Answer me this: Why do we care about non-human characters who exhibit racial stereotypes?
The latest uproar involves two Autobots — the good guys — in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. These twin robots allow Transformers to traffic in pretty obvious black stereotypes: illiteracy, gold teeth and even an obsession over the status of one’s “rims.” The bots are just one of many stereotypes in Transformers, which is less about solid character development and more about, well, big robots that fight each other and do cool stuff.
Immediately, of course, Jar Jar Binks is whom everyone thinks of first. When such a beloved film series (Star Wars) goes so hopelessly down the wrong path, it’s bound to raise eyebrows. Jar Jar is one of the most obnoxious characters in recent movie history, and George Lucas will forever regret him. He is the 21st century reincarnation of Stepin Fetchit. For the next 100 years, all Stepin Fetchits will heretofore be known as Jar Jar Binks.
Yet Jar Jar and the Autobots are not real. As in cartoons — from Looney Tunes to South Park — fictional non-human characters very often traffic in stereotypes. They are not like us, so we have to make them like us in the most obvious way possible. Stereotypes are obvious, which is why they’re so common.
Now, there are smart ways to do this, and there are stupid ways. Transformers and Star Wars took the stupid route. But they are stupid movies and should be treated as such.
We care about stereotypes in television shows and movies because they poorly represent how complex and delicate people are. Yet when the stereotypes aren’t people, I think we should all just calm down and laugh it off as the lunacy it is — don’t take it too seriously, but only as seriously as it takes itself. In the case of Transformers, the answer is not at all serious.
June 26th, 2009 at 10:59 am
But why does everyone assume that the Autobots are black or intended to portray black stereotypes? Are black people the only ones to use slang or poor grammar, sport gold teeth or obsess over rims? I don’t think so, to me those are stereotypes based on socioeconomic class among other things which may or may not include race as a factor. So I guess my answer to your question is no I don’t care. However when I was sitting in the theater laughing at the Autobots known as “The Twins” I thought to myself, ‘Yep some one is going to catch some heat over these two.’
June 26th, 2009 at 11:47 am
if they werent like that they would just be white, than all the black people would get mad saying theres no black autobot. this stupid race war on autobots is funny but shit wheres the “F”ing Asian autobot huh? next one better have an autobot named Chang or else im done with this series!!!
June 26th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
They could be white, technically, but in the sphere of media representations, the characteristics they exhibit — from the “rims” to the accent in their voices — are made to be read as black. I’m normally amendable to the “it’s not really about race” argument, but in the case it clearly is.
June 26th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
because any live action movie with real actors is sooooo different right?
June 30th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
how many shows put whites out there as dumb rednecks???when are the children gonna grow up???its time for equality!!whats good for one is good for the other!!!before any one comments about the past, well should we take the families of the people in prison and lock them up too??????sounds stupid right??IT IS……i thought that (i have a dream speech) was about being equal??either lots of people misunderstood it, or there is a lot of other people that are just plain stupid…..the playing field needs to level out…
July 4th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
This movie was very very stupid, racist and vulgar.
July 6th, 2009 at 12:02 am
I was saddened by this film. I have been and always will be a Transformers fan. I grew up watching them and playing with the toys along with my He-man action figures. I’m 26 now, and I have a three year old son and one due in a few days. I will not let them see this film until they are older. My wife and I watched this film after much anticipation from the first film, and were simply horrified at the use of vulgar language by almost every character. Transformers could be classed with all the other super-hero action movies and this would be the only one using foul language. This simply shows how our society is slipping away from our morals and ethics to make a buck. There was no hint of foul language in the first movie. Why now? Why pervert something that was good? I seriously hope they release on DVD a clean, foul-free version of this movie. It was excellent other than the foul language, but the language was enough to ruin it for me. I did not see Mudlfap and Skids as “black” but more as young, uneducated teens. It made me think of the Fast and the Furious fans really.