White-washing is a common method of symbolic annihilation of minority groups in the media. Recently, the casting of Scarlett Johansson as the Japanese character, Major Motoko Kusangagi in the upcoming Hollywood film, Ghost in the Shell, has raised concerns within the Japanese fan base of the anime film. Although some people had issue with the portrayal of a Japanese character by a White woman, a number of Japanese people unfortunately don't really care. This could possibly be a sign of cultivation of White Hollywood by Japanese viewers. One popular screenwriter, Max Landis commented that there are no A-list female Asian celebrities capable of getting a major Hollywood film off the ground in 2016.
http://www.bet.com/news/celebrities/2016/04/18/see-how-far-hollywood-went-to-make-scarlett-johansson-not-look-white.html
Actions like these continue to symbolically annihilate people, cultures, and heritages. It is sad that this practice is still prevalent today. It just goes to show how powerful and pervasive white supremacy, white washing, hegemony, and commercialization are.
ReplyDelete