age I realised that Germans were now not the enemy. Kids drawing ignorant conclusions is not an indication that which they draw their conclusions from is racist.
  
  
  
  
  
  So, are you telling me Europeans are stupider than animals? OH MY GOD!!! "
  
  Abaddon what are you talking about? I was merely saying that animals had picked up on the ensuing disaster and scarpered saving themselves.
  
  
  "Well they certainly stuck to that
  
  I do hope you realise that was humour."
  Yes I did!
  
  
  "Poor rizzo!
  
  Now that's OFFENSIVE.
  
  
  
  
  
  If you make anti-semetic remarks out of ignorance it's bad enough... congratulations, you've gone from a possibly over-enthusiastic critic of the portrayal of black people in Hollywood movies to sympathising with someone Zeig Heiling. Not a very logical standpoint..."
  
  Abaddon you got the wrong end of the stick. "Poor rizzo" was written in a sacrcastic manner.
• 

  Funchback

  
  
  Being that I am half-black and half-white, I believe that I can be the most objective person to post on this topic! LOL!
  
  
  
  

  Next, Kong is a King, after all. He has people worshipping him, making sacrifices to him and what not. He is a lot like Jehoover. The blonde (blond?) represents the bride class of the 144 grand glorious ones. Hmm...or not.

  Hey, how many black 144k's are there? I used to know one, but he got DF'd and lost out on that hope.

  Remember Mighty Joe Young? What was that all about? They made a remake of MJY. An afican-american radio personality from an african-american radio station here in Philly said about MJY: Mighty Joe Young is a misunderstood brother. This prompted me and one of my black co-workers to have a discussion called, "Are they a brother?". We came up with a few brothers of TV/Movie fame: Scooby-Doo, Godzilla, Ultra Man, Bobby Hill, Darth Vader, Herman Munster, and Garfield.

  Awesome movies with a black central character or casts:
  
  A Soldier's Story. This move was very good. It had racism of northern blacks vs. southern blacks, blacks blaming the whites for a specific murder, a black lead investigator. A plot twist or two. Excellent acting and story.

  In the Heat of the Night. A Philly cop in a mostly racist Mississippi town. Strong black character 10 times smarter than all other (white) characters.

  The Color Purple. Directed by the very white Steven Spielberg. Believable acting. Sad and touching movie.

  City of God, Rabbit Proof Fence (both non-american films depicting stories involving people of color), Waiting to Exhale, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Ray, Shaft (because he's a baaad mother...shut your mouth), Carmen Jones (starring Dorothy Dandridge), To Kill a Mockingbird, and X.

  I don't thing King Kong is with racial overtones (or, is it undertones?). I always thought the plot was a little ridiculous, however. How on earth does he expect to "get his groove on" with this woman? It won't fit! Also, why come the woman won't pass out from the smell of Kong? Also, imagine how big his poops must be! Imagine if you had to clean it up. I would have to find another job.
• 

  Spectrum

  Fleaman,
  
  If you want to quote me you've got to read my whole thoughts on the matter.
  
  Anger, chip call it what you want hollywood has pick of a few groups and has disseminated racism regarding these groups.
• 

  Spectrum

  Funky
  
  "Hmm, Spectrum objects to almost any portrayal of black people on film"
  
  that is a lie.
• 

  Omar S.

  mrsjones5 Yeah, I did meant some,not all, and you are right everybody is predujice againts others, maybe on different levels than others. If it's not race, it's religion, or how we dress, so on and so on. I just think that calling the King Kong movie racist is going a little bit overboard, just like the Lulac called the taco bell dog commercials racist. I can understand people getting offended over bigger deals, like direct racial slurs, but a movie, a dog commercial? Come on people.