• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Transformers: Revenge of the Racial Caricatures

nx1701g

nx1701g

Admiral
Admiral
Latest from Yahoo:

Jive-talking twin Transformers raise race issues:
Harmless comic characters or racist robots? The buzz over the summer blockbuster "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" only grew Wednesday as some said two jive-talking Chevy characters were racial caricatures.

Skids and Mudflap, twin robots disguised as compact hatchbacks, constantly brawl and bicker in rap-inspired street slang. They're forced to acknowledge that they can't read. One has a gold tooth. [MORE]
Click to expand...

So did you think that they were racial caricatures?
 
nx1701g said:
Latest from Yahoo:

Jive-talking twin Transformers raise race issues:
Harmless comic characters or racist robots? The buzz over the summer blockbuster "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" only grew Wednesday as some said two jive-talking Chevy characters were racial caricatures.

Skids and Mudflap, twin robots disguised as compact hatchbacks, constantly brawl and bicker in rap-inspired street slang. They're forced to acknowledge that they can't read. One has a gold tooth. [MORE]
Click to expand...

So did you think that they were racial caricatures?
Click to expand...
Never mind them. Is it true that the hand-wringing POTUS in the film is named Obama?
 
I bet Michael Bay wishes he could of made all the robots racial stereotypes because I'm sure he would find it hilarious.
 
Kaijufan said:
I bet Michael Bay wishes he could of made all the robots racial stereotypes because I'm sure he would find it hilarious.
Click to expand...
You don't like Michael Bay, therefore it's OK to insinuate that he's a racist, lack of evidence notwithstanding. Nice going, chump.
 
Bad Bishop said:
Is it true that the hand-wringing POTUS in the film is named Obama?
Click to expand...

Obama is the president in the film, yes. But he's not hand-wringing. In fact we never see him at all. He's only mentioned once: in one line that says he's being moved to a secure location. That's it.
 
Mr. Laser Beam said:
Bad Bishop said:
Is it true that the hand-wringing POTUS in the film is named Obama?
Click to expand...

Obama is the president in the film, yes. But he's not hand-wringing. In fact we never see him at all. He's only mentioned once: in one line that says he's being moved to a secure location. That's it.
Click to expand...
Some people who've seen the film think that it is not flattering to the POTUS:

Variety's David Cohen saw the latest "Transformers" movie --- "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" --- and filed this report on its reference to President Obama, but not, at least in his eyes, in a good way.

Cohen*writes, "So as usual in these movies, the federal bureaucrats are portrayed as annoying if not villainous. The President's man, "Galloway," is a bespectacled blowhard who becomes an obstacle to our brave fighting men and their alliance with the noble Autobots. Operating specifically under presidential authority, he makes all kinds of mischief. He says the President wants to try "diplomacy" against the evil Decepticons and hints the President would consider handing over Shia LaBouf's character to be killed by them.
Click to expand...
http://www.wilshireandwashington.com/2009/06/transformers-a-swipe-at-obama.html
 
nx1701g said:
Latest from Yahoo:

Jive-talking twin Transformers raise race issues:
Harmless comic characters or racist robots? The buzz over the summer blockbuster "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" only grew Wednesday as some said two jive-talking Chevy characters were racial caricatures.

Skids and Mudflap, twin robots disguised as compact hatchbacks, constantly brawl and bicker in rap-inspired street slang. They're forced to acknowledge that they can't read. One has a gold tooth. [MORE]
Click to expand...
So did you think that they were racial caricatures?
Click to expand...
Even if they were (haven't seen the movie, will see Saturday) I wouldn't give a shit.
 
StarTrek1701 said:
nx1701g said:
Latest from Yahoo:

Jive-talking twin Transformers raise race issues:
Harmless comic characters or racist robots? The buzz over the summer blockbuster "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" only grew Wednesday as some said two jive-talking Chevy characters were racial caricatures.

Skids and Mudflap, twin robots disguised as compact hatchbacks, constantly brawl and bicker in rap-inspired street slang. They're forced to acknowledge that they can't read. One has a gold tooth. [MORE]
Click to expand...
So did you think that they were racial caricatures?
Click to expand...
Even if they were (haven't seen the movie, will see Saturday) I wouldn't give a shit.
Click to expand...

Same here (Plan to go this weekend at some point).
 
I usually don't take offense at things like these, but those two characters really were pushign the envelope on stereotyping. I mean gold teeth...c'mon!
 
Minstrel shows in 2009, this is shameful.
It plays on as many negative racial stereotypes about African Americans that could be crammed into each character, I don't know how it could not be considered racist.
 
OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY!!!

I've been waiting for this!!!!!!


*Rubs hands together and sits back with popcorn, waiting for the show to begin*

:D :D :D :D :D
 
Bad Bishop said:
Some people who've seen the film think that it is not flattering to the POTUS
Click to expand...

I haven't seen the movie, so I cannot comment for sure, but it would keep things in line with the unflattering portrayal of the president in the first film (who was clearly meant to be Bush, even though they never said his name).
 
i didn't think they were racial stereotypes anymore than i thought Jazz was. it's not like they're BLACK and talking like it. one's green and one's red. they sound more like redneck hicks.
 
I would have said they sounded more like rednecks than the sterotyped black person. Nobody complained about Jazz in the first film.

And we're forgetting the fundamental flaw in this arguement - THEY ARE ROBOTS. Not to mention they studied Earth's languages through the World Wide Web. I'm surprised none of them talked in lulz.
 
Cky said:
I would have said they sounded more like rednecks than the sterotyped black person. Nobody complained about Jazz in the first film.

And we're forgetting the fundamental flaw in this arguement - THEY ARE ROBOTS. Not to mention they studied Earth's languages through the World Wide Web. I'm surprised none of them talked in lulz.
Click to expand...
The fact that he was an alien never stopped the Jar Jar complaints.
 
captcalhoun said:
i didn't think they were racial stereotypes anymore than i thought Jazz was. it's not like they're BLACK and talking like it. one's green and one's red. they sound more like redneck hicks.
Click to expand...
I agree with this. My problem with Mudflap and Skids was not the "racial stereotyping", it's that they were ugly, annoying characters. They were like Gremlins on ecstasy or something.

To be fair, they get one very cool/heroic scene, but it doesn't quite wash away the bad taste of the rest of their presence in the film.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top