Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: annoyed

Racebending on Star Trek

Here's a post about Star Trek: Into Darkness that lowers my interest in the movie.

First, Star Trek is rehashing an established antagonist instead of pursuing new ones.  This does not thrill me.  Second, they're miscasting a character of color with a white actor.  This actively annoys me.
Tags: entertainment, ethnic studies, news
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  • 9 comments
valarltd

valarltd

May 10 2013, 17:08:50 UTC 8 years ago

Bleh! Ricardo Montalbahn will aways be Khan. Much as I love Comberbatch's work., he is not fit to fill Montalban's ponytail holder!

And the trailer looked TOO dark. Star Trek is a SHINY future. One where people are free to become and achieve. This makes it look like just another action adventure with a meglomaniac.
ysabetwordsmith

Hmm...

ysabetwordsmith

May 10 2013, 18:23:15 UTC 8 years ago

>>And the trailer looked TOO dark. Star Trek is a SHINY future. One where people are free to become and achieve. This makes it look like just another action adventure with a meglomaniac.<<

Okay, you just nailed the explanation. Thank you. I got distracted by the racebending because it's a problem for actual people who need jobs. But the reboot Star Trek isn't Gene Roddenberry's TOS or the same universe. It's a dark AU. (Blowing up whole planets is an iconic motif of dark science fiction.) So whitewashing, while problematic for us here, is not necessarily out of context for that AU. It makes much more sense now.
lb_lee

lb_lee

May 11 2013, 21:48:52 UTC 8 years ago

If I recall right, tumblr's already made a Bingo card about this. A shame I can't seem to find it anywhere...

I've got nothing against Benedict Cumberbatch, but I really wish I could avoid him easier. I swear, he seems to be EVERYWHERE.

--Rogan
ysabetwordsmith

Hmm...

ysabetwordsmith

May 11 2013, 21:59:53 UTC 8 years ago

I found a Tumblr discussion:
http://whitewashing-khan.tumblr.com/
and the bingo card:
http://startrekintowhiteness.tumblr.com/post/49513634122/a-handy-reference-guide-from-azora-mysta-on

Love the "Star Trek: Into Whiteness" zinger. They really are just begging to be racebent around a lamppost.

>>I've got nothing against Benedict Cumberbatch, but I really wish I could avoid him easier. I swear, he seems to be EVERYWHERE.<<

I think producers have declared him a special effect. You know, like: "We have no story. We have no imagination ... I know! Let's put in some explosions! Bitches love explosions." Only now it's "We have no story ... let's add Benedict Cumberbatch!"

*facepalm*
lb_lee

Re: Hmm...

lb_lee

May 11 2013, 23:03:08 UTC 8 years ago

That's the one!

Now I'm imagining some kind of... I dunno, cinema popularity singularity, with explosions and Benedict Cumberbatch, and flowing unbuttoned trenchcoats, white straight men touching each other, and boobs, and white skin as far as the eye can see, all overlain by a dramatic chorus.

It would of course be directed by Michael Bay.

--Rogan
ysabetwordsmith

Re: Hmm...

ysabetwordsmith

May 11 2013, 23:16:34 UTC 8 years ago

*laugh* That would be freaky. And because my brain is an evil writer brain, I can conceive of this as gingerbread for white people designed by Khan as part of his plan to take over the world ...
lb_lee

Re: Hmm...

lb_lee

May 12 2013, 00:43:06 UTC 8 years ago

Wow, that is great. A GENIUS PLOT THAT NO ONE WOULD SUSPECT! I do sometimes feel that that's what some creators attempt, though; like if they hit enough magic popularity buttons, their work will become an instant hit.

With the idea of catchy music, I'm reminded of this lovely flash fic on DeviantArt about a monster that can only be soothed by music.

--Rogan
kyleri

kyleri

May 12 2013, 21:51:53 UTC 8 years ago

Not arguing the dark!AU part; I'm down with that. But I thought Cumberbach's character was named John Harrison, and they hadn't redone Khan?
kyleri

kyleri

May 12 2013, 22:01:15 UTC 8 years ago

WELL I just did a little more looking, and now I know what happened, and then next time I see JJ Abrams I'm'a punch him in the head. So never mine my comment, I'm gonna stomp off and grumble about the world now.