The Little Mermaid culture war

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Source: www.theguardian.com/film/2022/sep/15/little-mermaid-disney-trailer-culture-war-ariel-black-white

We are all losers in the ‘woke v racist’ Little Mermaid culture war

Stuart Heritage

The boring spat over the Disney trailer makes idiots of us all – whether Ariel is black or white, it is clearly a film that should rightfully be ignored then forgotten forever

The film won’t be properly evaluated on its merits until all the noise has died down …Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid.
The film won’t be properly evaluated on its merits until all the noise has died down …Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid. Photograph: Disney
Thu 15 Sep 2022 12.24 BST
The worst thing about the state of the culture wars is that it requires us to formulate opinions about things that absolutely do not deserve them. Exhibit A is Disney’s forthcoming live action remake of The Little Mermaid. By all accounts, this isn’t really a film that deserves to take up a lot of anyone’s brain power. It’s an old story, retold using technology that will date much faster than traditional animation, and in any other age it would be in cinemas for four weeks, gently fizzle out and never be thought of ever again.

But this is 2022, which means we have to wade through all the racists before that can happen. For the latecomers: The Little Mermaid will star black actor and singer Halle Bailey as Ariel. And, with an inevitability that could crush your bones to dust, a segment of the internet has reacted poorly to this.

This week it emerged that the film’s trailer had received a million and a half dislikes from outraged film fans spluttering with rage that the character is no longer a sexy aquatic caucasian redhead. One Twitter user was recently suspended for celebrating an AI artist having “fixed” Bailey’s image to that of a white woman. “It’s over for wokecels”, he wrote triumphantly, just before the hammer came down.

And, as with Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings and countless other entertainment properties that have utilised diverse casting of late, there has been backlash to the backlash. Most recently, Jodi Benson, the actress who voiced Ariel in 1989’s animated Little Mermaid, has posted a message of support for Bailey on Instagram: “I’m SO proud of you & your beautiful performance as Ariel”.

So here we are. It is now impossible to remain neutral about The Little Mermaid. You are either opposed to the idea that a mermaid might not necessarily always be white or excited to watch it out of principle because you don’t want the racists to win. It’s one or the other. The lines have been drawn, and that means the film won’t be properly evaluated on its merits until all the noise has died down, which won’t happen until long after its release.

And this is The Little Mermaid, for crying out loud. If the previous live action Disney remakes are any indication, then it will barely even qualify as a film. It’ll be a rote, loveless exercise in maintaining an existing IP, which won’t hold a candle to the original. When was the last time you felt excited about seeing Guy Richie’s Aladdin remake? Or Tim Burton’s Dumbo? A new live action Pinocchio just dropped on Disney+ and I’ve yet to meet a single person able to summon even an atom of energy to watch it. There are plenty of legitimate reasons not to want to watch The Little Mermaid; to focus on the casting of the mermaid herself seems an incredible waste of energy.

To make matters worse, John Favreau’s live action Lion King remake already pointed to a solution that would keep everyone happy. That film was full of photorealistic digital animation, if you remember, so all the characters’ entertainingly exaggerated facial expressions in the original were replaced with blankly unresponsive animals just slightly opening and closing their mouths. And this is the way The Little Mermaid could have gone. Forget about black actresses and white actresses, let’s have a grotesque scaly mutant as the lead. Let her have claws and sharp teeth and no hair, like the mermaid at The Horniman museum. Let her trail a rope of faeces around behind her at all times. Let her be slowly and agonisingly poisoned by the acidification of the oceans. Just think of the fuss that could have been avoided by going down that path.

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Source: www.dailytarheel.com/article/2022/09/opinion-the-little-mermaid-live-action-representation

Opinion
Column: Halle Bailey is the Little Mermaid we deserve

Chloe Bailey and Halle Bailey of Chloe x Halle perform onstage at the 61st annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 10, 2019. Halle Bailey will play Disney's The Little Mermaid in the upcoming live production. Photo Courtesy of Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy/TNS.
By Savannah Clay

September 19, 2022 | 2:50pm EDT

Audiences will have the chance to watch Disney’s live-action "The Little Mermaid" in theaters beginning on May 26, 2023. Disney recently released the first teaser trailer, and with it came backlash. Halle Bailey, a talented African-American singer and actress from the sister-duo Chloe x Halle, will play the beloved princess Ariel.

Halle Bailey checks every single box — she has the voice of an angel, flowing hair and a majestic aura about her. The teaser trailer was under two minutes, but that was more than enough to convey why she is the perfect choice for this role. So what is the issue?

The issue is the mere fact that Halle is not the white mermaid some had intended.

Growing up with only Princess Tiana from "The Princess and the Frog" as my Black representation, the little girl inside me was thrilled to see Halle Bailey on screen. The media has a longstanding tendency of deeming Black women as unlovable, unworthy, not feminine or delicate enough — attributes unfit for a princess.

Princess Tiana was a small step toward rewriting that narrative, but many aspects were still flawed. The number one flaw: she was a frog for over half of the movie. Now, we finally have a Black princess that will be on screen for the entire time! Although she will technically be half-fish for a little while, you get the point.

Most importantly, my heart is filled with immense joy every time a TikTok pops up of a young Black girl pointing to her TV screen and exclaiming, “She's like me!” Beautiful moments like this are why representation is crucial for children of color. Teaching children to love their beautiful melanin and natural features and chase their dreams shouldn’t fall solely on loved ones — because it isn’t enough.

Racism is deeply embedded in American society, especially in the education system that first shapes children’s impressionable minds. Therefore, these children need to see people of color succeeding in all fields ranging from aerospace engineering to business owners, celebrating their beauty, and playing the leading role in films of every genre — not just those about our trauma. Once children of color see their heroes achieving the dreams they have set out for themselves, it will set an example that their dreams, too, can become a reality.

Outside of careers and building confidence, children of color need to feel seen even when playing make-believe.

How many fairytales cater to white people, despite these creatures and characters appearing in stories from all cultures globally? Mermaids, fairies, vampires, werewolves, knights, princesses, princes, etc. are almost always white in books and media.

For a child, using their imagination is not only fun but also freeing. At that moment, anything can seem real, no matter how impossibly creative their ideas are. It's imperative for young children of color to know that they are valuable, good-looking, wise and interesting enough to be featured in magical worlds.

The importance of this moment for the Black community should not be overshadowed by white upper 30-year-olds delusionally angered by “not getting their representation.” The hard work Halle Bailey has poured into this film and the budding excitement everyone else feels is where our energy should lie.

We should not have to point out the decades of Hollywood roles wrongfully granted to white actors and actresses cosplaying other races. We should not have to defend choosing a Black woman to play Ariel and I should not even be writing this column stressing the significance of representation. Ariel’s Blackness does not take away from the original or her beauty, nor is her Blackness the problem. The problem is you — if it bothers you so much.

It is time to stop hiding behind YouTube comments and accept that Ariel is Black, period.

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Source: www.standardmedia.co.ke/arts-and-culture/article/2001457158/the-little-mermaid-marred-by-racism

'The Little Mermaid' marred by racism
By Kirsten Kanja | 7h ago

The little Mermaid is the fairy-tale story of a mermaid, Ariel, who wished to be human to take her chance at love with a prince.

It is a tale that has been characterised by images of a red-haired, blue-eyed cartoon mermaid, who has long been portrayed as white or Caucasian.

Actress Halle Bailey, a talented American singer and Beyoncé’s protégé, was announced as the star of the film in July 2019.

But rather than being impressed by the 22-year-old starlet’s huge role, the reception of the project revealed the deep racism that underlies film and entertainment.

There was backlash from mostly anonymous internet trolls, who took to Twitter using the hashtag #notmyariel as they rejected the idea of an African-American star playing the role.

The conversation from trolls remained persistently negative, insulting and down-right racist since the announcement, with a majority of the black community rallying around Halle and defending her against the naysayers.

“By now, we know it is not unusual to see racist responses whenever a person of colour is cast in a role considered “traditionally” white,” CNN Entertainment notes, adding: “While there are plenty of legitimate reasons to dislike a movie, these critics often hide their discomfort behind other thin arguments, claiming historical or cultural accuracy or, of all things, science.”

In the report, CNN states that the argument that The Little Mermaid is a Danish story’ is not enough because ideally, it is all fantasy and not based on real life in any way.

“The original Little Mermaid story was written by Hans Christian Andersen and first published in 1837. If we are going to dignify this argument, according to the text, Ariel and the rest of her mermaid kin are from “far out in the ocean” at the “bottom of the sea.” So, not Denmark or anywhere near it,” CNN notes.

In an interview with Variety magazine earlier this year, Halle doubled down on her excitement about taking on the role. She revealed that she had adored the fairy-tale growing up, and could relate to it in many ways, even pretending to be Ariel every time she went swimming as a child.

“Her sense of longing, her searching for herself, was something that I could resonate with. She knew where she wanted to go, and she was not going to let anybody stop her,” Halle said.

She was comforted by kind words from her grandparents, who told her of their struggles with racism and discrimination.

“It was an inspiring and beautiful thing to hear their words of encouragement, telling me, ‘You do not understand what this is doing for us, for our community, for all the little black and brown girls who are going to see themselves in you’,” Halle said.

Variety notes that although the backlash and criticism stung, Halle’s tight-knit family supported and encouraged her throughout.

The trailer of the film was released in mid-September, to applaud and support from fans, but the same bitter backlash that has persisted years into the creation of the project.

“The trailer itself appears to have become a target for internet trolls: after it collected 1.5m “dislikes” in two days, YouTube has disabled the thumbs-down “dislike” button, while dozens of comments below it are parodying a positive response by citing dialogue from other films,” The Guardian notes.

But the history of racism in the film runs deep, from the portrayal of stereotypical, mocking images of black people and poor representation that has gone on for decades.

“Through most of the 20th century, images of African-Americans in advertising were mainly limited to servants like the pancake-mammy Aunt Jemima and Rastus, the chef on the Cream of Wheat box,” Google Arts and Culture notes.

The study adds: “Many researchers argue that media portrayals of minorities tend to reflect whites’ attitudes toward minorities and, therefore, reveal more about whites themselves than about the varied and lived experiences of minorities. Producing films in this way is what leads to a singular perspective and opinion.”

It goes further to the lack of recognition black actors receive for their work, one such case being the culmination of outrage after an all-white Oscars nominee list in 2016. The hashtag #OscarsSowhite was used to call out the award show.

One of how racism in film is combatted is by the creation of informative movies and films that educate the public on the problem at hand.

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Source: eu.southbendtribune.com/story/news/2022/09/29/little-mermaid-live-action-remake-black-ariel-notre-dame-professor-react-debate-disney-halle-bailey/69511134007/

Notre Dame film expert, South Bend residents weigh in on 'The Little Mermaid' controversy
CLAIRE REID South Bend Tribune
For many Disney lovers across the country and the South Bend region, seeing Black actress Halle Bailey's portrayal of Ariel in the new, live-action remake of "The Little Mermaid" is nothing short of magical.

"She's brown like me," a little girl named Maya said to her mother in a video posted to the TikTok page @nickyknackpaddywack. "I'm so excited to see this movie."

A USA Today story from Sept. 12 shared Maya's reaction to the teaser trailer, which was released Sept. 9 for Rob Marshall's live-action adaptation of the Disney classic. In the same story, USA Today shared positive reactions to the upcoming film from other young Black girls.

"Everybody deserves to see themselves reflected in the media," said Mary Kearney, associate professor of film, television and theater at the University of Notre Dame. Kearney's research primarily focuses on gender, youth and media culture, especially girls' media.


Halle Bailey has been cast as Ariel in Disney’s upcoming live-action "The Little Mermaid."
DISNEY/GETTY

While growing up in the 1970s, South Bend native Jackie Rucker knew of one television show with a majority-Black cast, CBS sitcom "Good Times." She and her friends watched it frequently, she said.

"Sometimes it wasn't even good, but we'd just watch … because, just to be able to see someone who looks like us, it makes a difference," said Rucker, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Teachers Credit Union.


Jackie Rucker is the director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Teachers Credit Union.
COURTESY OF JACKIE RUCKER
Years later, Rucker's now 32-year-old daughter, a child at the time, adored Disney's original 1989 animated "The Little Mermaid" and other Disney princess films. Rucker remembers observing that Disney's characters were overwhelmingly white.

In 2009, Disney released "The Princess and the Frog," which introduced the world to Tiana, the company's first Black princess. Although her daughter was an adult by then, Rucker said this was an exciting and important moment for representation in the media.

"It's easier to see yourself accomplishing things if you see others who look like you accomplishing those things," she said. "If you go through life, and you never see anyone who looks like you ― whether it's mythical things like a fairytale or even things on television ― it becomes a struggle. It's not good for your psyche as you're growing up. It's very isolating."

Rucker said she looks forward to taking her 4-year-old granddaughter Marcella to see the new "The Little Mermaid" when it's released in May 2023.

"My granddaughter is biracial, and this gives her a chance to see people who look like her in fairytales. She loves 'Frozen,' but she looks a little goofy wearing a blonde, Elsa-costume ponytail pinned to her head …," Rucker said. "I'm hoping she's going to ask me to buy her a little wig with red dreadlocks so she can pretend to be Ariel."

The film has attracted much controversy for casting Bailey as Ariel

However, not everyone is excited about Disney's latest live-action remake.

Since it was announced in July 2019 that Bailey would play Ariel, the film has been engulfed in controversy. Some fans are displeased that a Black actress is playing Ariel, who is white with red hair in Disney's original animated "The Little Mermaid."

According to Newsweek, within two days of it being released, the film's trailer had racked up 1.5 million dislikes on YouTube.

"There are just apparently tens of thousands, if not more, racist white people in the United States who are really upset that their beloved Ariel is being performed by a young, Black woman," Kearney said. "Hashtags have been developed, (along with) memes and videos and other heinous forms of communication."

In one widely-viewed video, an artificial intelligence artist known as @tengazillioniq on Twitter created a deepfake face-swap of "The Little Mermaid" trailer, altering the footage to artificially "replace" Bailey with a white, red-headed woman.

Kearney said critics' complaints that Ariel should not be portrayed by a Black actress because she was white in the original film are not effective arguments against Bailey assuming the role.

"Well, number one, she's playing a mermaid. As far as I know, mermaids don't come in races," Kearney said. "Race is a human construction that's applied to human beings … It's a completely illogical argument when we're talking about fantastical creatures that don't exist."

Similarly, Rucker said, while she would understand if people were upset about a non-fictional character being portrayed as a different race, she doesn't understand the outrage over a fictional princess.

"Now if this were a real person, I could see pushback … But when you've got fictitious characters, they can be played by anybody," she said. "And I think that gives us depth, it shows the creativity of Disney, and it shows how open they are."

Kearney said the worlds of film and television have a long history of casting white actors to portray people of color. She hypothesizes that many white critics of "The Little Mermaid" are uncomfortable seeing this phenomenon reversed because, for many of them, this is their first time experiencing that.

"What's happening for a lot of white (people) in moments like this is that they're being forced to go through the kind of mental gymnastics that oppressed groups have long had to do, which is to map themselves on to characters that don't look like them, and it's uncomfortable," she said. "But it's been uncomfortable for (oppressed groups) for a long time."


Mary Kearney is an associate professor of film, television and theatre at the University of Notre Dame.
COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME


Some say their criticism of the film has nothing to do with racism

South Bend mother Victoria Suchovsky said she is "obsessed" with Ariel and "The Little Mermaid." Her engagement ring is even an Ariel-inspired ring from Disney's jewelry collection.

"When I was a kid, I was a foster kid … who loved Ariel," Suchovsky recalled. "It was just kind of a thing to get away from it all."

Growing up, she said, she would watch the original "The Little Mermaid" film "like 10 times a day." When she first saw the new "The Little Mermaid" trailer, she said, it was obvious why Bailey was chosen for the lead role.

"She's a beautiful girl with an amazing voice," Suchovsky said.

She added, the similarity between Bailey's voice and Ariel's voice in the original film gave her chills, and she looks forward to taking her mermaid-loving young daughter to see the new film.

However, Suchovsky admitted she is "slightly disappointed" that Bailey's Ariel does not look like the white, red-headed Ariel that Suchovsky is used to.

"I know that's the wrong opinion to have right now, but for me, I have purely nostalgic reasons for feeling that way," Suchovsky said.

People have known Ariel as white "for decades," she continued.

"I think we're wired to think things were better when we were younger, so when they make a remake, people with an attachment to (the original) are displeased with the people who created it and changed the main image of something that they've had in their minds for decades," Suchovsky said. "It's unfair to say you can't feel that way unless you're racist."

While reading through Facebook comments about the new "The Little Mermaid" film, Suchovsky said, she learned that Africa "actually has a lot of mermaid folklore." She said she thinks it would be "really awesome" if, instead of remaking Ariel's story, Disney made a film featuring a Black mermaid based on African folklore.

"She could have had her own name … and a story that wasn't told that's also rooted in African culture," Suchovsky said. "I would support a movie like that. I actually really wish they would do that."

Kearney said she disagrees with nostalgic arguments like Suchovsky's.

"They haven't obliterated the original Ariel," Kearney said. "If people want their beloved white, red-headed Ariel, they still have her and have her in abundance when compared to previous generations of folks who didn't have as much access to watching Disney movies. … Their movie is still out there for them."

This is not the first time a film has gotten a more diverse remake

Throughout the late 20th and 21st centuries, multiple popular films have been reimagined and remade using a more diverse cast.

In 1978, Sidney Lumet's film "The Wiz" reimagined the classic tale of "The Wizard of Oz" with a star-studded, all-Black cast that included Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

"I was a kid at the time 'The Wiz' came out. I remember thinking it was pretty cool, and, of course, the Black community was hugely jazzed by it, because it was a really big deal …," Kearney said. "Black American stars were featured in that film, and that was hugely important in the Black community, especially because it did kind of cross over into the white audience. There have been plenty of Black films that white people won't see. They don't get distributed in white communities, and they don't have very much money behind them, but this was a major crossover."


Brandy Norwood (left) and Whitney Houston in "Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella."
IMDB / DISNEY

Then, in 1997, another Disney classic was remade with a Black lead princess. The film, "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella," starred Brandy Norwood as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother and became a cult classic.

Kearney said that although she imagines there were people upset about the diverse casting choices in "The Wiz" and "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella" when the films were released, the outrage was never to the scale it has been with "The Little Mermaid."

If similar numbers of people were outraged, most of society "wouldn't have known, because the average, everyday American had very little access to promoting their views publicly," Kearney said. "Social media has changed all of that."

She said she also believes the current political climate has encouraged critics of "The Little Mermaid" remake to voice their opinions.

"In the cultural moment we're in, that kind of discourse is now seen as perfectly permissible within our larger social and cultural forum …," she said. "Clearly, there are a lot of people who have a lot of time on their hands to be involved in something like this."

Rucker, too, is disturbed by the onslaught of criticism the film has received, but she is trying to maintain a positive perspective.

"I'm not sure why (the film) upsets them, but if you live in an environment where your belief system is that certain people are in a box, and somebody changes that box, it seems like you perceive it as a threat," she said. "I don't think it's a threat. I think it broadens and makes things a little more realistic, a little more holistic. And I think it's great for children."

Email Tribune staff writer Claire Reid at [e-mail].

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Italian article: www.alfemminile.com/tempo-libero/da-ariel-nera-alla-fata-madrina-uomo-le-evoluzioni-del-cinema-s4050215.html

Nessuno tocchi "La Sirenetta": ma le polemiche su Ariel nera sono solo la punta dell'iceberg
di Eugenia Nicolosi
Creato il 05/10/22 alle 18:00, modificato il 05/10/22 alle 18:00

Da "La Sirenetta" a "Bridgerton", passando per "Cenerentola": i nuovi progetti (targati Disney e no) sono sempre più inclusivi rispetto a culture, razze e identità di genere. Ci sono i detrattori, che usano l'argomento della nostalgia e della fedeltà all'originale per nascondere razzismo e omofobia

Indice
· Una panoramica sulle polemiche
· Fedeltà e accuratezza storica (di storie inventate)
· Djarah Kan: "spaventati dal disordine della fantasia bianca"
· Oggi bimbi e bimbe si riconoscono e si ritrovano
· Le tre più ridicole argomentazioni contro Ariel nera


Una panoramica sulle polemiche
Accade da un po', e anche gli ultimi due nuovi adattamenti cinematografici stanno suscitando disagi e indignazione in giro per il mondo. Parliamo de “La Sirenetta” targata Disney che da maggio 2023 porterà sullo schermo una Ariel nera (interpretata da Halle Bailey) e de “Il Signore degli Anelli”, trasposizione cinematografica dei libri di Tolkien che in quest'ultimo volume “Gli anelli del potere” si avvale di attori neri e asiatici. Lo sdegno di alcuni “fan” nascerebbe dal fatto che le diversità minaccino la fedeltà del lungometraggio alla storia originale.

Dal momento che nessuno parla apertamente di razzismo, quale sarebbe il motivo per cui si sono scatenate ire, polemiche e disagi? Vediamo, partendo da “Il Signore degli Anelli. Gli Anelli del Potere”: l'ira dei fan è stata scatenata dal fatto che siano attori neri e asiatici a coprire il ruolo di personaggi che vivono nella Terra di Mezzo, rovinando l'autenticità del mondo di Tolkien, che non aveva mai descritto i suoi elfi, hobbit e uomini come non bianchi.

Poi: la Disney ha pubblicato il primo trailer de “La sirenetta”, con Halle Bailey che canta e migliaia di utenti di YouTube si sono scatenati, lasciando più di 2 milioni di "dislikes" (cioè il pollice verso) tanto che il sito ha nascosto il contatore, per l'imbarazzo, oltre che innumerevoli commenti negativi sul trailer, oltre a creare e diffondere meme che ridicolizzano il film per la scelta di Bailey come interprete. Internet è stato sommerso da un'ondata di critiche razziste circa il fatto che Ariel, un'essere completamente inventato che è metà donna e metà pesce, non dovrebbe essere nera. E la community ha usato per identificarsi hashtag #notmyariel (“non la mia Ariel”). Un altro gruppo di detrattori si è spinto fino a condividere una versione del trailer digitalmente manipolata che mostra una donna bianca nel ruolo di Ariel al posto di Halle Bailey.

Per chiunque abbia prestato attenzione alla cultura pop negli ultimi dieci anni, si tratta di polemiche che si sollevano ogni volta che qualcosa cambia nei reboot di serie tv o film in cui i personaggi cambiano nell'aspetto o nell'impatto che hanno sulla trama. E sono polemiche estenuanti, le cui argomentazioni non possono essere universali e che infatti non mettono d'accordo quasi mai le due parti (pro e contro). Ma in questo caso c'è un enorme “ma”.

Il clima teso attorno a questi due progetti è legato a un cambiamento che scuote le fondamenta di una storia originariamente inquadrata nella visione del mondo bianca e maschile. E adesso ammettiamolo. La maggior parte delle storie che ci sono state tramandate nel corso dei secoli sono state create per noi da uomini bianchi, la cui prospettiva era ancorata in modo profondo a quella del mondo bianco. Da un punto di vista progressista, tutte le storie avrebbero bisogno di una bella scossa, e non occorre cambiare la trama ma forse proprio cambiando le prospettive e i punti di vista attraverso nuovi cast si potrebbero leggere con un'ottica meno blindata e stereotipata. Ma, inoltre, non occorre nemmeno riscrivere vecchie storie: il mondo è pieno di nuove storie che sono pronte per essere raccontate al pubblico adulto e non.

Volendo fare uno sforzo e prendere per buono quanto sostengono i detrattori, sono molte le persone che vogliono solo che le loro amate storie vengano lasciate in pace mentre invece accade che, principessa dopo principessa, principe dopo principe, le grinfie di registi e autori progressisti sovvertono ruoli di genere ideando principesse guerriere e fate madrine maschi e sostituiscono attori e attrici per includere altri colori della pelle oltre il bianco.

L'attenzione negativa ricevuta da “La sirenetta” e da “Il Signore degli Anelli”, infatti, deve sollevare sopratutto la questione del razzismo che invece viene taciuta. Ed è un fatto che siano invece i sostenitori di questi due film gli unici a parlare apertamente di razzismo visto che è esattamente da lì che originano la rabbia e la resistenza dei dettattori.

Fedeltà e accuratezza storica (di storie inventate)
Anche prendendole per vere, le argomentazioni contro il capitolo “Gli anelli del potere” e contro il reboot de “La sirenetta” sono assurde. Quelle circa la “non accuratezza storica" però non possono essere prese davvero per buone, neanche volendo. Dal momento che hobbit e sirene non sono reali, quindi non dovrebbe essere importante stabilire di che colore siano. Inoltre, è vero che l'ambientazione della Terra di Mezzo di Tolkien è basata su un'Europa immaginaria, ma è vero anche che le persone nere vivevano in tutta l'Europa già prima del Medioevo, quindi una Terra di Mezzo diversificata sarebbe storicamente accurata.

Per quanto riguarda il racconto di Hans Christian Andersen "La sirenetta", si sappia che è l'allegoria sublimata della vita di privazioni di un uomo gay non dichiarato (Andersen stesso) e la sua ambientazione originale era "lontano, nell'oceano". Cercare l'accuratezza storica in questo tipo di favole sembra, e infatti forse è, una forzatura. Ma per mettere ulteriormente a tacere l'argomentazione che questi personaggi debbano essere per forza bianchi, si consideri che nella prima versione prodotta da Disney la casa e la famiglia di Ariel sono una mescolanza di nomi, arredamenti e personaggi che evocano la mitologia greca e mediterranea. E allora l'idea di sirene rigorosamente caucasiche ma che contemporaneamente siano provenienti da quelle zone è pure una bella forzatura. Quindi, a chi importa davvero di che colore siano i protagonisti di film, live action e cartoni animati? La risposta, a quanto pare, è: a un sacco di gente.

Tra questi intolleranti fan circola la voce che le nuove produzioni insistono nella provocazione di una "diversità forzata". I detrattori sostengono che l'obiettivo non è quello di mettere in scena rappresentazioni realistiche del mondo, ma piuttosto di portare avanti una sorta di "agenda ideologica". Come insomma se il cinema e la tv fossero complici di un malvagio disegno che intende normalizzare la presenza di altre razze (come se non esistessero) e di altre identità di genere (come se non esistessero). Ma è incorniciare la semplice esistenza di personaggi non bianchi (o non etero) nei media come una posizione politica la vera agenda ideologica repressiva e, inoltre, contraddice la realtà, oltre che la lunga tradizione di adattamenti fantasy che si discostano totalmente dalle descrizioni dei personaggi. E i fan di solito non se ne preoccupano nemmeno (pensiamo alle differenze libri / film che corrono nella saga di Harry Potter). E non se ne preoccupano finché il cast presente rafforza una visione del mondo bianca ed eterocentrica: donne, persone lgbt+ e persone non bianche, se ci sono, hanno ruoli secondari.

Questo ci porta a mettere sul piatto una questione più ampia: non si tratta solo di hobbit, elfi e sirene, si tratta della legittimazione dell'esistenza di persone nel mondo reale e della loro rappresentazione. Per la milionesima volta, donne, persone lgbt+ e persone non bianche esistono, trovandosi loro malgrado al centro di una battaglia tra chi le riconosce come esistenti e chi invece ne nega l'esistenza.

Di solito, il pubblico che si oppone a cambiamenti di questo tipo adduce a varie ragioni senza appunto mai parlare di razzismo, omofobia o misoginia. Chi è contrario a principesse guerriere o fatine maschi a volte fa giravolte senza senso, come sostenere, per esempio, che il cast a prevalenza di attori neri non è vera inclusione ma un cambiamento solo estetico “a buon mercato” perché non incide realmente sulla visione del mondo. Ovviamente a parlare di solito sono persone bianche.

Questo ci fa capire tra l'altro che raramente viene compreso lo spirito dell'originale: spesso le storie trasformate i cartoni e film dalla Disney hanno un portato culturale legatissimo ai temi dell'inclusione e delle diversità e si allineano molto di più a una visione progressista che a quella tradizionalista, specialmente se razzista. Va detto per onore della verità che la scelta di un cast diversificato può presentare delle insidie e talvolta essere una scorciatoia per far apparire case di produzione progressiste senza che lo siano davvero. Ma è il tema del washing, che tuttavia non mette a tacere le voci dei fan, soprattutto dei piccoli: C'è sui social il commovente video di una bimba nera che gioisce nel vedere che la protagonista de “La sirenetta” somiglia a lei, dopo anni e anni di principesse solo bianche.

Le stesse persone che si sono arrabbiate per elfi e sirene BIPOC (Black indigenous people of color), sono quelle che si sono indignate per la regina nera e la viscontessa sud-asiatica nella serie in costume “Bridgerton” e per la Cenerentola dell'anno scorso che ha visto la fata madrina Billy Porter impersonare Fab G e affrontare la transfobia (perché se c'è una cosa per cui le fate sono famose è il loro rigido binario di genere, si sa). E, ogni volta, i detrattori usano altri argomenti per mascherare quello vero (il razzismo, l'omofobia, la transfobia).

Nel caso dei drammi storici come “Bridgerton” viene usato l'argomento dell'accuratezza storica, nel caso di adattamenti di fantasy e fantascienza, in cui spuntano personaggi neri, gay o neri come Porter, l'argomento è la “conservazione della versione con cui si è cresciuti”. Le persone razziste usano l'arma della nostalgia per opporsi a un cast multietnico o non binario. In altre parole, la rabbia dei fan si scatena sempre e solo verso una direzione e ha sempre e solo un obiettivo: cancellare e minacciare le differenze.


Djarah Kan: "spaventati dal disordine della fantasia bianca"
Direttamente dalla penna dell'attivista e scrittrice Djarah Kan, una riflessione sulla nuova versione del "La Sirenetta".

La multinazionale della nostalgia più famosa al mondo meglio conosciuta come “Disney” ha rilasciato il primo trailer ufficiale de “La Sirenetta”. Tuttavia, i sommelier dell'accuratezza dei live action Disney e i fasci in difesa della memoria dell'infanzia degli anni Novanta non riescono proprio a mandare giù l'idea che la loro tanto amata sirenetta bianca, nel 2023, sarà interpretata da un'attrice nera. Non voglio nemmeno ritornare sulla polemica di quanti, nel tentativo di nascondere il loro sincero e genuino fastidio razzista, si arrampichino sugli specchi improvvisandosi esperti del folklore Danese, o mitologia greca perché le sirene nel folklore africano, esistono.

Ma sul fantasy e la presenza dei neri in ruoli immaginari o folkloristici in particolare, si consuma una battaglia culturale per la supremazia della "fantasia bianca" che vuole restare bianca e libera di essere ariana e felice, in un mondo che cambia e che sta mettendo in dubbio il ruolo della bianchezza come unità di misura di tutto ciò che sembra normale e non "forzato". È da queste cose che si capisce quanto il nostro sguardo sia stato plasmato dalla bianchezza. C'è sempre stato un ordine. I bianchi per primi. Poi tutti gli altri da contorno. Ma nessuno dei detrattori della sirenetta nera, ad oggi, avrebbe il coraggio di ammettere che è questo disordine nell'immaginazione bianca, a spaventarli per davvero. E non la poca fedeltà ad un racconto di pura fantasia. Ed è proprio da questo punto che prende forma questo fastidio mostruoso nel vedere gli attori neri fuori dai ruoli tradizionali che i bianchi hanno sempre confezionato per loro come i criminali, i sottoproletari, gli schiavi o i simpatici buffoni sboccati.

Nella storia dell'Occidente si è reso necessario sbiancare molti santi e addirittura Gesù Cristo stesso e la Madonna, per far sì che la loro immagine mediorientale o africana potesse essere più digeribile e vicina alle fantasie dello sguardo bianco europeo. E non ci siamo fatti alcun problema ad accettarlo. Milioni di persone in giro per il mondo credono che Dio abbia l'aspetto di un uomo bianco anziano e che suo figlio abbia i capelli biondo cenere e due occhioni azzurri da fare arrossire chiunque. Abbiamo accettato che il creatore dell'universo fosse bianco. Anzi, ce lo hanno imposto, soprattutto in Africa, cercando di sradicare dei millenari che ci somigliavano molto di più. abbiamo accettato anche questo.

Il Mondo intero ha come esempio di bellezza da inseguire quello della bianchezza. Il volume di affari raggiunto dalla vendita di prodotti cosmetici e procedure estetiche di "sbiancamento" di pelle e fattezze che vengono definite "etniche" si aggira intorno al miliardo di dollari annui. Perché bianco è bello e su questo non si discute. Ma se Disney si azzarda a fare il remake de' “La Sirenetta” alterandone il colore della pelle e riadattando una storia per bambini a quelle che sono le esigenze dei bambini di oggi, quello no. È inaccettabile. Assurdo e osceno. Eppure io sono stata una bambina e ho amato la sirenetta così com'era. Bianca.

Ma la bambina, che vive dentro di me e che mi permette ancora di piangere, ha versato parecchie lacrime quando si è vista. Per la prima volta. Ed è stato come tornare piccoli e innocenti, ma con una possibilità. Nuova. Decolonizzare la fantasia farà sempre incazzare un sacco di gente. Ma è il corso naturale della storia di questa società che per fortuna cambia. La fantasia è potere. E chi si scaglia con tanta violenza contro un prodotto del genere, lo sa. Sa che la bianchezza si sta decentrando sempre di più. E questo a molti non piace. Beh. Pazienza.

Meglio una Ariel nera che nuota nel Mar dei Caraibi, che l'originale di Andersen, in cui la piccola sirenetta si sucida perché il principe, che di lei se ne frega poco e niente, dopo un anno si sposa con un'altra. Se Disney avesse voluto realmente traumatizzarvi, avrebbe dovuto seguire semplicemente la storia originale. E invece vi ha fatto un favore, rimaneggiando e adattando al 1989 una fiaba dell'Ottocento scritta da un uomo sofferente, costretto a nascondere e silenziare i suoi sentimenti, in una società che vedeva gli omosessuali come degli esseri a metà ma che alla fine non erano niente. Né uomini, né donne. Né umani, né pesci.

Andersen, che conosceva il peso di vivere nell'invisibilità, sarebbe felice di vedere la sua sirenetta nei panni di una giovane e talentuosa donna nera. Lui ha scritto questa fiaba con il solo scopo di raccontare l'amore impossibile di persone che vivono la propria identità come una prigione da cui si può scappare solamente ferendo il corpo al fine di conformarlo alle aspettative degli altri. Che è quello che fa la Sirenetta rinunciando ai suoi bellissimi capelli e alla lingua. E che a sua volta è ciò che fanno tante ragazzine nere, che in segreto sognano di potersi sbiancare la pelle, rifare il naso e stirare i capelli, poiché è questo che ti insegna la società, se è l'amore e l'approvazione ciò che vuoi ottenere. Una fiaba bellissima, che da donna nera adulta mi fa ancora piangere perché dopo trent'anni, mi vede e parla ancora di me.


Oggi bimbi e bimbe si riconoscono e si ritrovano
La blogger Kathrina Luistro, autrice di "Disney Examiner" scrive che, da filippina-americana, ricorda che quando faceva le maratone di cartoni animati non pensava che un giorno avrebbe incrociato una principessa Disney che le somigliasse.

“I personaggi più simili con cui potevo identificarmi erano Pocahontas e Mulan, ma non mi sono mai vista veramente in loro”, fino al 2016 quando invece la Disney aggiunge al collettivo di principesse una giovane polinesiana nel film "Oceania". “Nei primi tempi nei Walt Disney Studios non c'era molta diversità di razza o etnia tra le principesse: da “Biancaneve e i sette nani” a “La bella e la bestia”, tutte le principesse raccontavano la storia di una giovane donna bianca. Solo nel 1992, con Jasmine in “Aladdin”, abbiamo visto finalmente una qualche diversità razziale.

La principessa Jasmine ha aperto una porta che si è rivelata necessaria sul tema della diversità ed, essendo da subito così popolare tra il pubblico, la Disney ha iniziato ad avventurarsi nel raccontare storie di personaggi femminili appartenenti a culture ed etnie diverse. Pocahontas, Mulan e Tiana (“La principessa e il ranocchio”) sono state le protagoniste femminili che non solo hanno mostrato donne non bianche, ma hanno permesso che nel cinema mainstream arrivassero anche culture diverse, culture mai raccontate. La Disney ha fatto molta strada dallo stereotipo della principessa con "capelli d'oro" e la "pelle chiara".

Ora ci sono principesse e personaggi Disney che molti bambini possono guardare e in cui ritrovarsi senza forzature. Certo, il colosso dell'intrattenimento per piccoli non ha ancora raccontato ogni singola storia di ogni singola cultura ed etnia e ci sono ancora alcuni bambini che non si identificano con nessuna delle principesse che abbiamo a portata di telecomando, ma magari accadrà. In un mondo reale fatto di diversità non è difficile trovare l'ispirazione per raccontare nuove storie che possono fare la differenza per la crescita e l'autostima di ogni bambino o bambina.

Le tre più ridicole argomentazioni contro Ariel nera
"La Sirenetta" è una storia danese, quindi Ariel dovrebbe essere bianca.
La storia originale della "Sirenetta" è stata scritta da Hans Christian Andersen e pubblicata per la prima volta nel 1837. Se vogliamo dare dignità a questa argomentazione, secondo il testo, Ariel e il resto dei suoi parenti sireni vengono da "lontano, nell'oceano" (letteralmente le righe iniziali della storia), in "fondo al mare". Quindi, non la Danimarca. Né altrove in superficie, in realtà. Se i critici sono davvero preoccupati della fedeltà rispetto alla storia originale, non dovrebbero sorvolare sul finale originale in cui la sirena riceve l'ordine di uccidere il suo principe, ma getta via il coltello in preda alla disperazione e si dissolve nella schiuma del mare. Per non parlare del fatto che, mentre la versione Disney del 1989 ha un principe Eric con occhi azzurri, Anderson ha descritto il principe con "occhi neri come il carbone" e "capelli corvini".

Le sirene vivono nelle profondità del mare quindi non hanno la pelle scura.
Ma nel senso scientifico? Perché scientificamente le sirene non esistono. Ancora una volta, se vogliamo dare uno sguardo accademico a questi discorsi, non tutte le creature abissali sono pallide e non tutte le creature subacquee sono pallide. Inoltre, dal momento che le sirene si avvicinano alla superficie abbastanza da vedere gli altri esseri umani, se si vuole guardare la questione dal punto di vista scientifico, le sirene avrebbero probabilmente un tipo specifico di pigmentazione che permette di vivere sia in acque profonde che in acque basse. Sappiamo anche che, secoli fa, i marinai spesso immaginavano che un particolare animale fosse una sirena: il lamantino, che non è certo bianco.

Le sirene sono una figura mitologica europea e quindi bianche.
Premesso che non tutti gli europei sono bianchi, su Twitter sono spuntati numerosi commenti di persone che cercano di sostenere che il folklore europeo, o addirittura le epopee omeriche come l'Odissea, abbiano una sorta di monopolio sull'idea delle sirene. In realtà, è affascinante vedere come molte culture diverse nel corso della storia siano arrivate a produrre miti, storie e temi folcloristici quasi identici. E come il divino figlio partorito da una madre vergine, anche le creature umanoidi che vivono sott'acqua fanno parte di innumerevoli culture presenti in tutto il mondo. Il folklore dell'Asia Orientale è ricco di storie ambientate in regni sottomarini e di uomini-pesce sia buoni che cattivi, dai Magindara di alcune regioni delle Filippine alla storia della principessa indiana presente anche in Corea del Sud. I racconti popolari mediorientali della classica raccolta "Le mille e una notte", che risale a più di mille anni fa, presentano diverse storie di creature umane che vivono nel mare e, in alcune zone dell'Africa, il folklore narra le storie degli spiriti dell'acqua, spesso nella forma di bellissime donne. Secondo la mitologia Shona dello Zimbabwe, le "njuzu" sono sirene che vivono nei laghi o nei fiumi.

Fare Ariel nera significa sostituire l'immaginario.
Perché una Ariel dalla pelle scura è in qualche modo pericolosa, come se possa negare o cancellare la versione classica del 1989? Il film "La sirenetta" del 1989 è ancora disponibile in videocassette, dvd e piattaforme di streaming. Il personaggio animato di Ariel, il suo nome e la sua immagine sono una proprietà Disney di grande valore e con un marchio registrato che non si può cancellare: Ariel, quella dai capelli rossi e dalla pelle chiara, è qui ed è qui per restare. Lungi dal rovinare l'infanzia a qualcuno, una diversa Ariel non fa altro che aumentare la magia Disney. Basta guardare le reazioni dei bambini neri e delle bambine nere. Ma soprattutto, il remake di un film non cancella l'esistenza dei film precedenti: il signor Darcy del 1999 e il signor Darcy del 2005 vivono in armonia con ogni altro personaggio dei miliardi di remake di "Orgoglio e pregiudizio". Il clown malvagio Pennywise ha un aspetto diverso in ogni iterazione di "It" (la migliore è quella con Tim Curry) così come Frankenstein. Nessuno possiede l'esclusiva del concetto tutt'altro che universale di “sirena”.

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Source: movieweb.com/playing-the-little-mermaid-gabriella/

The Little Mermaid Backlash: The Origin Story, Gabriella, and Disney's Casting
BY
SARAH KEPINS
PUBLISHED 13 HOURS AGO
Disney’s new Little Mermaid movie is receiving a lot of negative backlash. Here's a look at the controversy behind their film, with added context.


Ariel and Gabriella in The Little Mermaid TV ShowDisney

In 1989, the world was introduced to a playful, adventurous, and brave mermaid named Ariel, and her colorful world of wonder under the sea. We watched as she followed her heart which led her on the path of being human and eventually marrying the handsome Prince Eric. While Disney brought worldwide fame to The Little Mermaid, they weren’t the original creators of the beloved character we all know and love. That honor belongs to Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.

Now, Disney hopes to reinvent their version of The Little Mermaid with a live-action film set to be released in movie theaters in May 2023. However, instead of maintaining the image of their original, red-haired, fair-skin 1989 mermaid, Disney has decided to bring diversity by casting the dark-skinned singer and actress Halle Bailey in the titular role. This decision has sparked a lot of controversy and heated conversations around the topic of whitewashing, or rather, "blackwashing" the character (a term explained and analyzed by the College of Wooster). In fact, the trailer on YouTube has received a groundbreaking number of dislikes, 1.5 million in just its first two days. What's going on?


The Little Mermaid’s Origin Story


Halle Bailey as Ariel and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric in Disney's The Little MermaidDisney

Before we take a deep dive to further explore this fish tale (pun intended), it’s important to first understand the original The Little Mermaid story by Hans Christian Andersen. A Dutch author in the 1800s, Andersen was known for many beloved children’s stories such as Thumbelina, The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor's New Clothes, and The Ugly Duckling.

However, if people are complaining that the new casting of The Little Mermaid doesn't reflect the original story, then they should re-read it again; the original is something very different, as is the case with most of Disney’s fairy tale stories. That’s because, in his fish tale, the little mermaid (and not Ariel, as Disney created that name) fails to win the prince’s love and dies as a result, turning into sea foam, and is then tasked with the job of serving humanity for 300 years before she will be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. Like many children's stories of the time, it was an artful to way to warn kids of bad behavior, with the final line being, "But if we see a naughty, mischievous child we must shed tears of sorrow, and each tear adds a day to the time of our trial.

Another important thing to note is the mermaid’s appearance. You can check out the illustration below to see Vilhelm Pedersen's drawing of Andersen's The Little Mermaid; his original 1849 illustrations were the very first images of the character:


Vilhelm Pedersen original Hans Christian Andersen drawings Little Mermaid

There was no color to the illustrations (if anything, she probably would have been entirely greenish based on the description, which we'll get into). Disney was the one who actually gave her red hair and pale skin. In Hans Christian Andersen’s story, “They were six beautiful children; but the youngest was the prettiest of them all; her skin was as clear and delicate as a rose-leaf, and her eyes as blue as the deepest sea; but, like all the others, she had no feet, and her body ended in a fish’s tail.” From the story, we know that she has blue eyes, which is more common among light-skinned people, but it is certainly not unheard of for people with dark skin. In addition, her skin is compared to a rose leaf, which is green, so we could assume that her skin might be a similar color.


Disney’s Reinvention of Ariel


Ariel from The Little Mermaid under the seaWalt Disney Pictures

Now we know that the image of Ariel with red hair and fair skin is actually a Disney invention. Therefore, all that Disney’s new live-action film is doing is reinventing the image that they initially created, something they certainly have a right to. However, instead of staying true to the branded version of their little mermaid, some are saying that Disney has decided to take a political direction and “go woke,” as some are calling it, by taking a previously white character and simply making her black in a remake.

In all honesty, there have been countless times when actors from all ethnic backgrounds have played characters outside their races. Look at the popular musical Hamilton, which is about the white founding fathers of America. This musical’s original cast consisted of mostly people of color who portray characters who held discussions on slavery, freedom, and liberty. If anything, Hamilton’s original cast should have raised some eyes, but it didn’t because people appreciated it as art that was meant purely for entertainment purposes with a subversive twist.

On the flip side, you have Angelina Jolie who played the role of Mariane Pearl, who is a French freelance journalist of Afro-Chinese-Cuban descent, in A Mighty Heart, and Ben Affleck as Antonio J. Mendez, a decorated American technical operations officer who was of Mexican descent, in Argo. Plus, we can’t forget about Johnny Depp playing the fictional Indigenous character of Tonto in the Disney movie The Lone Ranger. There have been some questionable casting decisions on both sides of the argument, but people generally get over them. Finally, a wonderful example of the possibilities of diverse casting would have to be Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in the MCU — that was a white character in the comics for nearly four decades, but practically everyone has loved Jackson's portrayal.


Gabriella, the Non-White Mermaid From the '90s


Gabriella dark mermaid in The Little Mermaid TV showDisney

Some people say that a dark-skinned mermaid isn’t accurate (whatever 'accuracy' means in myths and folk tales), since mermaids come from European folklore and Europeans are historically white. In going along with that, mermaids traditionally spend most of their time underwater and would see very little sun. Therefore, it makes sense that a mermaid would be fair-skinned and pale. On the other hand, there are also the stories that say that mermaids are sirens, dangerous creatures who lure sailors to their deaths and spend most of their time above water, singing to men. It’s important to remember that mermaids are fictional and have different origin stories for different people.

It’s worth noting that Disney’s new mermaid isn’t their first darker-skinned mermaid character. In the 1990s, we got to meet Gabriella the mermaid, a deaf character who appeared in The Little Mermaid TV series and communicated by lipreading and American Sign Language, which was translated into words by her octopus friend Ollie. Gabriella was loved and accepted. There was no negative backlash over her addition to the animated show, and her inclusion meant something very important to many people — Gabriella was a tribute to a real two-year old girl who died of leukemia.

Gabriella Angelina Bommino was a huge fan of mermaids, and the Make-A-Wish foundation threw her a Little Mermaid-themed party for her final birthday. After she died, the makers of The Little Mermaid TV series asked her family if they could include her in a grown-up form. Her mother told The Los Angeles Times that it was the “way the Lord is showing us what she would look like.” Gabriella the mermaid wasn't some political, liberal gesture; she meant something very real and very moving to many people, not just the little girl's family but all little girls who were deaf or BIPOC. This is something everyone should consider before more clicks of the dislike button.

Is Disney’s New Mermaid Accurate?


Halle Bailey as Ariel Revealed, Disney's The Little Mermaid Wraps FilmingInstagram

Everyone’s going to have their own opinion on Disney’s The Little Mermaid casting decision. One of the reasons for disagreement is nostalgia. People love to feel nostalgic and fondly remember the past. By recreating its own creation, Disney has altered the feeling of nostalgia that is built in to their other live-action movie remakes.

Disney is not duplicating the past (which probably wouldn't be a good thing; Ariel is 16-years-old in The Little Mermaid, which might be a little inappropriate for a scantily clad love story). Then again, they aren’t straying too far from the path, especially when it comes to appearances: long flowing hair, traditionally beautiful, half fish (the bottom half), etc. Additionally, both versions of Ariel are played by women in their feature film debuts (Jodi Benson as the voice in 1989, and Halle Bailey in 2023). Really, the only main difference is race.

Whether you agree or disagree with Disney, Ariel is entirely fictional, and when you have money like Disney does, you can cast anyone you'd like. Movies are made up of subjective opinions (both financial and artistic), and the people behind The Little Mermaid are simply expressing their opinions and creativity through their decisions. The great thing about living in certain countries is having freedom and options, like the decision of whether to go see The Little Mermaid in theaters when it’s released next year or making the choice to sit it out.

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http://instagram.com/p/CkAuUn_qLdS

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Source: www.northerniowan.com/18553/opinion/mermaids-can-be-black/

Opinion Showcase

Mermaids can be Black


Tribune News Service
The casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel in Disney’s live action “The Little Mermaid” has garnered backlash from online communities implying that Ariel cannot be Black.

NKASA BOLUMBU , Staff Writer
Nov 15, 2022

Disney’s decision to cast a Black actress as Ariel has sparked online outrage following the release of the live-action trailer

Ariel is one of my favorite Disney princesses. I admire her curiosity and the lengths she would go to satiate it. She’s young, free-spirited and free-minded. She took a calculated risk for a love that had been in the making since she first saved her prince’s life. She helped defeat Ursula, the witch who took her voice. She united the land and the sea by reconciling with her father and being proud of who she is and who she wants to be. She really resonated with a lot of young kids—kids of all colors, not just white redheads. Now, this mermaid princess, who’s literally from a different world and doesn’t (hopefully) express the same racism that has existed in our country for centuries and still exists today, shouldn’t be played by a Black actress. Is Disney playing the diversity game? Yes. Have we been seeing a recent trend of recasting white-cast characters with people of color? Yes. Has the racism our country claims to have passed stopped? No. Case in point: online racism is being disguised as genuine criticism for the upcoming movie “The Little Mermaid.” 

The iconic redhead mermaid will be played by Halle Bailey. Bailey is arguably one of the most talented vocalists of Generation Z. She’s half of the R&B group Chole x Halle. The sister duo has been doing cover songs on their YouTube channel, Chloe x Halle, since the 2010s. They were recurring characters on ABC’s “Grownish,” and their ethnic vocals on the albums “Ungodly Hour” (2020) and “The Kids Are Alright” (2018) have been killing the music industry. She’s also a Black woman. 

From the #notmyariel page on CBR.com, Director Rob Marshall states, “After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that [Bailey] possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence and substance – plus a glorious singing voice – all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role.” She was chosen as Ariel for a reason. Her being Black is what it is. This isn’t “affirmative action” or just a diversity check needing to be filled out for Disney’s yearly quota. They are signed and mentored by Beyonce herself! She truly has the voice. Bailey’s acting is another matter, but the main qualification for being Ariel is having that voice that even Ursula can’t resist stealing. She’s the real deal and the director for the film certainly agrees. 

People felt so righteous in their need to correct the wrongs against them that there’s a Twitter post of someone using artificial intelligence on the teaser trailer to make her look like the 1989 Ariel. They made Bailey white. A real Black woman was reimagined as white. It’s like putting bleach cream to strip off all the Blackness down to her nose structure too. Might as well make her have blue eyes too. If they did this all with a blank background, that’d be no problem. The issue is that Bailey, who is Black, was literally whitewashed. Instead of just getting rid of her all together, they erased her blackness and used it as a template for their ideal Ariel. In 2019 the #notmyariel went around from older people who just can’t relate to a 16-year-old love-stricken mermaid unless she’s white. Bailey can be #notyourariel but she’s not playing this role just for older generations to feel nostalgic. It’s for the newer generation and Disney recycling the classics. 

“The Little Mermaid” teaser trailer that was released earlier this fall received over 1.5 million dislikes on the Disney YouTube channel. Even though the dislike count for all YouTube videos is hidden, people went out of their way to make their hatred visible. Remember, this is all for a 1 minute and 24 second clip with 10–20 seconds of singing near the end, and she only appears on screen for about 30 seconds. The mere presence of her blackness in the first second of the trailer was enough for haters. 

There are some criticisms that I do agree with. Hollywood is not more diverse because of a change of heart. They want more people of color to watch their media, and in order to do that, one must cast more people of color. Inauthentic representation, which means that Disney is recycling stories with casts that are more representative of our times today.

Mermaids exist in all types of cultures around the globe. Contrary to popular belief, many Black cultures have mermaid lore. “The Little Mermaid,” for example, could use stories from Haiti and their mermaids known as Mami Wata’s. Matt Walsh, a popular and outspoken conservative, argued that, scientifically, mermaids live deep under the sea, where they get little sun, so they’d be pale and therefore couldn’t be Black. Scientifically, we’ve yet to prove mermaids’ existence. And Black people can have albinism, be pale or have light skin while remaining Black. Realistically, a mermaid can be anything since they’re not real. 

If they were to remake more live-action movies, I wouldn’t cast anyone who doesn’t look like Merida, Mulan or Princess Tiana if they kept their settings and cultures the same. Merida is Scottish, Mulan is Chinese and Tiana is a Black woman who’s experiencing unjust racism, though she has what it takes to buy her dream restaurant. All of these cultures are central to their stories. It would be dishonorable to simply change all of their races while keeping them in the same story because their cultures and how they were raised in them will be different for someone who isn’t a part of them. 

However, the themes of discrimination, wanting to find your own destiny and fight for your own hand in marriage, and learning to work hard but also relax and be open to change are themes that exist outside of race. You can make stories that are similar in theme and nature to the original, even in the same setting, but still make sure that the new characters are true to themselves. Even though Disney’s Ariel is loosely based on a Danish story, it is not about Danish culture or people. If Disney had wanted to, they could have made the original film rich in culture just like “Frozen” is rich with Norwegian and Sami culture. 

Racist criticism directed at non-white actors is not a new phenomenon in the mainstream. Often times, non-white actors are labeled as “woke” simply when this kind of casting happens. It’s ironic that they’re labeled as “woke” for being non-white and playing a White character. Wokeness is now attributed to one’s skin instead of what they actually believe. Zendaya, who is a biracial Black woman, received lots of hate for playing the famous “MJ,” also known as Mary Jane Watson, in the new “Spiderman” movies in 2016. Idris Elba got hate for playing Heimdall in the “Thor” film franchise. It’s nothing new. It seems like it only gets worse every year. The racist derogatory memes and stereotypes only increase in frequency. 

Race-switching is a two-edged sword, and I understand people’s concerns when they see people they’ve always known to be white played by non-white actors. We are not a colorblind society, nor are we anywhere close to a post-racial society. I don’t believe that Blackwashing is the same as whitewashing since that deals with the anti-Blackness aspect of Blackness on the street. The race-switching isn’t a true representation because no new stories will be told. It’s recycling old material that will work since their original animated movies are an easy formula for success. 

The people making these racist critiques also forget that non-white actors have played many White characters in musicals and on Broadway outside of the mainstream entertainment media. In 1997’s Rodgers and Hammerstein’s film “Cinderella,” Brandy Norwood played Cinderella alongside Whitney Houston as her fairy godmother. The prince was played by the Asian actor Paolo Montalban, who had a white father and Black mother. 

This type of casting doesn’t need to make “scientific” sense in its setting because the world that the characters were in is diverse and race wasn’t an issue. It’s fantasy – an escape from the real world problems we face. In 2019, the actress for “Moana,” Auli’i Cravalho, played Ariel in “The Little Mermaid Musical.” Even Keke Palmer, whose name is now seeing mainstream love with her role in Jordan Peele’s movie “Nope,” is sending love. She played, in her words, the Black Cinderella on broadway. The interesting thing about Ariel, Cinderella and characters like them is that their whiteness is not a big part of their story. 

I believe in Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream of racial equity. A dream that we will one day live in a nation where we will judge not by the color of our skin but by the content of our characters. The times we are in now reflecwt the nightmare. The overwhelming outrage and racism occur before the film is released; the hatred is directed at the skin color rather than the quality of the film or what actually occurred. We must do better; we can be critical while still being open to seeing the film, and then decide if a childhood was ruined. I truly know that a lot of the backlash would go away, even with all the diverse skin colors of the supporting cast present, if Ariel were white. 

Personally, I can rock with Ariel having whatever skin color she wants because she’s a mermaid. If it doesn’t matter to her, it won’t matter to me. The same goes for every other Disney character because of who they are and not just what they look like. All these Disney characters, whether white or not, were the best parts of my childhood. Instead of teaching your kids to hate a movie because the main character doesn’t look like them, if they want to see it, let them. The fact that this reiteration of “The Little Mermaid” will be played by a Black woman with a beautiful voice doesn’t take away at all from the original mermaid Ariel. They can both exist!

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Source: www.dw.com/en/disney-face-dark-legacy-as-it-turns-100/a-64744396


an animated image of a mermaid underwater

CULTURE
Disney face dark legacy as it turns 100
Julia Hitz
1 hour ago
In its centenary year, the Walt Disney Corporation must reckon with a legacy of racism and sexism in its films. Is casting an African American actress in 'The Little Mermaid' a good start?

The American llustrator and visionary Walt Disney created unforgettable characters from Mickey Mouse to Donald Duck.

The founding moment for Disney's entertainnment empire was October 16, 1923, the day he sold twelve films, including "Alice's Wonderland," to the New York film distribution company M.J. Winkler.

The deal kicked off a century of blockbuster success for the Disney brand.

In that time, Disney has grown from a movie production company to a multi-medial entertainment conglomerate with its own streaming platform and numerous subsidiary companies

To mark the anniversary, a live-action remake of the Disney classic "The Little Mermaid" will be released in cinemas on May 26, 2023. However, the road to the film's release has been bumpy.

Racism over casting decisions
The leader character Ariel, the little mermaid in the original Disney animated movie, is thin with pale skin and a flowing red mane.

After a long dry spell, the animated film, whose story is based on the 1837 fairy tale of "The Little Mermaid" by Danish poet Hans Christian Andersen, was a goldmine for the studio when it was released in 1989.


Filmszene Arielle die Meerjungfrau Filmszene Arielle die Meerjungfrau
The original little mermaidImage: picture alliance/United Archives

It won Golden Globes, a Grammy and two Oscars for Best Score and Best Song with "Under the Sea," and prefaced a Disney boom in the 1990s with animated hits such as "Beauty and the Beast"(1991), "Aladdin"(1992), "The Lion King" (1994) and "Pocahontas"(1995).

In 2019, when Disney announced that African American actress and singer Halle Bailey would play Ariel, not everyone was happy about it.

Under the hashtag #notmymermaid, fans petitioned the casting decision with racistinsults. Many fans of the original Disney film could not imagine an actress in the role who did look exactly like the animated Ariel of 1989.

Disney staunchly defended their decision to cast Bailey. In a Twitter statement via the Disney-owned cable network, Freeform, they wrote: "The original author of "The Little Mermaid" was Danish. Ariel … is a mermaid…But for the sake of argument, let's say that Ariel, too, is Danish. Danish mermaids can be black because Danish *people* can be black." The post read.

The company boasted Bailey's outstanding talents and insinuated that not being able to get passed the fact that she "doesn't look like the cartoon one” is racist.

Is racism a thing of the past at Disney?

The Disney movie "Dumbo" in 1941: A group of crows sit on a branch, one of them smokes a cigar. They laugh, dance, sing, and make fun of Dumbo, who sits nearby, offended.

The leader of the crows is Jim Crow. This was the stage name of nineteen century comedian Thomas D. Rice, who rose to fame performing blackface in his minstrel show. Jim Crow also refers to the name of the segregation laws in the South of the US.

Disney now realizes that this scene in the 1941 film classic Dumbo was offensive, as it was reminiscent of racistminstrel shows in which white performers with blackened faces and tattered clothing imitated and mocked enslaved Africans on the plantations of the southern states. The film includes other cynical portrayal of black people in the US that trivialize the history of slavery.

These days, Disney has addressed the problem by issuing warnings before older movies, including "Dumbo," "Peter Pan" and "Aristocats."

They include the warning: "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now."

Such insertions are intended to stimulate discussions that will help create an inclusive future free of discrimination, the group says. But is a notice at the beginning of a film enough.


Halle Bailey stars in the 2023 version of 'The Little Mermaid'Image: Richard Shotwell/picture alliance

Cultural appropriation then and now

Cultural appropriation is when components of a culture, such as intellectual property, cultural expressions, artifacts, history or types of knowledge are used by members of another culture, especially for capital gain.

Disney's filmography includes several examples where elements of a particular culture have been taken and altered for entertainment purposes. For example, the film "Pocahontas" has little in common with the original story: Disney turned a ten-year-old girl into an attractive, lightly dressed woman who falls in love with John Smith, an English adventurer and colonialist.

Disney has acknowledged these mistakes over time. The corporation is now increasingly trying to tell authentic stories and to talk and collaborate with people from other cultures. For example, the company founded the "Stories Matter" platform, where the company not only talks about its new approach to filmmaking, but also about its past mistakes.


A scene from Dumbo and crows A scene from Dumbo and crows
'Dumbo' perpetuated the racism of the Jim Crow eraImage: Mary Evans Picture Library/picture alliance

Disney films and the sexism accusation

Many Disney classics are also problematic from a feminist point of view. Ariel in particular does not come off well from a feminist point of view, as she throws herself into the arms of a prince she hardly knows — barely escaping her strict, patriarchal father. She gives up not only her origins, but her voice for the prince.

But in recent years, Disney has changed this too.

Its new heroines have been allowed to experience their adventures without an ultimate goal of finding a prince, such as in the movie "Moana," or challenge traditional notions of romantic love, as in "Frozen."

Since the 2010s, there have also been homosexual characters, as in "Strange World" from 2022 which features a gay romance, even if it was criticized by some in the LGTBQ+ community.

The problems of society as a whole, such as racism, sexism and homophobia, can only be tackled by first telling more diverse stories.

How Disney has reworked the story of Ariel, the little mermaid, with this in mind remains unclear until the premiere in May.

This article was translated from the German.

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Source: fandomwire.com/mermaids-arent-real-they-can-be-black-marvel-star-samuel-l-jackson-has-the-best-solution-for-heated-debate-over-499-million-disney-movie-the-little-mermaid/

“Mermaids aren’t real, they can be black”: Marvel Star Samuel L. Jackson Has the Best Solution For Heated Debate Over $499 Million Disney Movie

by Umeza Peera
June 27, 2023, 6:10 am



The Fantasy musical movie The Little Mermaid was released on 23 May 2023. Halle Bailey played the character of Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King was seen as Prince Eric, and Melissa McCarthy portrayed the character of Ursula. The movie earned $499.3 million and was called a smashing hit at the box office.


Halle Bailey at an event

Rob Marshall’s movie got a great response from the audience and critics, but the movie also received a lot of backlash as well. In an Interview, Samuel L. Jackson talked about the representation of characters in the films, as well as about the controversy related to the movie The Little Mermaid.

Samuel L. Jackson talked about the criticism linked to Superhero projects

Samuel L. Jackson has been one of the biggest parts of the MCU. The Coach Carter actor plays the role of Nick Fury in the media franchise. During an interview, Jackson talked about the recent criticism linked to Superhero movies. There are fans all around the world who love Superhero movies and for that reason, somewhere representation is also important. The Captain Marvel actor gave his opinion on why he is averse to people criticizing Superhero movies just because of the cast. Jackson said in the interview,

“We hope so. And as we watch how all these things play out and what the world of superheroes is when people continue to say, ‘Well, we hate these superhero movies. I’m sick of this… Make some movies that make sense.’ Well, some people like superhero movies. A whole bunch of people, you know? I’m one of them. I’m really proud that I’ve been part of it.”

Jackson’s character Nick Fury in the MCU is one of the significant characters. The actor’s performance in the first episode of Secret Invasion is being applauded by fans.

Samuel L. Jackson explains why anyone can play the character of a mermaid in a movie

The 74-year-old actor also talked about the latest debate about The Little Mermaid. Some individuals were disappointed by Halle Bailey’s casting as the lead in the big-budget Disney film. Some netizens even criticized the makers for casting a Black actress in the film. In the original animated movie, Ariel’s character was depicted as Caucasian, hence some people are opposed to seeing a Black woman perform the role. While talking about diverse characters in the Superhero movie, the Unbreakable actor said,

“You hear people fussing about, ‘Oh, Black Little Mermaid.’ Mermaids aren’t real. They can be black, they can be green, they can get orange. They’re not real things. But representing it and giving people a fantasy life or something that takes them away from the reality of the crap that we have to deal with day in, day out of, you know, mass shootings, robberies, homelessness, all these other things, we still need an outlet.”

This statement by Jackson unlocked the floodgates for the haters once more. Some individuals attacked the actor online through comments, while others agreed with him and stated that what he is attempting to explain made sense.

The Little Mermaid is now streaming on Disney +

Source: The Direct

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Source: edition.cnn.com/2023/06/26/opinions/little-mermaid-racism-asia-china-hongkong-leung-beckford/index.html

Opinion: My childhood in Hong Kong prepared me for how China reacted to ‘The Little Mermaid’
Opinion by MonaLisa Leung Beckford
Updated 12:21 PM EDT, Mon June 26, 2023

Editor’s Note: MonaLisa Leung Beckford is a writer for Mixed Asian Media focusing on the experience of being multiracial and multicultural. The views expressed here are her own. Read more opinion at CNN.

CNN
—
Growing up in Hong Kong, “The Little Mermaid” was my favorite movie. As a kid, I used to sing “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World” at the top of my lungs in Cantonese, while soaring on the swing at the playground.

MonaLisa Leung Beckford

When my dad took my siblings and me to the neighborhood pool, I would imagine that I was swimming like a mermaid. To this day, I credit my childhood desire to swim like Ariel – beautiful yet agile, supple yet athletic – for my love of the water.

My grown-up self still loves Disney films. I was excited to learn a couple of years back that a live-action version of the movie I loved so much as a kid was being filmed. And, as a Blasian – a person of Black and Asian heritage – I was especially pleased that the lead role would be portrayed by a Black actor.

My father is Chinese and my mother is Jamaican. I was born in Hong Kong, which is where I spent the first 12 years of my life. Being Black profoundly shaped my early childhood. At school, on the playground and in my neighborhood, my siblings and I were always the only Black kids around.

Excitement turns to disappointment
My excitement about the casting of “The Little Mermaid” turned to disappointment when I saw the negative reception the film received when it opened in Hong Kong. Many people posted derogatory commentary online, expressing displeasure that Halle Bailey, a Black actress, had been cast in the lead role.

As I scrolled through movie reviews on Douban (a popular Chinese movie review website), it was upsetting to see comments like, “she’s a Black clown mermaid” and “this is the ugliest version of ‘The Little Mermaid’.”

The remarks reminded me of the racism I encountered in my childhood as an Afro-Asian child in Hong Kong.

I was called all types of names in Cantonese, among them 污糟妹 (dirty girl) and 黑妹 (black girl). There wasn’t much in the way of microaggressions – racism towards me was never subtle. Among my classmates, I was sometimes singled out for punishment by my teachers for innocuous behavior like biting my nails.

On one occasion, I was accused of having somehow caused a classmate’s eczema on her arm by my mere proximity to her. And for a school art project, rather than being praised for my keen eye and attention to detail, I was accused of plagiarism and punished for having turned in an assignment that looked too perfect to be my own handiwork.

One of the worst days of my childhood occurred on the night of my 10th birthday when I suffered an asthma attack and was coughing up blood. The emergency room doctor at one hospital turned me away, insisting that nothing serious was wrong with me. My parents took me to a different hospital, where I was admitted immediately. I was deemed sick enough to require four days of treatment there.

Against that backdrop of discriminatory treatment and racist taunts, I’m really not all that surprised about the negative reviews directed at a fictional Black mermaid. Colorism has existed in China since long before “The Little Mermaid.”

A preference for pale skin, dating back centuries
In ancient China, pale skin represented beauty, health and a higher socioeconomic status. Dark skin was associated with poverty and working in the fields. There’s an old proverb in Chinese, “一白遮三丑”, which means a light skin complexion can hide your ugliness.

The desire to have pale skin persists to this day. The Chinese term for “whitening” is 美白 which combines the characters “white” and “beautiful” together. Many women today continue to turn to skin-whitening products to achieve beauty. Despite the controversy and potential harm, these products are big business in Asia.

I’ve always thought that the negative views and stereotypes that some people in China hold against Black people, as well as some other foreigners, is largely the result of a lack of exposure. China is still a very homogeneous country.

According to the 2021 Census published by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, about 91% of the population is Han Chinese. Minority ethnic groups (such as the Zhuang, the Uyghurs, and the Manchus) comprise only around 9% of the population.

With respect to foreigners, only fewer than a million lived in China in 2021, a very small number compared to the overall population of 1.4 billion people.

Without many examples in society of interracial and intercultural connection, I looked to my parents and the inspiring story of their courtship and marriage. During the 1980s, my dad went to Jamaica to work for two years, even though he didn’t speak much English or patois and didn’t know anything about Jamaican culture.

He ended up falling in love with my mom and marrying her there. He brought his Jamaican bride back to Hong Kong, only to face criticism and rejection from his family and friends.

My mom was a foreigner of the sort that most people in his family had never encountered. She never gained the acceptance of my father’s extended family, but that didn’t stop my mom from learning Cantonese and working as a nurse at one of the largest hospitals in Hong Kong.

Most of my dad’s relatives never reconciled to my parents’ marriage, however. My family had little contact with them while we lived in Hong Kong and when we later moved to America, my dad cut most of his familial ties.

But within my immediate family, my parents set an example for what it can mean to be exposed to – and lovingly accepting of – Black culture and interracial marriage, even within an unrepentantly racist society. They spoke up against racism when they saw it, and they weren’t afraid to make a scene or call the police if they felt that members of their own family were on the receiving end of racist treatment.

And we found that, over time, many people did treat us better. Teachers gradually stopped targeting me at school. I wasn’t turned away for medical treatment anymore, as they got more used to my family – and presumably other non-Chinese and mixed-race families – that they came into contact with.

Limited exposure to Blacks in the media
Still, I’m convinced that the process of greater acceptance took longer than it might have, in large part because of the limited exposure to media depicting a diverse range of humanity.

The Chinese government controls all forms of media – television, movies, social media, newspaper, magazines and books. Chinese people’s perceptions of what other cultures are like is largely shaped by what is shown – and what isn’t.

As a kid growing up, one English-speaking channel was a mainstay in my household. I watched “Teletubbies” and “Rugrats,” and our family enjoyed movies like “Titanic” and “Harry Potter.”

What I didn’t see on that channel was Black people. I never saw, or even knew about, iconic television programs like “The Cosby Show,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” or “Sister, Sister.” And as far as I know, movies like “Coming to America” and “Barbershop” were not widely released in Hong Kong theaters. I sometimes wonder how attitudes towards Black people might have been different if they had been.

Despite many racist encounters, my early years in Hong Kong were mostly happy, thanks to my wonderful classmates and their families. Unlike my teachers, my school friends never treated me differently or called me bad names. We played together during recess, spent time at each other’s homes and hung out with me at the mall, just like teenage girls do everywhere. These friends and families showed me that good people do exist, even in a broadly biased society.

Eventually my family left Hong Kong and settled in the United States, where my parents felt that my siblings and I would face less discrimination and have more educational opportunities. Still, I’m glad in many ways for those early years in Hong Kong, where I became really steeped in the culture and language of my father.

And it wasn’t all bad news for “The Little Mermaid” in China. The movie tanked at China’s box office, but 14% of patrons who watched the film gave it a four- or five-star rating on Douban. Some of them praised Bailey’s beautiful voice and credited the movie’s emotional story line and magical narrative.

And a few commentators even addressed the racism issue in China head on, urging their countrymen to look past Ariel’s outward appearance when judging the film. It might have sparked the beginnings of an important discussion about race and colorism. And whether you loved “The Little Mermaid” or not, that alone has got to be worth the price of admission.

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Source: www.disneydining.com/live-action-little-mermaid-snow-white-teaming-up-ir1/

Live-Action “Little Mermaid” and “Snow White” Teaming Up Amidst Controversy

Posted by: Isabella Reimer September 7, 2023


little mermaid and snow white live action
Credit: Disney, Rachel Zegler on Twitter/X, Canva

While Disney’s live-action films are no stranger to backlash, the live-action Little Mermaid (2023) and Snow White (2024) films have received criticism like no other. Specifically, the two leading ladies.


live action little mermaid, halle bailey ariel
Credit: Disney


When the creators of the live-action Little Mermaid cast a young African American woman as Ariel, there was an entire outcry of criticisms rooted in racism and little else, despite the fact that Ariel’s skin tone had nothing to do with the story. Yet, Halle Bailey was the target of hateful comments and bigotry.

Then, it was Rachel Zegler’s turn.


Disney Princess or Not, These Actresses Are the Victims of Racist Attacks


snow white, rachel zegler
Credit: ABC, Disney, Canva

Needless to say, when the decision to cast a Latina actress for the leading role in the upcoming Snow White (2024) film was made, there was a similar reaction.

Rachel Zegler, an actress of Columbian and Polish descent, is the leading lady of the Snow White remake, and the same critics who took issue with an African American Ariel have also had an issue with a Latina Snow White.

Although Zegler’s skin tone isn’t incredibly dark, and therefore could still play a believable Snow White, the bigotry came pouring in.


Luckily, the Two Live-Action Disney Princesses Have Each Other’s Backs


twitter, x screenshots
Credit: Rachel Zegler on Twitter/X

Earlier this year, Halle Bailey defended Rachel Zegler on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “We love you so much, truly the perfect princess.”

Then, Rachel Zegler recently responded to a post challenging X users to “Name a role you think was perfectly cast,” re-Tweeting a reply with a picture of Halle Bailey as Ariel.


rachel zegler defends halle bailey
Credit: Rachel Zegler on Twitter/X

While these two talented actresses who have each fairly earned their roles struggle with controversy, criticism, and hate, it’s comforting to know that these Disney Princesses have each other’s backs. After all, who needs a Prince Charming when you have a fellow princess?


More On The Little Mermaid and Snow White


halle bailey disney live action the little mermaid flounder scuttle cgi ariel
Credit: Disney


The Little Mermaid recently swam onto Disney Plus (stylistically Disney+), so fans who didn’t get to see the Disney remake in theaters can now see it from the comfort of their homes.

Whether you prefer Walt Disney Pictures’ beloved The Little Mermaid or Snow White movies, each original film can also be found on Disney Plus as well! Although the streaming service has been cutting content recently, each Disney Princess’s story can still be found on Disney Plus.

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Discussion about new Ariel at the italian Big Brother reality show.

Source: www.blogtivvu.com/sirenetta-nera-halle-bailey-contestata-grande-fratello/

La Sirenetta nera di Halle Bailey contestata al Grande Fratello: il pensiero di Samira, Heidi e Vittorio
23/09/2023 di Emanuela Longo
REALITY SHOW

Lo scorso 24 maggio è uscito al cinema il remake del cartone animato Disney, La Sirenetta, con Halle Bailey nel panni di Ariel, prima attrice afroamericana nel ruolo. Una vera e propria rivoluzione che ha puntato tutto sul politically correct e sul tema dell’inclusività, ma che tra i concorrenti del Grande Fratello non tutti hanno gradito.

La Sirenetta nera contestata al Grande Fratello da Samira, Heidi e Vittorio


La Sirenetta al Grande Fratello

Il concetto di inclusività c’entra poco, ma nel pensiero di Samira Lui, concorrente del Grande Fratello, c’è soprattutto il messaggio forzato che il remake de La Sirenetta, a suo dire, avrebbe mandato:

Ad esempio sulla Sirenetta io non sono d’accordo. Perché devono cambiare la Sirenetta se è quella? Cioè, io mi immagino la Sirenetta in quel modo. Io da bambina mi immagino la Sirenetta così… sai quelle cose che sono così e poi dici, ma non è quello ciò che mi ricordavo.

Ormai spaventata dall’andazzo nella Casa, in cui a quanto pare è diventato facile scivolare in argomenti spinosi oggetto di rimprovero, Heidi si è affrettata a frenare l’amica: “Non tocchiamo certi argomenti…”. “Ma scusa, è il mio punto di vista”, ha insistito Samira, ribadendo:

Ma ci sono altri cartoni animati eh? E’ come dire, denaturare una cosa che non serve. Secondo me eh?

“Sai cosa? E’ che essendo per un pubblico di bambini, che importanza ha farla bianca o nera?”, ha domandato Heidi. “Ma non è per un pubblico di bambini”, ha puntualizzato ancora Samira, “quello è un messaggio forzato per gli altri, non per i bambini”.

Anche per Vittorio sarebbe un messaggio forzato contenuto nel film. Ad intervenire ancora è stata quindi Heidi, che ha chiosato:

Però è vero quello che dice Samira, perché la Disney abbraccia tantissime culture, ci sono tantissime principesse. E’ stato fatto un polverone perché adesso pensandoci… metti a fare Mulan bianca, che succede? Il putiferio!

Ovviamente la discussione non è piaciuta ad alcuni utenti social, che hanno contestato il pensiero di Samira e degli altri Vipponi, semplificando il tutto con un banalissimo “volevano la Sirenetta bianca”.

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Source: www.digitalspy.com/movies/a45357902/black-representation-movies-swirl-little-mermaid/

Movies still need to improve one thing about Black representation
It's been the year of the swirl.

By Ayan ArtanUPDATED: 01 OCTOBER 2023

Play Iconpreview for Alan Menken & Rob Marshall on remaking a classic | The Little Mermaid

This summer saw the return of the big-budget blockbuster, introduced audiences to Barbenheimer and saw industry-wide strikes take place in the US as creatives fought to be compensated fairly for the art they create and for their rights to be protected.

Pink was back (thank you Barbie), everyone from Taylor Swift to Beyoncé was on tour and celebrity couples spent the entire summer getting divorced. It was a season of chaos.

Among all the chaos though, another trend revealed itself. The release of The Little Mermaid – Disney's latest attempt at revamping their old IP – took hold of our timelines, triggering a culture war so intense that there were even campaigns to recast the part of Ariel because, apparently, Halle Bailey was too Black to play a fictional creature.

Since a lot has already been said about the particularly horrific misogynoir that Black actresses cast in typically white roles face, it makes more sense to focus on what really defined this year culturally: the rise and rise of the romantic 'swirl'.


jonah hauer king, halle bailey, the little mermaid
Disney

Swirling – or the insistence of pairing a Black character with a white romantic partner – was merely heightened by the casting for The Little Mermaid. Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King (who plays Prince Eric) were not the exception to this rule, but rather represented the default state of relationships we'd seen onscreen all summer.

With Bridgerton's success, it has become more commonplace in TV, but film too has a long history of throwing Black characters in with white love interests: Something New, All the Bright Places, The Bodyguard, Save the Last Dance, Focus and Belle, the spiritual ancestor to Bridgerton.

Audiences even saw it in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, as the internet rooted for Miles and Gwen to stop their teen lusting and finally become a couple. (Thankfully, this didn't happen in the excellent sequel.)

On the surface, it is a mark of progress: here you have Black characters being explored, allowed to love and lust onscreen when they have so often been reduced to side characters, two dimensional and temporary.


miles morales, gwen stacy, spiderman across the spiderverse
Sony Pictures

However, this insistence on 'swirling' onscreen is merely an extension of that same misguided belief that Black characters and their experiences can be approached with the same mentality towards diversity that presented audiences with the disposable Black girlfriend trope, where Black peoples' humanity onscreen hinges on their proximity to whiteness.

Queen Charlotte, Ariel, Miles... they are all the main characters in these stories, yet they split that screen time with a white co-lead, their character arcs intertwined irretrievably with the state of their love lives.

It's a trope reliant on the belief that the only way a Black character is truly desirable is when a white one loves them. And true, most of the time, the romances in question work well because the actors have phenomenal chemistry, but just compare how we see Black love onscreen.

In Queen Charlotte, the only Black couple we see are Lady Danbury and Lord Danbury, a relationship depicting marital rape as a bit to be played, and where Lady Danbury's only enjoyable sexual encounter in the show happens with a white man.

When she is with Lord Danbury, the experience is violent, aggressive, animalistic and dehumanising. When Lady Danbury meets Lord Ledger, it is the first time she gets to explore intimacy and tenderness.


arsema thomas as lady danbury, queen charlotte a bridgerton story
Netflix

Whether or not Queen Charlotte and King George's relationship allows for the expression of romantic love featuring a young Black woman in the lead is almost completely undermined by the comparative dissonance between what Lady Danbury's fate is in comparison to the titular character.

What is Hollywood implying when the few Black women they write are only compatible with white men? We dehumanise and diminish not only their experiences, but do the same to the Black men who they could have been with.

There's a reason why we rarely see Black men get to be the romantic leads in a movie and the erasure of their capacity as lovers and partners speaks volumes about the industry's refusal to see them as fully rounded people. Romance is a great tool for writers to explore a character's softness; Prince Eric's love and loyalty towards Ariel is genuinely the entire basis of his character.


the little mermaid
Disney

It's why there needs to be more space given to Black writers to bring pieces like Rye Lane to life. The same things that audiences love and value about these 'swirl' onscreen relationships, the same intense chemistry and joyful banter, can exist with two characters who are also Black.

It doesn't mean that all Black characters need to be forced together in order to fulfil a Black love quota, but there is a collective responsibility to keep pushing until Black people can see the many shades of their experiences explored at a remove from whiteness.

Interracial relationships of course exist in real life, but their hegemonic hold on movies and TV takes it a step beyond representation into a wilful ignorance of Black love or even interracial relationships that do not feature a white person in them.

Love Jones. Brown Sugar. If Beale Street Could Talk: all movies that explore Blackness through a lens of love, allowing space to see Black people as worthy of receiving love and giving it back to someone who shares that same context.

If the price that has to be paid for more representation is cutting out the existence of Black love, then it isn't really representation – it's an agenda.

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Source: thecentraltrend.com/140726/opinion/against-all-odds-the-little-mermaid-managed-to-be-a-triumph-worth-waiting-for/

Against all odds, The Little Mermaid managed to be a triumph worth waiting for
Maylee Ohlman, Junior Writer
October 11, 2023


Amazon
The movie poster for Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

I couldn’t contain my excitement while bounding into the theater. I also couldn’t care less that it was seen as childish to be this excited about a Disney movie at 15. I had been eagerly anticipating the release of the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid for months for one main reason.

Halle Bailey, a famed singer due to her growing success as one of the sisters in the vocalist duo Chloe x Halle, was making her movie debut as Ariel. While I was enthused and confident she would do well in the role, many others weren’t, simply because she is an African American taking on a character that had been predominantly pictured as a white-skinned girl with red hair for decades.

Nevertheless, unaffected by the opinions of the outside world, I sat and watched in awe as the film unfolded. The movie mainly followed the original story of The Little Mermaid (1989), with Ariel (Halle Bailey) longing to learn more about the mysterious humans on land. In spite of Ariel’s dreams, King Triton (Javier Bardem) the king of the seas —as well as Ariel’s father— forbade her from exploring the surface, as he claimed humans were a danger to all mermaids. Unmoved by her father’s demands, Ariel ventured to the surface and promptly fell in love with Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), a dashing prince also longing for adventure.

“
She flawlessly exhibited the curiosity and kindness of Ariel and also kept audiences beguiled with her undeniable energy with Hauer-King throughout the film.

Struck by her father’s malevolence toward humans, Ariel made a deal with the sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) to become a human for three days and hopefully make relations with Eric, but there was one catch: she would not have her bewitching siren voice. Despite this, Ariel agrees and progresses to her mere three days on land.

I expected the picture to stay completely true to the original, but I was delighted when Eric was given his own song, “Wild Uncharted Waters.” The song depicts Eric vying for Ariel, trying to find her to the best of his ability. He proclaims at the end of the song, “If it takes my life / I will finally find you again / in uncharted waters / come find me again.” I believe this song was a wondrous addition to the film and enhanced the character of Eric.

Additionally, there was also the fact of casting. As mentioned earlier, there was quite a bit of controversy around Bailey being cast as Ariel, but she was truly perfect for the role. When she sang, I was captivated by her true talent, as well as her acting performance overall. She flawlessly exhibited the curiosity and kindness of Ariel and also kept audiences beguiled with her undeniable energy with Hauer-King throughout the film.

Another change I adored from the original was the addition of a Hans Christian Andersen (the original writer of the Little Mermaid story) quote in the beginning scene of the film. As the ocean washes over the rocks in the opening scene, a quote appears, saying, “But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more.” This quote symbolizes that when a mermaid cries, her tears are invisible, washed away by the sea as if they were never there. She isn’t allowed to feel sadness. But at the conclusion of the movie, Ariel releases one single tear down her cheek, showing that she is finally free to be herself.

I daresay that this remake was better than the original film. With new songs, additions to the cast list, and amazing images, The Little Mermaid was a charming rendition of the beloved authentic story by Hans Christian Andersen.

I was and continue to be an avid lover of this film, and will rewatch it whenever I get the chance to relive the joy it brought me that one day in the theater.

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Source: insidethemagic.net/2023/11/disneys-the-little-mermaid-caused-hate-movement-cm1/

Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ Caused Hate Movement
Posted on November 4, 2023 by Corrina Murdoch


Disney movie causes a hate movement, shown by Ariel (2024) and a sign saying hate
Credit: Disney / Inside the Magic

It’s not often that a Disney movie causes a hate movement, but this modern show of extremism drives home the risks of social media movements and the “woke” cultural shift.

The Little Mermaid (2023) came out earlier in the year with a series of mixed reviews. Some appreciated the changes while others found the lack of canonical aesthetic to be cause for concern. In some cases, that concern got extreme enough to inspire hate.


Movie Moments 'The Little Mermaid' (2023), Actress Halle Bailey
Credit: Inside the Magic

Modern Walt Disney in a Strange World
It’s become common practice to take an animated movie and turn it into a live-action film. This allowed the Walt Disney Company to handle the ever-classic Disney film and address some historically problematic issues. From the racist depiction of Native people and black people to issues surrounding toxic masculinity, gender identity, and the central character concept, there is a lot of hate behind the “woke” movement.

Many view this as starting from a stem of parental rights, spoken for by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and antagonizing Walt Disney World. Others see it as a pervasive concern that relates to racist caricatures and unfair portrayal of sexual orientation in film. In this situation, reports show that the changing of a white person (mermaid) to a black person caused an entire hate movement online.


British Singer Paloma Faith Screenshot of her video clip on YouTube on the right and 'The Little Mermaid' Movie Moment on the left
Credit: Inside the Magic

“Woke” Disney Movie Causes Hate Movement: Little Mermaid

The study showed that the comment section Disney posted was filled with “hate speech.” It goes on to suggest that the anger focused more on skin color and racism rather than gender identity. The transformation wasn’t an issue (nor the concept of a mermaid having human skin). What transpired was a hate movement that focused on the Disney feature, The Little Mermaid.

It goes on to suggest that during the “woke” movement, there was more acceptance of “positive gender responses” and more hate focused on race.


Changes to Walt Disney Increase Racism, Reports Show
The study confirmed that the changing of a classic Disney film or a familiar attraction, like Splash Mountain, can spur racism and hate movements. It highlights the danger of social media as it relates to the “woke movement.” There are countless examples, ranging from New Orleans to the presence of Native American caricatures in Peter Pan.

Yet, in the case of the Little Mermaid, the tweak was as minor as a change of skin color. It took a traditionally white person from the animated movie and thereby embraced the talents of Halle Bailey in crafting a film for the modern age. Despite the “woke” approach, the racist issue continued. Some countries even shifted their skin tone to embrace a racist caricature.

It shows that the presence of racist hate movements continues to be a concern and that the “woke” campaign is undoubtedly a part of it. Whether it plays a positive or negative role in cultural change is in the eye of the beholder.

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Source: www.disneydining.com/halle-bailey-goes-off-the-deep-end-with-comments-about-her-bwb1/

‘Little Mermaid’ Halle Bailey Goes Viral in Fight With Fan

Posted by: Brittni Ward November 26, 2023


Halle Bailey as Ariel in 'Little Mermaid' remake
Credit: Disney

Disney princess Halle Bailey, known for her role as Ariel in the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, recently made headlines with her candid responses to criticism.

The original animated version of The Little Mermaid from 1989 holds a special place in cinematic history, with its enchanting narrative and memorable songs like “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World.” Children and parents wanted to be part of Ariel’s World.


little mermaid, ariel looking sad, live action and original
Credit: Disney

As Disney has started to venture into a live-action remakes of this beloved classic films such as The Lion King (2019), Beauty and the Beast (2017), Lady and the Tramp (2019), The Jungle Book (2016) and several more classic Disney movies. In the most recent Disney live-action film The Little Mermaid Disney has decided to cast Halle Bailey as the new Ariel this sparked significant excitement and speculation among fans. The Little Mermaid live-action faced backlash due to Halle Bailey not having red hair or white skin as the classic Disney film, but Disney and fans have stood by Halle Bailey, with mostly positive reviews from the movie. While many celebrated the casting as a step towards diversity and inclusivity, others criticized the deviation from the animated character’s traditional appearance, highlighting the challenges Disney faces in balancing nostalgia with modern sensibilities.


disney's live action remakes smothering disney fan halle bailey little mermaid emma watson walt disney pictures animated film remake peter pan
Credit: Disney

The live-action film made a splash at the global box office, grossing over $569 million. Critics lauded Bailey’s portrayal, recognizing her ability to capture the essence of the animated original while infusing the character with her unique artistry. The star-studded cast, including Javier Bardem, Melissa McCarthy, Awkwafina, and Jonah Haur-King, contributed to the film’s success, earning a 67% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an impressive 94% audience score. The Little Mermaid director was John Musker and Ron Clements.

In addition to her film role, Halle Bailey’s portrayal of Ariel has also found its way into the Disney theme parks. Walt Disney World Resort now offers two different Little Mermaid meet-and-greet experiences. The original, located at Ariel’s Grotto in Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom, is based on the animated film. The other, situated at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the Animation Courtyard at Walt Disney Presents, is inspired by the live-action version and reflects Halle Bailey’s portrayal of Ariel. This new look for Ariel has inspired girls that they have a princess who looks like them. This integration into the theme parks further solidifies the lasting impact of Bailey’s performance on the iconic character.


halle bailey (forefront) during ABC interview, Live-Action Little Mermaid poster (background)
Credit: Disney, ABC, Canva

However, fame also brought an unwarranted backlash, prompting Bailey to address a specific critique on her Snapchat Story. She spoke out against comments about her nose, emphasizing her love for it and urging people to leave her alone. Bailey’s response highlighted the challenges that comes with increased visibility and scrutiny in the public eye.

“Listen, if I see one more person say something about my nose one more time, it’s gonna be he** to pay. And you know why? ‘Cause I am black. I love my nose,” she said.“[What are you] concerned about my nose for? Leave me the he** alone!”

While addressing comments about her appearance, Bailey chose not to engage with persistent rumors circulating on social media about her rumored pregnancy. Speculation had been rampant for months, with fans closely analyzing Bailey’s public appearances with boyfriend Darryl Dwayne “DDG” Granberry Jr. for any signs of an impending addition to the family.


Eric and Princess Ariel (Halle Bailey) in new live action 'The Little Mermaid'
Credit: Disney

Bailey’s fashion choices, particularly at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards and Milan Fashion Week, fueled speculation about a concealed pregnancy. Despite the ongoing rumors, Bailey maintained a deliberate silence, keeping her personal life shielded from public scrutiny.

While backlash for Disney is nothing new, the latest live-action films have gotten fans in an uproar over the live-action Snow White featuring Rachel Zegler stating she would remove the prince due to Snow White no longer needing to be rescued and The Little Mermaid live-action due to Halle Bailey not being some fans first pick as Ariel.