Other than Othello, there should only be white actors in Shakespeare plays. How ridiculous is there to have a black Romeo, or Juliet in Verona? Why does not someone complain about "cultural appropriation"? In truth, the profession of acting is to display yourself as someone else. Many historians believe there were no female actors in Shakespeare's plays, in his lifetime. Since then, there has been Shakespeare performances with all female casts. That is acting.
To-day is Oscars night. Some of the arguments used are not honest. I have read, a new Macbeth is to be filmed with Denzel Washington. Washington is a fine actor, he has played some great rôles, and he has won two Academy Award Oscars. Why should he not play the mediæval Scot?
When Kevin Kostner played Robin Hood, Morgan Freeman had a major rôle in the movie. His character escaped from a Moslem prison in Jerusalem with Robin. That was stretching the legend.
Hollywood is run for the desire of profits. Unsavory business has a long history. Only so many good movies are made each year, and their subjects are not evenly distributed. Fair practices are not universal, but to expect a certain number of nomination, and award picks is demanding a quota. There may be a year which has three black women nominated for leading actress, and they may all have given great performances, but black population of the United States is not 60%, it is not even 20%.
In recent years, many American films with American rôles have been played by non-American actors. When the actor is interviewed, people are surprised with the accent they speak with. Ruth Negga played a Virginian woman in Loving, and was nominated in 2016; she is Ethiopian and Irish. Lupita Nyong'o is a Kenyan, and acted in 12 Years a Slave, and was nominated in 2013. Naomie Harris was born in Jamaica, and grew up in London and was nominated in 2016 for Moonlight. Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor was born in London to Nigerians, he was also nominated for 12 Years a Slave. Cynthia Erivo, another black Londoner, is nominated for to-night's Oscar as Harriet. Then there is Marianne Jean-Baptiste, another black actress born of émigré parents in London nominated for Secrets & Lies in 1996 playing a Londoner. Charlise Theron, a white South African, has been nominated for to-night, and twice before, winning once.
It is true that discrimination and favoritism has been rife to-day, and throughout American history, but every action and moment is not to be put to its account. The Oscars is not a good battleground for this argument.
To-day is Oscars night. Some of the arguments used are not honest. I have read, a new Macbeth is to be filmed with Denzel Washington. Washington is a fine actor, he has played some great rôles, and he has won two Academy Award Oscars. Why should he not play the mediæval Scot?
When Kevin Kostner played Robin Hood, Morgan Freeman had a major rôle in the movie. His character escaped from a Moslem prison in Jerusalem with Robin. That was stretching the legend.
Hollywood is run for the desire of profits. Unsavory business has a long history. Only so many good movies are made each year, and their subjects are not evenly distributed. Fair practices are not universal, but to expect a certain number of nomination, and award picks is demanding a quota. There may be a year which has three black women nominated for leading actress, and they may all have given great performances, but black population of the United States is not 60%, it is not even 20%.
In recent years, many American films with American rôles have been played by non-American actors. When the actor is interviewed, people are surprised with the accent they speak with. Ruth Negga played a Virginian woman in Loving, and was nominated in 2016; she is Ethiopian and Irish. Lupita Nyong'o is a Kenyan, and acted in 12 Years a Slave, and was nominated in 2013. Naomie Harris was born in Jamaica, and grew up in London and was nominated in 2016 for Moonlight. Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor was born in London to Nigerians, he was also nominated for 12 Years a Slave. Cynthia Erivo, another black Londoner, is nominated for to-night's Oscar as Harriet. Then there is Marianne Jean-Baptiste, another black actress born of émigré parents in London nominated for Secrets & Lies in 1996 playing a Londoner. Charlise Theron, a white South African, has been nominated for to-night, and twice before, winning once.
It is true that discrimination and favoritism has been rife to-day, and throughout American history, but every action and moment is not to be put to its account. The Oscars is not a good battleground for this argument.
No comments:
Post a Comment