Category: Movies Author : Duncan Riley Posted: June 29, 2009
Tags : mudflap, racist, skids, transformers 2
Much has already been said elsewhere about the so-called “racist” robots from the recently released “Transformers” sequel, claiming the characters Mudflap and Skids are poor and offensive caricatures of African Americans and black culture in general – everything from the voice acting to the “gold tooth” to their facial features is being used as evidence for these arguments. However, there are a few problems with this:
- Who ever said they were supposed to be black characters?
- One of the two voice actors responsible for the robots’ personalities is black.
- It’s not racist.
Let’s assume, for simplicity of argument, that both voice actors were told to portray this kind of character, with the intent of producing a “ghetto” robot, and they both obviously agreed to participate. Does the studio asking them to create such characters constitute racism? Or even some sort of one-sided stereotyping? I would argue no, and the reasons are quite clear.
First, look at any number of accepted pieces in the media: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, most of Eddie Murphy’s work, and anything Tyler Perry has ever sketched an outline for on a napkin. Do they not include generalizations and stereotypes? If so, does the race of the characters’ creator somehow alter the offensiveness? Stereotypes prevail in media regardless of race – Everybody Loves Raymond and Will Ferrell movies will easily prove this as true for those who happen to be white.
Second, how can these robots be caricatures when the behaviors and language are modeled off of reality? Compare Mudflap or Skids to Lil Wayne, Kanye West, or most modern rappers/”gangstas” – are there discernible differences? Does Transformers take it past the point of reality as an over-the-top portrayal of real life? No.
Bill Cosby famously once said that the rappers and “gangstas” of the world were doing nothing but perpetuating their own stereotypes to the detriment of their race. By these kinds of personalities being included in modern movies, and even portrayed by futuristic robots, it could be argued that the purveyors of such culture finally won the battle – they are recognized as a cultural subset worthy of big screen attention.
Is it sad to see such changes happen in the modern world, both on and off the screen? Of course – any time people choose to be unintelligent and offensive for the simple reason of being so, it is a loss to humanity. But is it racist for these changes to appear on the silver screen? No – most movies are a presentation of an augmented reality, and Transformers is no different in this regard.
So let’s leave Michael Bay alone, alright?
Kyle Brady is a contributing columnist for the Inquisitr, an entrepreneur, and has a future in science fiction. He can be found at his blog, via email, or on Twitter.
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Jun 29, 2009
Let's go over the points.
0. Autobots with a “ghetto” sound.
1. Autobots with gold teeth.
2. Autobots that say N***a (this is when 20-30 people at the NYC IMAX got up and left).
3. Autobots that transform into the modern-day compact cars or (when they combine) a beat-up ice cream truck.
4. Autobots that can't read.
5. Autobots that fight each other.
6. Autobots described to the press as “unintelligent and childish”.
7. Autobots with “unique” facial features.
This series was created many years ago. It has LOADS of characters. It could have easily brought some other ones out. But no….we needed 2 comic relief urban black characters to fight each other.
To use a term coined by the interwebs after the last Shia movie i saw, the gold tooth scene “nuked the fridge” and I will not go to see any movies by Michael Bay anymore.
I'm a white male and I'm currently dating a black female, so this sort of nonsense is something I'm slowly opening my eyes to. Racism has a fine line. My black girlfriend and I have watched Airplane! numerous times, and we think Boondocks is hilarious.The MANY stereotypes broadcast in this movie regarding two characters that were in 50% of the scenes were unnecessary.
If you find me a ghetto-talking gold-tooth man who fights with his brother nonstop, drives an ice cream truck, and who can't read, I'll give you a million dollars. Cause guess what, this movie combined all of that into one to make 2 very offensive characters. There might be one or two people that exist like that in the whole world, and it sure as hell doesn't describe anything that is popular black culture.
BONUS POINTS:
Guess what? Go read the wiki on Skids. See the basis of the character from the older Transformers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skids_(Transformers)
And to quote:
“Skids was characterized as the perfect absent-minded warrior. However he had high taste for watermelon and fried chicken. He ran on Kool-Aid as fuel.”
Do we really need this in our movies nowadays? Was it necessary? No.
Jun 29, 2009
You tripped up big time by name checking Kanye as a gangsta. Quotes. Seriously, of all the mainstream rappers (really only about a dozen or so) you had to land on that one. To say the lest, next time you decide to drop “gangsta” references into a not-so-persuasive “essay”, you may wanna do a background check first. Or at the very least, 2 minutes worth of Googling.
Jun 29, 2009
Huge failboat of an article.
Do some research first. And then learn to write persuavely.
This is why you're a person “who’d like an OpEd column somewhere” and don't actually have one.
Jun 29, 2009
Both Kanye and Lil Wayne embody the “rapper ideal” in different ways, which is why they both were mentioned.
I appreciate the violent response though – very kind of you.
–Kyle
Jun 29, 2009
This wasn't a persuasive piece.
But I'm glad someone as credentialed as yourself would take the time to criticize this piece based on a form that I wasn't following.
–Kyle
Jun 29, 2009
These are all old arguments.
The fact remains that all of these behaviors can be easily found in modern society, and the movie is therefore only mirroring real life instead of creating cliche stereotypical characters.
It wasn't necessary, no, but the outrage because of it was also unnecessary and overblown.
–Kyle
Jun 29, 2009
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Jun 29, 2009
Shut up racist.
Jun 29, 2009
You're totally right! Can you just get your nose in there a little deeper, though?
Jun 29, 2009
Exactly.
–Kyle
Jun 29, 2009
It's not brown-nosing when it's true.
Good to know that McG reads my posts though!
–Kyle
Jun 29, 2009
Although I haven't seen the newest Tranformers movie (I did fall asleep in the first one) allow me to respond to a few of the points that you made in your piece written on this blog.
These characters are racist. The studio is guilty, the actors are guilty and Michael Bay is also guilty of perpetuating (although not creating) racist stereo-types. Coding race with euphemisms like “street” and “ghetto” does not alter, or excuse the intentionality behind the use of cultural stereo-types. Your argument about these images being created by rappers such as Lil Wayne and Kanye West (you should really do your research more thoroughly: Kanye West is no “gangster” ) holds little water- and makes you sounds like Don Imus. Hollywood (and Mr. Bay himself) has a long history of using these types of images to generate cheap laughs and sell tickets. Way before Hip-Hop showed up at the end of the last century, American entertainment in all its forms, has held a special place in it's heart for these types of characters. Minstrel shows were once THE dominant form of popular entertainment – from Amos and Andy, to Stepin' Fechit, to the Crows in Walt Disney's Dumbo, to Jar Jar Binks. Just because they now take the persona of robots doesn't make this any different. And you're right, black actors and entertainers (Eddie Murphy, Tyler Perry, etc.) are also guilty of perpetuating these images- and they always have been. But that is also wrong, and while not exactly for the same reasons, should also be openly denounced as equally offensive (if not more).
These types of images are not some new “recognition of a cultural subset” – rather the exact opposite. They are the tired, re-runs of familiar characters used to generate cheap laughs. Stereo-types are everywhere in the media and are often used by entertainers of all races and backgrounds. This may seem harmless to you, but they also serve a much more dangerous function- one that should not be brushed aside and ignored so easily. By simplifying people into these one-dimensional images, we are simultaneously dehumanizing the people they are intended to represent, while lowering our own expectations that we should all hold for each other. (which you seem to be doing) We should all have higher aspirations for ourselves as American consumers of entertainment. Shame on you.
Jun 29, 2009
“By these kinds of personalities being included in modern movies, and even portrayed by futuristic robots, it could be argued that the purveyors of such culture finally won the battle – they are recognized as a cultural subset worthy of big screen attention.”
So are fart jokes. Just sayin'.
“Second, how can these robots be caricatures when the behaviors and language are modeled off of reality? “
That's what caricatures are, no?
car·i·ca·ture (kr-k-chr, -chr) n. 1.a. A representation, especially pictorial or literary, in which the subject's distinctive features or peculiarities (based in “reality”) are deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic or grotesque effect.
“If so, does the race of the characters’ creator somehow alter the offensiveness?”
Yes. In some cases it becomes self-deprecating. Not in every case of course. Words and actions and behaviors are nothing without the context and meaning behind them. Ask any white guy to mock this behavior. Ask him to do it on a comedy stage, then at a meeting of the NAACP and take bets on where more people are offended. This left the argument of “Is Transformers Racist” when you asked this question.
Micheal Bay owes us an apology for Transformers 1 and that shitty clone movie starring Ewan McGregor. Then I'll leave him alone.
Jun 29, 2009
I'm not going to respond to this, except to say this:
Don't accuse me of not doing research when you repeat some of the same claims made by other commenters, to which I have either responded or refuted.
“Kanye West is not gangsta” is a good example of this.
–Kyle
p.s. I listen to Kanye, so I know what he is and isn't. Word.
Jun 29, 2009
I can be offended as a man by going to a carrot stand and thinking the salesman is infringing on my right as a male to be an alpha, while screaming about how I don't appreciate his phallic imagery.
That doesn't mean I'm right.
–Kyle
Jun 29, 2009
But you're not and wow what a bad example. Ha.
My point was more that some people get offended and always will be in certain contexts. It doesn't mean they're right and it doesn't mean they're wrong. It's what they feel in the context of their lives at that moment. That's all each of us has. And in THIS case, if, as a studio exec/director/etc you let this be a part of your movie (in THIS day and age?) You knew someone was gonna point it out–which in turn makes your actions deliberate which in turn makes them a bit racist. A little bit, but still.
“Right as a male to be an alpha”? First, who talks like that? Second, No one has a right to BE anything just to desire it or pursue it. i.e. “Right to…Pursuit of Happiness” =/= Right TO Happiness
It's late so I'll cut you some slack on that one if you'll cut me some slack on this one.
“Alpha” Ha.
Jun 29, 2009
The point was that anyone can be offended by anything, and the fact that they're offended doesn't really justify that they're offended.
Being offended cannot be both cause and effect. And just because they're offended by something doesn't mean others should care, let alone feel the need to agree or “fix” a situation/behavior.
–Kyle
Jun 29, 2009
Shut up racist.
Jun 30, 2009
Wow when are they going to get over themselves! I'm glad black people feel the need to be so proud of themselves that they think everything is about them, but get over yourselves already! It was simply the same work any of your entertainers already have done numerous times over and over again!
Where was your discriminatory outrage when your “sista” ruined the lives of four members of the Duke lacross team? Where is your outrage now that your Messiah president is openly practicing descrimination in the whitehouse? Or are Farrah Fawcett, Ed Mcmahon, David Carradine, and Billy Mays not worth a condolence as Micheal Jackson was? Or maybe even your outrage for Channon Christian and Christopher Newsome who were killed by four black men and a black woman for no reason! They were raped for four with everything and by everyone, Channon had her orifices filled with bleach cause they wanted to hide their semen, and Christopher was set on fire! Did I mention that Channon was thrown out alive with the garbage, but suffocated on the plastic bag ties around her head because she was too weak to remove it? Oh yea that's right, none of these people have your bullshit Reverands throwing their faces on the news every ten seconds to make names for themselves!
Jun 30, 2009
We have not rid ourselves of the divide between races, specifically in this case black and white. We have only accomplished in covering it up and the “outrage” over a movie that frankly wasn't that good is stupid. There are much bigger things associated with “racism” than being concerned over a movie. Affirmative action is one.
Jun 30, 2009
Doesn't everybody? And technically no one here has outright stated “Kanye West is not gangsta”, which kinda goes w/o saying.
Anyway, I'm not one to refute gratitude but I can't help but question in what way was that response violent? While you were right on the money with Lil Wayne, Kanye's way too anarchistic to be considered an “ideal rapper” in any way or form. Would an “ideal rapper” record an album that contains little to virtually no rapping whatsoever and touch on themes such as love, heartache and loneliness? I can't help but wonder just how much of him you actually listen to.
I'm just sayin its a poor choice. And it would appear I'm not the only one who thinks so. I understand you wanna go for the most easily recognizable mainstream-out-the-wazoo characters for you're game of Pin the Finger on the Rappers and Ye's anything but a saint he's really not the one you want. Now, 50 Cent on the other hand…
Just a suggestion. No brutality meant.
Jun 30, 2009
ra ra ra racisttt http://www.yovia.com/blogs/stevenmeyerjr
Jun 30, 2009
Ever notice how whenever something might possible be in reference to someone black, it is jumped on and called racist. If a black director had made this film, no one would say one word about it. Because Michael Bay is white, this is racist. Its ridiculous. White people are stereotyped all the time as well. Yet you never hear them cry “Racist! Racist!” Would anyone care if Skids and Mudflap were missing their front teeth, spoke with deep southern accents, illiterate and liked country music? Would the whites protest and cause this drama? No. If they were all suped up rice rockets with thick asian accents and thin eyes, would the Asians scream racist? No. Its a freaking movie about robots – GET OVER IT!
Jun 30, 2009
Actually jen, if a black director had made this film, he'd be getting yelled at just the same.
Nobody cares if the director is black or white, but that the final product is so chock full of stereotypes about blacks that don't respectfully represent them.
And yes, white people cry about racism just as much. Ever wonder why Foghorn Leghorn and Yosemite Sam aren't on cartoon channels anymore (like Boomerang)? Cause people from the south complained. And their point was heard. Same goes for Speedy Gonzales or 99% of the episodes of Tom and Jerry with a black maid.
The asians I were sitting with seemed to recognize the racism, and you better believe that people would have been flipping out if Skids and Mudflap were squinty-eyed Hondas that transformed into a chinese food delivery car.
In NYC, there are so many people and its so crowded that there's no time for racism anymore. So when people goto the movies and see stuff like this, its no wonder 30 people walked out.
I think you're out of touch, hon.
Jun 30, 2009
The fact remains that while all of these behaviors can be found in society, you never find them all together in one person. The average black man looks and acts nothing like this, and when you pull all of the traits of a group of people that are generally viewed as negative by the population and combine them, you're only asking for outrage. The image of the black man has vastly improved to the majority of Americans over the last 100 years, and in schools today children grow up without knowing what racism is.
This movie honestly reminded me of the old Popeye cartoons where he was fighting the Japanese. The old propaganda cartoon showed american kids that all japanese people were squinty eyed killers who poorly built ships and pulled dirty tricks on you.
Jun 30, 2009
dont be stupid obviously some dumbass
decide to put that on wikipedia by themselves you
really belive someine in the media would put that up
Jun 30, 2009
The key phrase here is “average black man”.
–Kyle