Actually yeah. Lots of appropriation of my people's culture in that game. Those dang Mexican'ts stealing our memes!!
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Disney releases Maui costume that lets kids pretend to be Polynesian
- Thread starter Derwind
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Actually yeah. Lots of appropriation of my people's culture in that game. Those dang Mexican'ts stealing our memes!!
Dongs Macabre
aka Daedalos42
I think this is indicative of a larger problem, and that's the fact that the pool of minority characters to draw costumes from is just too small, and when costumes are made to depict minorities, they always draw heavily from their culture. Like, Polynesian kids don't get to choose from Spider-Man who happens to be Polynesian and this costume. Either they get full-on tattoos with grass skirts or nothing at all, which really sucks.
Zoe
Member
What do you feel would make this costume appropriate for all kids?
ArkkAngel007
Member
Exactly. People are so full of it with this 'outrage'.
Seriously, I'd like a feasible alternative that isn't more racially or culturally insensitive to be presented. So far all of those in this thread are worse IMO.
crisdecuba
Member
if you read the thread and came to the conclusion that "oh well black face must be ok then," then I don't know what to tell you.
tearsintherain
Member
?? my kids aren't white and went out every halloween in different costumes from batman to frozen princesses a few years to harry potter. Kids don't care what the race of their favorite character is, only adults seem to.
They are all grown up now but they would have absolutely loved this costume, tattoos on a halloween costume? that is some mind blowing next gen halloween technology.
But this character is based off of a god, and the appearance is quite close to that of the god's description. There isn't a full "getup" to speak of besides what is portrayed here.
If there was a way to wear this costume without white people assuming they have to change their skin tone to be recognized as that character.
The skin tone has nothing to do with the character. The culture does. The cloth and markings should give it away, maybe even a big belly. But the skin tone is just gonna lead to a bunch of ignorant parents trying to complete the costume by painting the skin where the costume doesn't cover.
Audioboxer
Member
I think you overestimate in your head what bunch equates to. Already we have examples of parents and GAFers when children in this thread not caring about 1:1 matching skin colour of a character. It's the costume and thought that counts and plays into a child's imagination. Not identity politics and racial heritage. Kids largely see the world very differently from adults, predominantly because they haven't developed fully yet.
So kids largely do not care. Adults in this topic are projecting onto kids minds. If parents of a child were racist they wouldn't be painting kids faces anyway. So who on earth knows sane parents who would force their child's face to be painted a different colour to hide their race for what everyone else would class a disturbing reason? (as I said earlier some face paints such as clowns/aliens and so forth make sense). It's about having fun for kids, nothing inherently sinister or playing race baiting games with the "adults".
It's a sad state of affairs if your child looks at a fictional character they like and come to you and say "mum/dad I'm the wrong colour for this, what do I do?"
Now don't get me wrong there's a whole other issue of racial diversity in film and media, and therefore with animation too. That is a debate for the adults to hold and hash out though, not for kids to be dragged over coals and given a hard time at Halloween because of. Let us let our kids have fun growing up and use their imagination? It's a special time in life where you'll never think like you do again as maturity will happen. I despair thinking about living in a world where parents tell their children they are the wrong colour for make believe and/or make believe has to be reserved for other kids because character x doesn't look like them. That's chilling.
If I have a son one day and he wants to be the little mermaid, or a daughter and she wants to be thor, then you're damn right I'll help them. Kids like to explore and do different things. Any parents make fun of my kid(s) for something as benign as that and totally laid back me would probably beat their ass. And I'm a weak non confrontational guy!
BarringGaffner
Member
So what are you suggesting? Should they have made white/black versions as well?
This isn't the first costume to have skin as cloth. See Ariel costumes or anything where the character shows too much skin. Disney isn't responsible if someone paints their kid.
Disney made a costume for kids that aren't white. It's a good thing.
I'm suggesting what I've said all along.
It will be great when designs of non white characters are seen as iconic without their skin tone being one of them.
Captainbojanglesiii
Banned
I mean, I can see the reason to be against it, but I think there's a pretty clear difference between this and black face.
A few points:
1. This is a children's costume for a children's movie. It's most likely that any child who wears this costume wants to do so because they enjoyed the character, who just happens to be of a different ethnicity than several of the kids who will probably wear this (And again, I'm sure not only white kids are going to wear this). Regardless, isn't it a bit silly to get upset over kids of other ethnicities liking a minority character enough to wear his costume? There's nothing inherently about this costume (and likely the character) that is inherently a caricature.
2. The notion of immediately calling Disney 'disgusting' is ridiculous. I can see it being a moral grey area, but above that, no.
3. Disney is still a company. Kids are going to like the movie, and Disney is going to make money off of other sales. It makes sense that they'd want to do this from a financial point. Does it justify it? No, but that also means Disney didn't create this with absolute malicious intent as some people are implying.
4. You could say: Why do these costumes have to exist? Why can't kids just stick to characters of their own ethnicity? Again, forgive me if I'm wrong, but if it isn't malicious, isn't that just going to encourage further separation?
5. We also need to remember that it's just for Halloween likely. These kids aren't going to create a new identity any more than they just say, "Oh hey, that's x character!"
I don't know. Maybe I'm way off-base, but I genuinely don't think this is anything worse than morally grey.
A few points:
1. This is a children's costume for a children's movie. It's most likely that any child who wears this costume wants to do so because they enjoyed the character, who just happens to be of a different ethnicity than several of the kids who will probably wear this (And again, I'm sure not only white kids are going to wear this). Regardless, isn't it a bit silly to get upset over kids of other ethnicities liking a minority character enough to wear his costume? There's nothing inherently about this costume (and likely the character) that is inherently a caricature.
2. The notion of immediately calling Disney 'disgusting' is ridiculous. I can see it being a moral grey area, but above that, no.
3. Disney is still a company. Kids are going to like the movie, and Disney is going to make money off of other sales. It makes sense that they'd want to do this from a financial point. Does it justify it? No, but that also means Disney didn't create this with absolute malicious intent as some people are implying.
4. You could say: Why do these costumes have to exist? Why can't kids just stick to characters of their own ethnicity? Again, forgive me if I'm wrong, but if it isn't malicious, isn't that just going to encourage further separation?
5. We also need to remember that it's just for Halloween likely. These kids aren't going to create a new identity any more than they just say, "Oh hey, that's x character!"
I don't know. Maybe I'm way off-base, but I genuinely don't think this is anything worse than morally grey.
Wait. Hold up. The tattoos are a pretty important part of the get-up. You do realize that can only be emulated mock skin, right? I agree with your point, but that's genuinely impossible with this design unless you made it clear.
Dongs Macabre
aka Daedalos42
I just mean that it's important for kids to have role models and heroes with the same ethnicity as them, people that they want to emulate. This is why having a black Captain America and Spider-Man in the comics was such a big deal. When people that aren't white dress up as characters that are, they can't escape having a prefix appendaged to the character's name. For example, if you're an Asian kid dressing up as Batman, you're "Asian Batman". But if Batman was an Asian character, then you don't have to choose from "Asian Batman" or some dude from Mulan anymore if you want to be an Asian character. You can be Batman, who just so happens to be Asian, and that would have been pretty fucking cool if I was ten years younger.
SoRuffShoNuff
Member
You haven't suggested anything when it comes to this particular character. The tattoos are a central part of this characters appearance. How would you create a costume for this character without some sort of skin portion to portray the tattoos and muscles?
I appreciate the progressive nature a lot of GAFfers have. And your readiness to attack whatever you see as outrage culture is unnecessary. There is no outrage on my end. I see this isn't simple.
Nonetheless with Halloween coming up, you'll see GAF isn't what I'm talking about.
BarringGaffner
Member
There isn't dark skin on all costumes. Go check out a Princess and the frog dress costume. My white niece wears that all the time.
His tattoos are the costume. I guess in your view Disney just shouldn't have made this character at all.
There's nothing wrong with this.
Seriously, the blackface-cultural appropriation-costume acceptance parabola debate needs a serious compromise at some point.
IMO dressing up as a slave or a Native American is not cool, dressing up as Kanye West or Pocahontas with requisite skin color makeup is fine.
Seriously, the blackface-cultural appropriation-costume acceptance parabola debate needs a serious compromise at some point.
IMO dressing up as a slave or a Native American is not cool, dressing up as Kanye West or Pocahontas with requisite skin color makeup is fine.
The only appropriate Halloween costume anymore.
that's racist to all of those called G
Skin color makeup is definitely 100 percent always bad. This costume is fine. White kids dont need to wear everything on sale
Rabbi_Vole
Banned
So you're saying black face is ok as long as you're going as Kanye?
Scientist Supreme!
Banned
nah fam
In the long run, hopefully it won't be, since there's nothing inherently wrong in it. But I guess we're not anywhere near there unfortunately.
Audioboxer
Member
Keep in mind I didn't simply slate you for "outrage culture". Just saying. One thing I try to do is make a counter argument not just quote people and drive by with a one liner.
Issues at Halloween are all largely caused by adults. Adults for the most part don't have brains like children, so intent plays a far bigger part when adults start playing dress up and doing things at Halloween.
You don't get many kids that are purposeful shitlords. At least not at the ages we are talking. Young teens have started to mature into adulthood so it gets a bit more complex at those ages. Especially considering a lot of teens act out, protest and genuinely struggle with puberty and hormones. Some are just shitty teens though, and therefore shitty people.
Be fair, this isn't a gotcha contest. That's one GAFer so far and they posted after that guy quoted you.
The only appropriate Halloween costume anymore.
what is this 2012
Rabbi_Vole
Banned
LookAtMeGo
Member
That one single post was made after the comment you quoted and was not the general consensus of the thread but nice try though.
I consider the tattoos integral to the getup. It's the skin color that I feel is unnecessary.
Right.
lol what. Blackface didn't become controversial because people were making fun of slaves. Slavery was long past and they were still doing it. It's a racist exaggerated technique for performances where they didn't want to hire a black person (or more accurately with the desire to "other" them and make black culture "fun and safe" for white audiences).
It's like that stupid quote about porn. Maybe you can't define it, but you know it when you see it.
Zoe
Member
It's impossible to make this costume without giving it some kind of skin color.
And you're basing this off of what?
There's nude fabric that can hold up. But I don't know, these are kids, that fabric would get torn in an instant.
heliosRAzi
Banned
We've already been given the solution, Zoe.
Just naked kids with tattoos running around.
Astral Dog
Member
Its a hideous costuume for what looks to be a terrible character
BarringGaffner
Member
So a see through mesh full body suit. For kids. got it.
Rabbi_Vole
Banned
What if every costume required a mandatory Polynesian cultural sensitivity class before purchasing?
So the cloth magically disappeared?
You need to chill. Nothing you say has been stated by me.
TwEE-N-Toast
Banned
Then what is your solution?
How would you make a costume like this.
Without skin tone?
Heavy_D206
Member
Halloween isn't even fun anymore when every costume is going to offend someone.
Luckily I only see the outrage online, and I doubt anyone would actually confront a child wearing that costume and say something negative.
Luckily I only see the outrage online, and I doubt anyone would actually confront a child wearing that costume and say something negative.
I never said I had one.
I'm sorry you guys tie characters to their skin color in order for them to be iconic.
And nice try, that skin tone isn't even close.
Then what is your solution?
How would you make a costume like this.
Without skin tone?
I'm imaging the mental gymnastics and calculations occurring right now.
This is absolutely true.
Dice//
Banned
A little insensitive made worse by the horrible history behind changing skin colours/ethnicities, but I imagine this is a hard outfit to come away with a win. It'd be a pain to implement the same costume is perhaps 3 skin tones (and carries just as many other mixed messages) but at the same time one of the character's most notable features is that he's largely exposed and features tats everywhere. These "Disney costumes" have been created for a long time so it's not like they'd not make it...i guess.
I doubt your average kid wearing this bears any ill will towards Polynesian culture, just hopefully they don't grow up assuming this is okay either??? Or something.
I dunno, this is some catch-44 shit. Stick to superhero costumes, their tight spandex outfits still let you have a "ripped" body without the necessity of skin tone.
I doubt your average kid wearing this bears any ill will towards Polynesian culture, just hopefully they don't grow up assuming this is okay either??? Or something.
I dunno, this is some catch-44 shit. Stick to superhero costumes, their tight spandex outfits still let you have a "ripped" body without the necessity of skin tone.
KeyBladerXIII
Member
This thread title is such reductive shit.
If I go out on Halloween dressed as War Machine, am I pretending to be black? Or am I pretending to be Arabic if I go as Aladdin?
I'm pretending to be those characters and the same goes for kids who go see this movie and want to dress up as Maui, who is a character with a very unique design as his tattoos are centra to the character. What the hell do people want, tattoos printed on clear plastic sleeves with exposed chests? I TOTALLY don't see how that possibly can cause an issue.
Is there a Moana costume for girls? I doubt that'll raise as much of a ruckus seeing as at the most it'll have an exposed midriff like Jasmine.
If I go out on Halloween dressed as War Machine, am I pretending to be black? Or am I pretending to be Arabic if I go as Aladdin?
I'm pretending to be those characters and the same goes for kids who go see this movie and want to dress up as Maui, who is a character with a very unique design as his tattoos are centra to the character. What the hell do people want, tattoos printed on clear plastic sleeves with exposed chests? I TOTALLY don't see how that possibly can cause an issue.
Is there a Moana costume for girls? I doubt that'll raise as much of a ruckus seeing as at the most it'll have an exposed midriff like Jasmine.
Astral Dog
Member
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