What you never hardly ever see

With regard to race, Stephen Colbert has a running gag. “I don’t see race. People tell me I’m white, and I believe them because . . . ” Insert punchline. Last week, in the context of the preferential prosecution of black people for drug-related crimes, the ‘because’ was, “. . . because I get my drugs from a pharmacy.” He’ll also claim (with his typical in-character, right-wing intransigence) that racism no longer exists in America because, hey, look, we have a black President!

I doubt any of my readers would see this as anything but satire. What may not be immediately obvious, however, is the pervasive intolerance of the American entertainment industry to anyone who is other. Other than white, middle or upper class, and for the most part male. My question is, for the major media — TV, movies — how often do you see someone who is other in a role in which that otherness is not central? I would argue that the answer is hardly ever, with the notable exception of male black actors, especially Will Smith, Morgan Freeman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Denzel Washington. The big box office black actors are cast in blockbusters in which their blackness is not an issue. There can even be an interracial romantic angle without that interracial-ness becoming central (e.g., Will Smith’s relationship with Charlize Theron in Hancock). Other non-white males? Not so much.

I began thinking about this after reading the May Rolling Stone interview of Peter Dinklage, the 42-year-old, New Jersey-born star of HBO’s Game of Thrones, who happens to have achondroplasia.

Folks who watch Game of Thrones will immediately note that Dinklage’s character is not only a dwarf, but his dwarfism is central to the role, and indeed not an episode goes by in which someone (usually in a pejorative way) points out his dwarfism. Yet the role of Tyrion is a far cry from the usual Wizard of Oz style little-man, or the cute/bumbling/avaricious dwarves of Time Bandits. Tyrion is a wonderfully complex character, easily one of the most noble characters in the story.

According to the Rolling Stone interview, Dinklage is particularly proud of his role in Death at a Funeral, in which his role was not written for a dwarf. Dinklage, a tremendously talented actor, may have broken into the mainstream. Time will tell.

But think about all of the roles we rarely see in American-made TV or movies:

We rarely see Asians cast in major roles in which their Asian-ness is not somehow an issue. Charlotte Sometimes, in which all three major characters are Asian, may be a notable exception — I don’t know, I haven’t seen it.

Hispanic actors: ditto, although a few actresses (Jennifer Lopez, Michelle Rodriguez, or Rosario Dawson — who is very, very multi-ethnic) have broken the mold. And the men? Edward James Olmos is the only one who comes to mind.

And when have you ever seen a Native American cast in a “normal” role? I’m talking about actresses or actors (such as Wes Studi, or Russell Means) who are recognizably indigenous. Being 1/16 Cherokee like Cher doesn’t count.

LGBT. If they’re there, they’re there BECAUSE of their otherness, or they’re there for comic relief (which I guess is the same thing).

Disabled people: same thing.

I suspect it’s all about box office receipts (or the TV advertising dollar), or really, producers’ perceptions as to what will be financially successful. Whether their perceptions comport with reality is an excellent question. I would like to think that Americans are ready for a gay Asian woman starring as the lead detective in some big box office serial killer flick, but who knows.

Okay, enough procrastinating. Time for me to get back to my writing.

D.

Walnut, May 13, 2012. Category: At the movies, Stardust.

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