#1
Posted: 6/2/10 at 4:21pm
THE DEVIN'S ADVOCATE: WHY IS SPIDER-MAN WHITE?
Why is Spider-Man white?
Don't give me a smart-ass answer like explaining the coloration process of comic books or the heritage of Tobey Maguire's parents. The question is simple: Why is the character of Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man, a white person?
It's sort of a weird question, but it's one that gets right to the heart of how race is approached in popular entertainment, especially in the superhero genre. And the answer is that there's no reason. Peter Parker's racial heritage has no impact on his career as Spider-Man, if not for the least reason that his outfit covers every single square inch of his body - he could be Samoan, for all the people of the Marvel universe know.
White and male is the default. It's the standard setting for characters, especially in popular fiction. In fact, the more people who aren't white that you put into a comic, book or a movie, the more likely it is that the comic, book or movie will find itself getting marginalized and put into the 'urban' section of the store. The more women you put central to a comic, book or movie, the more marginalized that will also become.
White's just where it starts. It's not even conscious, I imagine. In fact I bet it's the other way around - the creation of a black or Hispanic or Asian character (in any popular fiction, but especially superhero stories) probably begins, on some level, with that character's race. And that's kind of a problem.
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Why is Spider-Man white?
Don't give me a smart-ass answer like explaining the coloration process of comic books or the heritage of Tobey Maguire's parents. The question is simple: Why is the character of Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man, a white person?
It's sort of a weird question, but it's one that gets right to the heart of how race is approached in popular entertainment, especially in the superhero genre. And the answer is that there's no reason. Peter Parker's racial heritage has no impact on his career as Spider-Man, if not for the least reason that his outfit covers every single square inch of his body - he could be Samoan, for all the people of the Marvel universe know.
White and male is the default. It's the standard setting for characters, especially in popular fiction. In fact, the more people who aren't white that you put into a comic, book or a movie, the more likely it is that the comic, book or movie will find itself getting marginalized and put into the 'urban' section of the store. The more women you put central to a comic, book or movie, the more marginalized that will also become.
White's just where it starts. It's not even conscious, I imagine. In fact I bet it's the other way around - the creation of a black or Hispanic or Asian character (in any popular fiction, but especially superhero stories) probably begins, on some level, with that character's race. And that's kind of a problem.
More...
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
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