Race Trading an Adaptation

Race Trading an Adaptation

Lately, in the corner of diversity, characters have had their appearances changed but their names kept the same. Is this really the best way to implement diversity?

Editorial Opinion
By herohopeful - Feb 21, 2015 12:02 PM EST
Filed Under: The Flash

Race trading certainly is one way to approach diversity. However, it doesn't take the prize for the most encouraged method, often splitting viewers on respect to the source against necessary change. I could say that some writer’s only change a character's appearance for diversity's sake, and that that's cheap move towards a respectable goal. Diversity is an important issue that should be addressed, but “stealing” a character from another race is no victory for anyone. This race traded character will always hold the weight that he/she is face swapped version of the real character. Still, writer’s today shouldn't have to adhere their art for the sake of any cause. It is their work and theirs to do with as they please. Likewise, a writer is pushing for diversity shouldn't have to yield the words of naysayers.

naysayers.jpg

The problem that has sprung up of late is what to think if a character has their appearance changed for the sake of changing it. I’m left to wonder if it was the skill of the actor or the whim of the writer that altered the character in question. I could rationalize it and say that unless the race of a character is integral to who they are that changing the race shouldn't matter, but at what point in an adaptation does a character’s appearance make a difference? Should all character’s be free to change? Should only white characters be free to change? Changing a character's race may or may not change their personality, but their origin will definitely be affected such as Iris West in The Flash.

iris west.jpg

A less noisy change than the human torch but a change that nonetheless altered her linage and gave us the character Joe West who, fortunately, happens to be both one of the two stronger actors and an original character. Essentially we have a new character walking around with the name of an old one. Instead of being the comic character Iris West she could have been a completely new character named Matilda Pevensey or anything the writer could think of.

It’s actually sort of strange that this is happening. That there are writer’s wanting a character’s name and role, but deciding their face isn't up to code. Anyways, if those working on adaptations want to achieve diversity without pocketing characters from another race they should write, draw, and imagine a diverse bunch of characters. Whether they start in the comics or the adaptations a natural increase in diversity can work out for everyone involved.

Do you agree? Disagree? Have a better idea? Leave your thoughts below and let everyone know!

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Odin
Odin - 2/21/2015, 12:18 PM
Another article on this topic...
TheMarvelMan
TheMarvelMan - 2/21/2015, 1:19 PM
OK. What bothers the most is when people talk about Diversity, its mostly about Black People, not Hispanics, Asians, Chinese, and others races, just mainly Black People. It irritates me when people get angry that characters are being changed, yes I understand their popular characters, but seriously deal with it. Prime Example is The Human torch debate. Human Torch and Invisible Woman are blood siblings but COME ON ITS JUST A COMIC CHARACTER.
People get angry when people change a white character to a black character. I mean honestly, does it matter.

Marvel and DC make new Hispanic, Black, Asian, Chinese, characters.

Note: I am not being racist
RextheKing
RextheKing - 2/21/2015, 1:47 PM
Like you said my problem with race changes is with the desired achievement with those making the change. To be more diverse, but doing so by taking all the work put into making a particular character so great and slapping a different race on it. I much rather that effort were put into creating a character that is a minority vs just changing a popular character's race into that of a minority.
Batman52
Batman52 - 2/21/2015, 1:47 PM
Why can't it just be that the best actor/actress gets the job whether the person's black,white,Hispanic,Asian, or whatever.
CavalierTunes
CavalierTunes - 2/21/2015, 6:39 PM
People are always so outraged when a white character is recast with someone who isn't white. Where were those same fans when Ra's Al Ghul was recast from being Middle Eastern into being white? Or when Bane was recast as Caribbean into being white?

And if appearance is so important, where were these fans when Lois Lane was made a redhead in "Man of Steel"?

When movies like "The Last Airbender" changed the race of just about every character, were those of you who freaked out about Michael B. Jordan playing Johnny Storm just as angry? Or what about with the movie "21," where the characters in the book were Asian? Or "Brokeback Mountain," where the main characters were Hispanic?

I also, can't help but wonder if any of the people who are so angry about the Human Torch and Iris West having their races changed, were the same people who were angry that Cho Change from "Harry Potter" or Rue from "The Hunger Games" weren't white (yes, some people were shocked and offended that those characters weren't white in the movies!).
BrettMan
BrettMan - 2/21/2015, 7:16 PM
Honestly, it seems to me that when you change a character's race in a TV or movie adaptation, it just makes white people angry and belittles the race that the character is being changed to. There really should be more Hispanic, Black, and Asian characters. And the ones that exist usually aren't utilized as well as they could be.


On a side note, DC is making all their gingers black. Wally West, one of the most popular gingers in comics, is now black (though the whole West family is on The Flash). Jimmy Olsen, another ginger, will be played by an African American on the Supergirl TV show. Finally, all existing and/or forthcoming live-action adaptations of Captain Boomerang will have black hair, but this point is irrelevant.
This is merely an observation.
RextheKing
RextheKing - 2/22/2015, 1:38 AM
@Cavalier Do you live under a rock up an only until people complain about someone's race being changed to black? All those race changes you listed constantly got and still get criticised to this day.
Forthas
Forthas - 2/22/2015, 2:13 AM
Here are the top three reasons why this article makes no sense

1) Changing the race of comic book characters is far from new. As early as the 1970's catwoman was portrayed by both black and white actresses. The onscreen change in her race had had NO effect on any aspect of the character. In fact in recent years the character has again been portrayed by black and white actresses. Because it had been done before it made the issue moot. The same thing has happened with the character of Kingpin of Daredevil fame.

2) Numerous instances of white people portraying Asian, middle eastern, Latino, and black characters never seem to generate these same articles especially from white writers. Was this writer outraged at Johnny Depp portraying Tonto. Please provide the link to the article if I am wrong. When non-white groups complain about white people portraying non white characters, the argument is not that it will destroy or change the character...it is that there are so few opportunities for non white actors, why take away the few offerings that seem more appropriate. It is an economic reason as opposed to an artistic one. The example of having Martin Luther King Jr. portrayed by a white man is ridiculous because he is a REAL person...or Black Panther cast as a white man undermines the artistic point of the character. That is why casting Wonder Woman (once played by a Latina) with a Jewish woman is not a problem since she is neither real or is she defines by her race.

3) I have yet to understand what damage will be done by changing the race of a character other than it is not comic book accurate....WHICH IS THE CASE WITH EVERY OTHER ASPECT of putting comic books to screen. Batman in the comics wears spandex like clothing...but not on film. But that did not stop the last two movies from clearing a billion dollars. If race would have effected it in a negative way, it says more about the society than the artists.
CavalierTunes
CavalierTunes - 2/22/2015, 8:53 AM
@RextheKing

I don't remember reading half as many editorials on this site for all of the instances I mentioned combined than I did for just Michael B. Jordan. Not to mention the simple creation of Miles Morales, or the race-changing (with comments like "how would you feel if they made Black Panther white?") editorials in general. On top of that, all the comment wars on any article that even casually mentions his race change. Maybe I'm wrong, and just missed all those editorials/comments.
RextheKing
RextheKing - 2/22/2015, 9:15 AM
@Cavalier Yeah you did miss it, there may not have been as many editorials on the subject, but comment section on news surrounding the film tend to get flooded with complaints about race changes. Of course though they didn't garner as much article attention, and that because there were bigger things to make articles about regarding them. There was so much wrong with TLA, the race changes paled in comparison. TDKR's Bane was so different, physically than his comic counterpart, his race change also paled.
RobGrizzly
RobGrizzly - 2/23/2015, 1:14 AM
There are some that say it doesn't matter, and there are some that say it does. Both points of view are valid. As much as some might insist to the contrary, the simple fact is there is no "right" or "wrong" answer to race-changing. (because when it works- nobody complains). So it doesn't make once side racist any more than it makes the other side naive. All there is, is how it makes people feel. The HOPE is that it doesn't impede one's enjoyment of the project.
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