Disney recently produced its first full length cartoon starring a Black character, The Princess and the Frog.
Strangely, this movie failed to find a wide audience and floundered at the box office. Today, Disney releases another Pixar created film - Toy Story 3. Pixar Studios saved Disney in the 1990s from a string of failed box office disappointments and rejuvenated interest in cartoons, though in a completely different direction:
Pixar Animation Studios is an American CGI animation production company based in Emeryville, California, United States. To date, the studio has earned twenty-four Academy Awards, six Golden Globes, and three Grammys, among many other awards, acknowledgments and achievements and has made $5.5 billion worldwide. It is one of the most critically acclaimed film studios of all time, and, according to Rotten Tomatoes, perhaps the most critically acclaimed film studio of all time[1][2]. It is currently the only film studio to have produced a film franchise of which all its films have received a 100% "Certified Fresh" rating on the site (Toy Story). It is best known for its CGI-animated feature films which are created with PhotoRealistic RenderMan, its own implementation of the industry-standard Renderman image-rendering API used to generate high-quality images.Odd, Pixar films have utilized primarily white voices in the films they produce and overwhelming white characters. In fact, Samuel L. Jackson is the most high-profiled Black supplier of a voice to a Pixar film and yet, he is merely a secondary character in the 2004 film The Incredibles.
Woody, Buzz Lightyear, The Parr family in The Incredibles and virtually every person (in many Pixar films, the main characters are fish, monsters, cars, bugs or rats virtually all voiced by white people) in Pixar films is white.
Diversity must have been left on the cutting room floor of Pixar as this noble idea is left out of every Pixar film. It seems story-telling, narrative and ingenuity are in demand at this company.
Odd though, this lack of diversity in the actual people that populate the world of Pixar films has lead to only massive box office returns.
One website discussed the lack of diversity in Pixar films, but failed to address the real problem inherent in the discussion: Pixar's usage of white people in their films and voices provided primarily by white actors correlates to massive box office returns.
Some have even dared to label Pixar... conservative!
In fact, Pixar's films have had the incredible ability to upset special interest groups, such as a group of obese people who found the film WALL-E intolerant to their collectively turgid ways:
WALL-E has garnered rave reviews for its satire on consumer culture, in which future humans are depicted as a group of obese gluttons who never leave their padded floating arm chairs.But one group is not amused - the swelling ranks of fat pride groups, who believe the film propagates anti-obesity hysteria comparable with the quest for the perfect body by the eugenics movement in Nazi Germany.
The backlash has become a cause celebre for a growth industry in the United States, where pro-flab "fat-tivists" are campaigning for human rights for the full of figure.
As the WALL-E controversy hit the headlines, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (Naafa) was last week holding its annual convention in Los Angeles, a celebration of so-called "flabulous figures", seminars on fat discrimination, a fat fashion show, podgy pool parties and entertainment from weighty singing group The Fatimas.
Yes, the corpulent of the world found WALL-E unacceptable for its portrayal of fat people as lazy. Of course, the future of Black women isn't exactly healthy as The Atlantic magazine reports some startling news that all Black women in 30 years - if trends of overeating continue - will be considered morbidly obese.
Maybe Pixar films can be blamed for the high obesity rates among Black women.
Pixar films are stunningly white, and this translates into massive box office returns and critical acclaim from reviewers and film-goers alike.
WALL-E, The Incredibles and the Toy Story trilogy are movies that target white people. Save for Samuel L. Jackson's character, the world of Pixar is a world where Black people scarcely exist.
Stuff Black People Don't Like includes Pixar films, for a Black character outside of the redoubtable Samuel L. Jackson are few and far between in the Pixar Universe. To infinity and beyond?
In the Pixar world, this correlates to Black people being left out.
17 comments:
Well, if disliking Pixar makes one black, then call me James Brown. I prefer genuine draftsmanship, the painstaking detail involved in older Disney films, Ralph Bakshi's work in the Heavy Metal movie, or even stop-motion features like "The Nightmare Before Christmas."
I don't really follow these trends so closely, so maybe someone can help me out. Those damn Shrek movies, are they not produced by Pixar. I only ask because I know Eddie Murphy, when he's not picking up transsexuals on Sunset, plays a donkey in each one of those films, correct?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DreamWorks_Animation
No, Shrek is produced by DreamWorks.
It's ironic that the few "children's films" I will allow my younger child to watch are Pixar films. I can't tolerate the the constant double entendres, insolence and disrespect towards parents and any and all authority figures, and blame for all evil on the white race, that make up the framework for the general narrative Hollywood prefers to push. Neither will I donate $16 a head to enrich Hollywood's coffers - if I really want to see something, I wait until it's at the dollar theater or out on DVD or I just don't get around to seeing it at all (never did watch Titanic!). I caught my kid watching Shrek on t.v. one time and after about ten minutes, I turned it off. The crude and blatant anti-male, anti-traditional culture message was grating. DreamWorks, which produces the Shrek movies, is the brainchild of Spielberg (whom I cannot stand). The Toy Story movies were my younger one's favorites for years; even though he thinks he's too old now for Toy Story 3, the constant replays of the first two movies on t.v. have captured his interest. I particularly liked "The Incredibles," with its message (whether intended or not) that we're NOT all equal, some have exceptional abilities, and if we all pretend to be exceptional we're fooling no one but ourselves and will crash and burn when rubber meets the road. I have not watched Wall-E, but my older son said it's really just more of the usual "man has despoiled the earth," and worshiping the creation rather than the creator crap. Another typical Hollywood tactic, using black voices and black slang, is just another unnecessary distraction from the plot and adds nothing to the storyline for the kids - just another way to hit us all over the head with how "cool" the black race is, and how we should all emulate their language and demeanor and behavior - no thank you. All of which is my rather verbose way of saying - you're right! Pixar films are a good example of movies black people don't like!
I heard that Pixar is coming out with an animated version of Snakes on a plane. But, I might be wrong about that.
Um...this post wasn't very convincing as to why black people don't like Pixar.
You start with racial diversity being left on the cutting room floor and then quickly devolve into fat activists' hatred of Wall-E?
They really don't seem to be linked. Of course, maybe if one was to break into the circular reasoning of fat people don't like Pixar's Wall-E, black people are fat, black people don't like movies without racial diversity (esp. PIXAR!!!).
Whatever your method, it doesn't make for a very cogent argument.
I agree with Hirsch, though: Eddie Murphy does like transexual hookers.
http://desireespeakssolisten.blogspot.com/2010/06/whatzupwitu-eddie-murphy.html
I'm with black people on this one, lol. I'm not a big fan of animation as an adult...I am sure it takes a lot of skill to pull off, it's just not my cup of tea.
SPBD,
Way off topic, but you need to research this. In Detroit Public School president has resigned under allegations he masturbated in a school board meeting while sitting across from a female member of the school board. The “reverend” on the school board (90% of the black population of Detroit is a reverend or prophet something) excused it as ‘maybe she liked it and took it the wrong way”. There are other reports the guy is illiterate!! Oh Affirmative Action at work.
http://detnews.com/article/20100618/METRO/6180414/Detroit-schools-president-accused-of-lewd-acts-at-work
Someone told me about this morning and I thought, up until a few minutes ago, he was telling me some dirty joke
Fantastic comment by Sheila. Welcome!
"Another typical Hollywood tactic, using black voices and black slang, is just another unnecessary distraction from the plot and adds nothing to the storyline for the kids - just another way to hit us all over the head with how "cool" the black race is, and how we should all emulate their language and demeanor and behavior - no thank you."
Hear, hear!
@ Desiree, if trends continue, projections hold that all black women will be obese by the year 2050, so SBDL may not be far of the mark.
Hirsch,
2050 all black women will be obese?! Aren't they now? There isn't a black woman I have seen that I wouldn't ask, when are you due?
Hirsch, sweetie:
Stats about fat ass black women--truthfulness and accuracy notwithstanding--or the mentioning of fat activists (which seem to be a lot of white women) does NOT change the fact SBPDL's argument within the post is errant, ridiculous, and painfully circular.
I mean, if you're going to quantify a list of things we black people don't like, at least be solid in your justifications!
Don't defend him. He needs to get it together if he'd like to move beyond mere delusions of grandeur about the efficacy of this blog and into real fame.
I'm trying to help him out...
When are going to get a 'SBPDL #1: Me!' post? I want to see pictures.
Part 1
I just stumbled across this site today. I must admit that I find it shameful. I read through many of the comments and thought to myself "if I had stumbled across it a few months ago I could have..." well, I could have done nothing, I suppose! The first post I came across was about how black people don't like St Patrick's Day. I have gathered that your intention is to attempt to elucidate your opinions on racial issues through humor. It would perhaps benefit you as a human being if you acknowledged your opinions as such and did not endeavor to elevate them to the status of Truth. Through ruthless, disciplined and rigorous self-examination many hidden gems can be unearthed. It may also help you, as an individual, to attempt to use even one realistic example rather than continue to thinly veil your obvious ego issues and racism as satirical humor. With each post you make another layer of armor is welded over the core of your being. Eventually that armor, which was originally created to defend you from the things you fear in this world, will render you more vulnerable than an injured gazelle in the lions den.
I can, and probably should, write a book detailing my observations about modern perceptions, or distortions, of race and class.
To clarify: I am what is called in the US African American. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to parents of mixed descent. My veins contain African, Irish and Native American blood. I can trace the history of my Irish roots to the O'Cathasaigh clan. I can only faintly trace the history of my Native American roots to the Iroquois Tribe, among others. I cannot trace my African roots at all. I was raised in America, in ghettos, and had many of the typical experiences most black youth in this country are exposed to, from drugs and crime, to hate and racism, both open and veiled. Due to my lighter skin I have experienced some small amounts of difficulty issuing from those in my own communities. It took me a while to understand this, and to understand how deeply European racial consciousness has embedded itself throughout the world. By and large, however, the vast and overwhelming majority of racism and discrimination and hate that I have experienced came from white people. This has not led me to hate white people. It has led me to examine the roots of these issues. Your superficial treatment of the subject is merely one in a large number of factors contributing to the furthering of what I see as one of the basest and oldest forms of ignorance we humans have become accustomed to expressing. I believe you are not doing much of a disservice to people of African descent. I believe the race (i.e. current skin tone) that you are disrespecting and disgracing more than any other is your own, whatever that may be. I am sure you will disagree with me. My intention is not to convert you to my way of viewing things (in truth, my views shift too much for me to wish to bother converting anyone anyhow!) I simply wish to express, as you do, my opinion. I am also sure that a few vicious comments haphazardly composed (if that is the word) by some virulent and angry white racists who are firm in their dogmatic and unexamined belief patterns will be directed at me. It is of no concern to me. Monkeys are beautiful creatures, bananas taste excellent (I prefer them when they are less ripened), watermelon is sweet and being that I am a lifelong vegetarian I have never even tasted fried chicken. I have committed crimes and I have used drugs. I was kicked out of high-school in the 9th grade and never returned, instead preferring first a life in the streets (as that was all I thought I was fit for due to constant media bombardment and police harassment reinforcing this notion, which is a notion implanted in the minds of the majority of black youths in this and other countries with a startling and disconcerting regularity by this same media that white racists perceive as portraying the black race as 'cool' and in a positive light, oh the hilarity).
Part 2
Only after coming to my own conclusions through my own experience did I discard those hostile and alien influences. These things do not affect me. My father left my family when I was very young and thus I was raised fatherless. He was a hustler and he was raised with his own set of life experience that nothing any racist has to say can diminish. It took me a while to understand why he left. I acted out in typical fashion as a youth and my actions have provided me with my own invaluable set of life experiences to draw from. So shoot your stereotypical insults at me, or better still, save your energy. It won't affect me.
I hardly wish to comment on such ridiculous statements as the one made by 'babie be racist' about all black women being obese. This is pure ignorance of the highest order. I hardly wish to comment on such sheltered drivel as that uttered by 'Sheila'. For every so-called positive depiction of a black man or woman on television there are at least a thousand negative depictions that have occurred throughout the history of mass media. Her ignorant and reactionary ideology is commonplace and symptomatic of a culture on its death bed, the death-knell of doomed society, as is the entirety of this blog, in my humble opinion.
You seem to forget that, globally, white people are a minority. You seem to forget that, be your place of residence the US, South America, South Africa, Australia, etc, your white ancestors were the first illegal immigrants and invaders. Your white ancestors were the first to turn countries into wastelands and subjugate the native peoples therein with the use of what is contradictorily and counter-intuitively termed 'superior' weaponry. How can weaponry ever be seen as superior when most people just want to live in peace? When something does nothing but destroy life, when it's sole purpose is the more efficient termination of life, it is against life and is thus inferior, in my view.
All races have a history of mindless and wanton destruction, as far as I am aware. This posturing that black people are somehow more destructive than those responsible for the annihilation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the creation of nuclear arms, for WWII in general, and countless atrocities in Vietnam and Russia, Bosnia, Serbia, what to speak of Africa and America, both in the past and in the present, is patently absurd. So absurd that it is hilarious. Your eagerness to ignore that nothing exists in a vacuum and that the causes of society's ills lie gasping at the feet of all those involved in it, black, white, brown, yellow or otherwise, is equally absurd and hilarious. Your lack of willingness to confront the fact that those races who are most oppressed tend to have the least regard for the society that oppresses them is also hilarious. From the Irish to the Africans, it is the same story. The level of disrespect many of us might have for the lands and areas we live in, while extremely ignorant, is entirely understandable, or would be if you were able to even begin to openly and honestly examine the larger social context. I would argue that the degree of poverty evident in any area is merely a reflection of the degree of oppression, spiritual, moral and physical, that the inhabitants have endured. It is not an excuse, because I love this planet, but I guarantee that the garbage left on the street in a black area does nearly zero damage in comparison with the garbage left in the oceans by BP, the forests and jungles leveled by predominantly white European economic expansion, the landfills piled with plastic and other damaging chemicals and by-products created by white owned and operated companies, the waste of the western 'civilized' world that has mounted over the past few decades. And this from places where whites are still the majority.
Part 3
Even in the places where you aren't, as a race, the majority (since we're speaking in such far-reaching and indiscriminately general terms here at this blog anyway) you will find that an alarming majority of waste sites contain garbage plastered with chiefly western logos and slogans, or that was created and conceived of by western corporations, who often use the people in those populations like slaves still to this day.
If I wanted to I could continue to further indict white people, specifically white men, and the offal and run-off from their so-called highly evolved minds as the number one cause of pollution and death on earth. But that is not my intention. I have no wish to slide into the mirror opposite of your mentality. What a horrible fate that would be. I am more interested in truth than spin, more interested in peace than war and more interested in unity than perpetual separation. You might argue that it is my mixed blood but I know far too many people of purely African descent, and even of purely European descent, who share similar feelings and opinions. And let me insure you that though my skin is light the racists in America have never treated me as anything other than just another n****r (don't know if I can post that word on this site, which is somewhat ironic). Somehow I have managed not to fall into the trap called Divide and Conquer that is laid for all of us "common" folk by the machinations of members of the so-called "highest" echelons of society. It is a pity that you would rather grovel at their feet for acceptance, approval and the occasional bone tossed after they say to you "good dog, that's a good boy!," than form bonds with your fellow man and woman towards a future where the species entire prospers, flourishes and glories in the mysterious wonder that is existence. Good job. Fortunately I have my sense of humor intact. This site truly is hilarious, but not because you intended it to be so! If you have read this far, congratulations! I am amazed! And now, let us hear from the peanut gallery...
Part 3
Even in the places where you aren't, as a race, the majority (since we're speaking in such far-reaching and indiscriminately general terms here at this blog anyway) you will find that an alarming majority of waste sites contain garbage plastered with chiefly western logos and slogans, or that was created and conceived of by western corporations, who often use the people in those populations like slaves still to this day.
If I wanted to I could continue to further indict white people, specifically white men, and the offal and run-off from their so-called highly evolved minds as the number one cause of pollution and death on earth. But that is not my intention. I have no wish to slide into the mirror opposite of your mentality. What a horrible fate that would be. I am more interested in truth than spin, more interested in peace than war and more interested in unity than perpetual separation. You might argue that it is my mixed blood but I know far too many people of purely African descent, and even of purely European descent, who share similar feelings and opinions. And let me insure you that though my skin is light the racists in America have never treated me as anything other than just another nig**r (don't know if I can post that word on this site, which is somewhat ironic). Somehow I have managed not to fall into the trap called Divide and Conquer that is laid for all of us "common" folk by the machinations of members of the so-called "highest" echelons of society. It is a pity that you would rather grovel at their feet for acceptance, approval and the occasional bone tossed after they say to you "good dog, that's a good boy!," than form bonds with your fellow man and woman towards a future where the species entire prospers, flourishes and glories in the mysterious wonder that is existence. Good job. Fortunately I have my sense of humor intact. This site truly is hilarious, but not because you intended it to be so! If you have read this far, congratulations! I am amazed! And now, let us hear from the peanut gallery...
Hilarity Ensues,
Thanks for posting. I recommend posting at the newest post to join in the debate... it moves quickly here. I'll try and get to your comments when time allows. New post coming.
Welcome to SBPDL. Invite your friends!
www.sbpdl.com
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