Just watched the **sobs** last episode of Rome. Good, if a bit hasty. Not quite an epic sort of denouement like the one afforded to Six Feet Under (best series finale ever, IMHO). But I'm glad Attia got one last parting shot, and as for Pullo...
Point well made. Though I'd have to place more of the blame on Frank Miller. He won't option out his work to anyone who doesn't agree to do a frame-by-frame recreation as far as the appearance of characters and scenes (plot-wise, he gave in a little; they got to name The Captain's Son, and left out a younger Stelios being beaten by the The Captain after stumbling, and stuff). From what I recall, FM's Xerxes is black/very dark skinned. The costuming and jewelry are faithful to the graphic novel, though I must have a look at it again.
Intellectually, I get that I should be offended by the Persian legions' depiction, but I'm not, perhaps because it's not my culture being mangled, and I'm self-centered like that. I know that's hardly an appropriate reaction, but I can't feel what I don't.
Good to air these issues out, though. I remember there being some discussion about ROTK, what with the Haradrim and the Corsairs all being non-Caucasian, but then again they were dealing with fictional ethnic groups (though JRT certainly had his issues, and was very specific about the cultures he portrayed as villainous).
I'm a bit conflicted when it comes to stuff like that, and it has got to do with my own prejudices. I guess it didn't bother me because I've got different issues when it comes to race. An example: I'd rather Mickey Rooney have played the hideous caricature of the Japanese neighbor in Breakfast at Tiffany's (though I'm glad we're beyond that, it took long enough; BAT is still one of my favorite films despite it) than have had a Chinese actress portray a geisha.
And it wasn't because it reinforces the stereotype that all Asians look alike, it's because, being (very minutely) part-Japanese, I couldn't suffer someone a Chinese person, someone with strikingly un-Japanese features, playing what was a symbol of unequivocal Japanese purity.
Terrible, isn't it? Oh well. Glad that you put this out there.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-03-26 03:07 am (UTC)Point well made. Though I'd have to place more of the blame on Frank Miller. He won't option out his work to anyone who doesn't agree to do a frame-by-frame recreation as far as the appearance of characters and scenes (plot-wise, he gave in a little; they got to name The Captain's Son, and left out a younger Stelios being beaten by the The Captain after stumbling, and stuff). From what I recall, FM's Xerxes is black/very dark skinned. The costuming and jewelry are faithful to the graphic novel, though I must have a look at it again.
Intellectually, I get that I should be offended by the Persian legions' depiction, but I'm not, perhaps because it's not my culture being mangled, and I'm self-centered like that. I know that's hardly an appropriate reaction, but I can't feel what I don't.
Good to air these issues out, though. I remember there being some discussion about ROTK, what with the Haradrim and the Corsairs all being non-Caucasian, but then again they were dealing with fictional ethnic groups (though JRT certainly had his issues, and was very specific about the cultures he portrayed as villainous).
I'm a bit conflicted when it comes to stuff like that, and it has got to do with my own prejudices. I guess it didn't bother me because I've got different issues when it comes to race. An example: I'd rather Mickey Rooney have played the hideous caricature of the Japanese neighbor in Breakfast at Tiffany's (though I'm glad we're beyond that, it took long enough; BAT is still one of my favorite films despite it) than have had a Chinese actress portray a geisha.
And it wasn't because it reinforces the stereotype that all Asians look alike, it's because, being (very minutely) part-Japanese, I couldn't suffer someone a Chinese person, someone with strikingly un-Japanese features, playing what was a symbol of unequivocal Japanese purity.
Terrible, isn't it? Oh well. Glad that you put this out there.