First off, I have to start this article by directly addressing the American movie industry. Hollywood, you are shameless! I'm talking Miley Cyrus on a Saturday night, shameless! Have you no decency, nor respect for non-whites?
I just needed to get that off my chest, okay, now onto the topic of this article. Its 2016 (as if the year ever fucking mattered with these things) and here we are, still talking about the same racist b.s--White-Washing in film. I am honestly not remotely surprised, taken back, or experiencing any form of shock at this point, because when it was announced a big budget production of Ghost In The Shell was occurring, I knew this was going to happen.
I knew Hollywood was going to fail the fandom, and probably produce something akin to the likes of DragonBall: Evolution, Gods of Egypt, or Avatar:The Last Air Bender. I have been a fan of Ghost In The Shell for over ten years. I was first exposed to it at about age thirteen, when it came on Cartoon Networks, Adult-Swim segment. I remember being mesmerized by the vocals of Origa, who sang the classic opening theme songs. I used to stay up late on school nights, watching the anime and it was indeed, one of the very first Japanese series I was exposed to as an adolescent. I honestly hoped that Hollywood, would NEVER get its shady hands on it because I sensed it would be butchered on the big screen.
The film has yet to come out, but I refuse to spend a penny on it, due to this absurd and disrespectful casting decision.
You mean to tell me, there isnāt one Japanese actress in existence who could have played the lead role of the Major, and brought the film finical success?
You mean to tell me, that the only person fit for the role of a clearly Japanese based sci-fi world, is snow-flake Scarlett Johansson (who in her own right is just as guilty, and should be just as ashamed to be apart of this cultural erasure). But to really make this fiasco that much more terrible, is that not only did they change all the main roles to white actors, they kept all their names Japanese. Is this some kind of fucking joke? I am supposed to sit there in my seat and believe that white, pale, Johansson is supposed to be a Japanese cybernetic-human named Motoko Kusanagi? Are you kidding me?Ā
I know Hollywood executives do lots of cocaine, but this clearly is flat out delusional, and obviously stems from the greater insanity of White-Supremacy all together. The white-washing in so many films cut into the greater narrative that stories are only valuable, or of worth if they are told through the lens of whiteness. There is a universal idea in our colonized world, that the stories people of color face no matter fact or fiction, are only comparable to the broader audience if the main character is played by a white-face. Ghost In The Shell is fiction, but it is based in a futuristic Japan and has elements that genuinely belong to Japanese culture. People in defense of this cultural erasure (mostly white-people who don't have a history of being erased), are saying that because it is fantasy, the race of the actor portraying the character is irrelevant.
Okay, well imagine a Chinese Harry Potter. Imagine a Native-American Super-Man. Imagine a Black, George Washington--and imagine these same people who would flip their shit, and be ready to burn down theaters nationwide. Ethnicity does matter, and we clearly saw that when white-fans nearly died at the casting of a Black Storm-Trooper in Star Wars, or a Black Annie on Broadway. In fact, if ethnicity in casting does not matter whatsoever as so many claim, why are Hollywood studios constantly and routinely only looking for white actors? Why would a casting call only be seeking those with blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin if anyone could play the role? Ā This is blatantly cultural-thievery and should be as visible to see, as the sun hangs in the sky.
Scarlett Johansson is just as guilty and responsible for this debauchery, as is the production studio. Did she honestly, just need to steal this role out of the hands of an Asian person, to further her career? Did she truly have to play directly into the hands of White-Supremacy and be the face that will erase the culture and heritage from which Ghost In The Shell is founded upon? But lets assume for a moment that she didn't know. Lets truly assume for a moment that she genuinely had no idea about white-washing, cultural erasure, the lack of minorities in cinema, or the prejudice governing the film industry. If she honest to god had no knowledge that she was contributing to this, that would only make her that much more responsible because nobody growing up in the modern world surrounded by these problematic issues should be that unaware of them. Period!
The only excuse for living so ignorantly in this age of free information is that either a person simply does not care about the harm they contribute to communities of color, or they simply do not care to know. People of color routinely have to stand on the side-lines and watch their stories, their tales, their history be altered, and told through the obscure perspective of white-supremacy. We always lose out on roles that were created by us, and belong to us, only to have our tales become overtaken by euro-centric tendencies. It is simply unfair, and we deserve better treatment and authentic respect for our stories.
Hollywood has no allegiance to anything but money, and for this I vehemently suggest people not go see this film. If we don't attack big budget films at their wallet, no amount of articles or opinions, or essays will make a difference. The film industry is notoriously prejudice when it comes to all non-white peoples, and honestly I think its time for it to go. Lets continue our support of independent directors, lets continue to support independent move theaters, lets uplift the brown and black faces who are telling our stories with authenticity and truth. Hollywood will probably forever remain in the clutches of White-Supremacy and patriarchy, and we simply do not have to take it. When people go spend money on films like this, they are agreeing that such behavior is acceptable to commit in the first place, and acceptable to repeat in the future. But when we withhold our money from these studios, we draw a red line in the sand and make it known that such acts will no longer be tolerated. Its time for Hollywood to either shift its mentality and become more inclusive to people of color, or die off like the delusional grandpa who thinks the south will rise again. The film industry can keep this one, or preferably incinerate the footage. I'll just stick to the original anime, and wait for a studio, with an once of sense to reproduce something better, and authentic.Ā
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