Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?- Page 3

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 7:38pm

But, like Harold Prince's Marxist reading of Sweeney Todd, none of this is textual.

Great post; bad example, IMO. Turning a campaign of vengeance into a capitalist enterprise is an inherently Marxist critique, whether Stephen Sondheim (or--ugh--Tim Burton) likes it or not.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 7:41pm

I just think the whole show brings up bad blood. First, Scar is Mufasa's brother. So.... I don't see why the race of Mufasa would matter. Secondly, I think it's a little bit of reverse racism issue to have the "bad guy" in the show always have to be white while the good guys are black. Just saying.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 7:50pm

And how many times have you seen a film or a play where everyone is white except the bad guys who are played by people of color (and often black men at that?)

Also, let's all say it together: reverse racism is a made-up term and it is not a thing that exists. Why? Because "racism" as a term implies, among other things, systemic and systematic discrimination that white people in this particular society do not face.

Updated On: 10/21/13 at 07:50 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 7:57pm

White people can't be discriminated against? Ever? At all? I find that hard to believe.

As a white gay male I've def. been discriminated against.

Also, I'm just pointing it out as a weird thing. I don't really know any movies/shows off the top of my head where everyone's white and the bad guy is black. I mean, there are plenty of instances with white people being good and the bad guys being Middle Eastern but that's a product of our times.

[PattyO'Furniture]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 7:59pm

The term "reverse racism" is inherently racist, anyway. It implies that white people are the only ones to discriminate racially, which anyone with a brain knows to be untrue.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 8:05pm

Notice that I said "systemic and systematic," not "ever at all." Prejudice exists, absolutely. But are the small instances of discrimination that white people face (for being white, not for being part of another marginalized group) widespread throughout our culture and have a detrimental effect on the group as a whole? I'm going to say that they don't.

I usually don't get into discussions of race on this board because it tends to make my head hurt, but there's a lot of extreme ignorance being tossed around in this thread right now.

[dry2olives]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 8:11pm

When I saw The Lion King around 1999-2000 or so there was a white Simba. I don't remember who it was. Young Simba was played by a black actor.

[BwayTday]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 8:28pm

The barriers of "racism" were historically established by white people. White people can't be oppressed by an institution they created. They can be discriminated against, anyone can, but it isn't racism. And it isn't at all racist in any way to not audition white actors for a part. That's silly.

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 8:43pm

I feel that this thread is missing one thing:

"This thread is racist."

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 10:20pm

Huh? I'm sorry. I'm 25. I wasn't around whenever all the white people got together and decided what and what is not racism, so that excuse is idiotic.

And for the record, I could careless. I totally get why there is no white Simba, etc. I don't think it really matters at all. I do think it's an interesting question to bring up. And I wonder if anyone has ever asked Taymour why she was so against a more diverse cast. And why it's okay for the comedic relief to be white guys, and why there's never been a black Timon, etc.

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 10:25pm

I've always thought the role of scar has always been Caucasian, to capture the essence of Jeremy irons.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 10:27pm

It's not an idiotic excuse, BwayTday is right. And for the record, I'm a 22-year-old white woman, so I'm not sure why your age is relevant when you're simply missing the point.

[siny]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 10:49pm

I saw it several years ago and don't even remember if the actors were black or white. Like someone said, they are all playing animals, so race should not matter.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 10:57pm

Ugh. I'm good. I'm not missing any points.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/21/13 at 12:43am

Oh dear.. Pardon while I put on my boots to wade into this fray.

First, I will take a second to reiterate a previous post in this thread that states Ms. Tamor's concept layers onto the show, where race relation - and therefore race of the actors - factors heavily into the production and casting. Will every future production feature that? No. Will every restaging of Ms. Taymor's production in North America? Yes.

Next, we have to deal with that matter that there is actually no such thing as color-blind casting. Even in a show that is cast "color blind." AEA used to have a rule that ensembles in a Broadway musical had to contain at least one ethnic minority (hence Richie's line "And I'm black!" in A Chorus Line) to provide employment for non-white actors in an era than was predominantly white (and still is). This push and rule gave rise to a "blaxploitation" style movement on Broadway - Pearl Bailey's Hello, Dolly in 1968 is one example, the all-black Guys and Dolls in 1976 and, of course, The Wiz in 1975. From those movements, you can trace forward - I won't follow all the steps - to the modern idea of "color blind casting" which is anything BUT. Yes, it is a double edged sword and a flat double standard, but race has always proved to be a touchy topic in our nation. It is cutting edge to have Audra star in 110 in the Shade, but white actors in the Nightingale are met with major protests. It is a reality that we live in. It is a reality that directors and actors have to work within.

Simba is an African prince, who rises to king. Given our nation's history with race relation and Taymor's staging drawing so heavily from traditional African culture and art, a white Simba would be a very uncomfortable sight. I believe the only NON-Black Simba in the States has been Adam Jacobs.

As far as casting in other countries, I point to local sensitivities and histories. Disney has always tailored stagings to cultural norms. In certain countries, fabrics and even colors of gowns in Beauty and the Beast (aside from the iconic yellow ballgown) were changed to reflect what was seen as appropriate court attire for that culture. Much in the same vein, they have differing views of race and class and the casting of The Lion king in those nations reflects that.

As far as arguments of "reverse racism" goes, can we all retire that term? "Reverse" is a pointless qualifier. Racism is racism is racism. Yes, certain races, groups, cultures, etc have been subjected to greater persecution than others and we are all very well aware. The modified term adds nothing productive to the conversation.

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 10/21/13 at 12:38pm

Here's a quote from Taymor taken from "Broadway: The American Musical" that applies to this conversation:

“One of the best things about The Lion King is that it’s not about race and all about race. When white audiences go to see The Lion King, they don’t think about it. They get the beauty and the talent of these great performers and the music. And yet if a black audience goes, it’s all about race, because imagine a young African-American child going and seeing a king who is black.”

[Comden Green]

Posted: 10/22/13 at 10:48am

Why hasn't a Caucasian Simba been cast?

I don't care.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 10/22/13 at 1:45pm

Why hasn't there been a white Simba? Obviously, because Disney is still trying to make up for "Song of the South."

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 10/22/13 at 4:57pm

Is any site easier to troll than this one?