In recent years the topic of diversity and representation of minorities has steadily become more ubiquitous in pop culture and public conscious. The response hasn't always been all positive. In fact, it never has. We need only look to the notable and all too recent backlash to John Boyega playing Finn, an apparently black stormtrooper in the Star Wars Episode VII. Unfortunately that was just one of many examples of backlash against diversity, and it's a rather interesting one when considering that the role of Finn was never ascribed a specific race when Boyega was cast. It was almost as mystifying as when vile parts of The Hunger Game fandom reacted with such unabashed racism when a black girl was cast for the role of a... black girl in the book.
As we move forward towards a more progressive society, I do believe the resistance towards diversity is gradually weakening, however, we still have quite some ways to go, especially in Hollywood - which, while it is trying (though arguably not hard enough), still produces films like Exodus: Gods and Kings and Gods of Egypt, i.e. films that wholesale whitewash the cultures they are based on from.
The unfortunate truth is that Hollywood will likely still be putting out films like that for quite some time to come, but like I said, they are trying, and of all the most recent attempts at diversity, I think WB/DC's decision to cast Jason Momoa as Aquaman is so damn fitting it's nothing short of a stroke of genius.
It is the opposite of the Aloha whitewashing controversy. It makes sense to cast a Polynesian in the role of a character with such strong ties to the sea. Polynesian culture is thousands of years old and were at their roots an adventurous seafaring people with deep ties to the sea and highly developed navigation skills that served them well.
What I find almost just as surprising as what I would consider the perfect casting of Momoa, is the fact that the online response to Aquaman has actually largely been positive. It's certainly a stark constract from the notable examples of black actors playing white fictional characters met with vitriol, e.g. Michael B. Jordan playing Johnny Storm in Fox's latest attempt at rebooting the Fantastic Four and to a lesser extent Will Smith taking on the role of Floyd Lawton AKA Deadshot in DC's upcoming film Suicide Squad.
One could argue that perhaps it has to do with Aquaman's apparently lack of popularity. After all, he is the butt of the joke to even those who have never picked up a comic in their life. But then, if not mainstream conformists and racists, surely the most ardent comic book fans that like Aquaman would have some reservations and would make those heard? Well, I haven't heard any. And typically, anti-progressives and diet racists don't really care if they're invested in the property and are combative anyway, so... what gives?
It could be that casting Jason Momoa actually makes sense to them too, but my theory is that it's probably because Momoa, while Polynesian, still looks "white," or at least close enough to not be threatening, so it's not an issue. Though it could be for any number of reasons.
Point is, I am now convinced that Aquaman should be Polynesian both in films and the books themselves, and that that change would serve the character better and that DC would be better off for it in terms of diversity in Justice League lineup. Further, comments by Momoa himself are really what settled it for me:
So, what say you GAF, do you think Aquaman should be Polynesian character?
Recommended reading:
- Why a Hawaiian Aquaman makes sense
As we move forward towards a more progressive society, I do believe the resistance towards diversity is gradually weakening, however, we still have quite some ways to go, especially in Hollywood - which, while it is trying (though arguably not hard enough), still produces films like Exodus: Gods and Kings and Gods of Egypt, i.e. films that wholesale whitewash the cultures they are based on from.
The unfortunate truth is that Hollywood will likely still be putting out films like that for quite some time to come, but like I said, they are trying, and of all the most recent attempts at diversity, I think WB/DC's decision to cast Jason Momoa as Aquaman is so damn fitting it's nothing short of a stroke of genius.
It is the opposite of the Aloha whitewashing controversy. It makes sense to cast a Polynesian in the role of a character with such strong ties to the sea. Polynesian culture is thousands of years old and were at their roots an adventurous seafaring people with deep ties to the sea and highly developed navigation skills that served them well.
What I find almost just as surprising as what I would consider the perfect casting of Momoa, is the fact that the online response to Aquaman has actually largely been positive. It's certainly a stark constract from the notable examples of black actors playing white fictional characters met with vitriol, e.g. Michael B. Jordan playing Johnny Storm in Fox's latest attempt at rebooting the Fantastic Four and to a lesser extent Will Smith taking on the role of Floyd Lawton AKA Deadshot in DC's upcoming film Suicide Squad.
One could argue that perhaps it has to do with Aquaman's apparently lack of popularity. After all, he is the butt of the joke to even those who have never picked up a comic in their life. But then, if not mainstream conformists and racists, surely the most ardent comic book fans that like Aquaman would have some reservations and would make those heard? Well, I haven't heard any. And typically, anti-progressives and diet racists don't really care if they're invested in the property and are combative anyway, so... what gives?
It could be that casting Jason Momoa actually makes sense to them too, but my theory is that it's probably because Momoa, while Polynesian, still looks "white," or at least close enough to not be threatening, so it's not an issue. Though it could be for any number of reasons.
Point is, I am now convinced that Aquaman should be Polynesian both in films and the books themselves, and that that change would serve the character better and that DC would be better off for it in terms of diversity in Justice League lineup. Further, comments by Momoa himself are really what settled it for me:
So, what say you GAF, do you think Aquaman should be Polynesian character?
Recommended reading:
- Why a Hawaiian Aquaman makes sense
