Diversity on Broadway — Page 8

Ah, well. Chacun à son goût.

Wow, I didn't expect this to blow up this much (aw, who am I kidding? Of course I did). Just some drive-by responses:

HeyMrMusic said: "O man, the blatant racism on this thread is astounding.

Talking about race is not racist.

Nowhere in Wicked does it say Glinda is white. She is blonde, so put the nonwhite actress in a blonde wig, which is what they do for every single actor who has played that role.

And I wouldn't have a problem with that. But that's clearly not what they want to do. So to wish for it to happen is pointless.

Showface said: If the actor is talented, and though you may not see it , the talent range of minority actors are just as high as white actors! *Gasp*.Did you know that??? Did you know it's possible to me not white and still....

talented?!?!??!?!?!

Of course. My comment was in response to wonderfulwizard's remarks about casting a minority just to give them an opportunity, with an implication that they're being cast because they're a minority, regardless of who gave the best audition or who best fits the creative team's vision for the character.

Showface said: So...they're going to write about the white experience? White culture? Do tell me...what exactly is that?

Are you saying white people have no culture? That we're all just a homogeneous blob of white on the cultural landscape?

Just make race less characters and have a diverse cast!

It's not rocket science.

There's no such thing as a race-less character. A person's cultural heritage is part of their character. I mean, yeah, you can write superficial characters who can be played by anyone. And as a writer myself, I try to write race-less characters. But once I start delving into them, I realize, wait, this character's experiences, maybe even their style of speaking, would be different depending on what race or ethnicity they are. And I have to commit to one.

The "writers write what they know" part of my last post seems to be a particular sticking point for people. I'm not saying white writers can't or won't write about other races. I'm saying they're more likely to write about white people. Which is obviously true, or we wouldn't be having this discussion. Playwrights, screenwriters, novelists all tend to write within their own cultural experiences. And that's fine. Jonathan Franzen is never taken to task for always writing about white people. And I don't think dramatic writers should be held to a different standard just because other people's employment depends on what they write.

Kad said: "Diversity is always treated with nuance on here."

And that's the true meaning of equality.

"Are you saying white people have no culture?"

Never said that.

On the contary, I merely asked a question.

Do you have an answer?

The problem with talking about race (or politics or religion or...) is that there are many many many very loud people who don't want to discuss it so much as lecture everyone about the topic, how enlightened and smart they are, and how everyone with the slightest divergence from their own opinion is immoral and stupid.

So it's really rarely productive and almost never interesting (except sometimes to the lecturer, listening to their own voice).

Updated On: 10/14/15 at 03:10 PM

I don't want it to seem like I'm complaining without doing anything. I'm an active member of the theatre community both as a consumer and as a theatre artist in multiple unions. I'm a member of Asian-American theatre organizations. It's rather difficult to change something when the majority of people don't see a problem in sight. Like with any minority group, allies within the majority have to recognize and support these causes. I do what I can within my means and talents. I'm just trying to make points and make people aware of what I see as unfair within the entertainment industry. Many people cannot relate to the struggles nonwhite entertainers face on a daily basis to be seen, heard, make ends meet. So it is a little insulting and hurtful when someone says things like "I don't feel bad for POCs who can't get leading roles." That's not productive. We get nowhere with attitudes like that or when no one offers any viable help or suggestions. Perhaps my passionate tirades are not focused enough in order to bring something of worth to the argument, so please, someone offer a point in a positive direction. Make up for my shortcomings in idea and rhetoric.

Could you guys please stop lecturing? newintown has already lectured you to stop lecturing!

Weird, since nothing in your lecture has anything to do with anything I've said in this thread.

It's pretty easy to say "if you don't like something, then fix it", isn't it? Especially if an issue doesn't affect you.

"If you're poor and struggling to make ends meat no matter how hard you work, stop worrying and FIX IT! UGH!"

Whoopi actually has a long gross history of saying problematic things. She has defended every rapists from Cosby to Polanski.

hork said: "Showface said: ""Are you saying white people have no culture?"

Never said that.

On the contary, I merely asked a question.

Do you have an answer?

The white experience is the experience of being white. More specifically, the experience of being English, or Irish, or German, or French, or Swedish, or Italian, or Dutch, or Danish, or ... I don't know what other answer you're looking for here.

"

You're mentioning nationalities, which is an entirely different thing

Here's why I asked you this question--you said writers "write what they know" to excuse non-diverse, majority or all-white pieces. I don't think that's valid. If they (or should I say you?)can only write about white people because thats all they know, because they have no insight in the "experience and culture" of other races, apparently...then what exactly is that writing about? If it's only things that can be relevant to white people, then what exactly are those things? That was my question.

I would also like to say that due to this little thing called immigratio, there are also non-white England, France, Germanh, Sweden, etc., so I really don't understand what you're saying.

Today I was driving home from work and I saw an unfortunate billboard that said "Blue Lives Matter." While the blue is referring to police, I couldn't help but think of this thread and how no matter what sort of issue is raised regarding minorities, there will always be those who have to minimize the issue or cry a variation of "what about white people?"

Why do people do that? Why is it the reflex of some people to immediately try to dismiss or diminish any issues that have to with race?

Updated On: 10/14/15 at 07:42 PM