I have always openly been critical about the lack of representation and visibility of minorities in mainstream media. Be it superhero films, rom-coms, dramas, or period pieces, the Hollywood-dominated world of international media has been one that has sorely lacked in any diversity whatsoever. We still have a long way to go to equally represent people of all races, sexual orientation, gender, religion, creed, and everything in between.
However, today’s post focuses on the smashing headway that’s been made for minorities in the mainstream. The positive recognition that has been given to these films and shows reflect the kind of sociopolitical diversity I want to continue to see in mainstream media. We’re heading in the right direction, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to see what else is in store for the future!
Just recently, the 2019 Academy Awards took place. Now, the Oscars have been notoriously archaic in their nominee selection. To put it bluntly, and following a hash tag that was birthed in 2015 to describe the marginalization of PoC films – #OscarsSoWhite. In fact, the 2016 Academy Awards was the year that many actors boycotted the ceremony in lieu of this fact. Personally, I’ve never placed too much importance in the Oscars winners because of this blatantly outdated system. It’s always too safe, too cowardly, too disappointingly predictable a choice.
However, 2019 marked what is perhaps the most meaningful year in terms of nominees and winners. Though there are of course still many flaws in the awards show system, this year’s ceremonies demonstrated that we are making massive strides for diversification in the mainstream.
Black Panther (2018),which was a phenomenal film, was nominated in seven categories, an won in Production Design as well as Costume Design and Music (Original Score). This is groundbreaking because, not only was it the first superhero film to feature an (almost) entirely PoC cast, but it’s the first superhero film to ever be nominated for the Oscars. The film did smashingly well in the box office and continues to be a fan favourite. I couldn’t be more thrilled that the first superhero film to be nominated was one that sets such a powerful example for kids and adults alike.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) ,which you can read our review for here, won the Oscar for Best Actor. Seeing as this movie was predominantly focused on a queer PoC man, I’m so excited that it’s getting the recognition it deserves. Spike Lee also won his very first Oscar (this just goes to show you how whitewashed and “safe” the Oscars choices have been up until now) for BlacKkKlansman in Writing (Best Adapted Screenplay). This film was extremely political in tone, as most of Lee’s films have been. It’s been garnering a ton of positive reception, and there’s something so satisfying about seeing a visionary such as Lee receive this long overdue award.
Moving away from 2019 Oscars winner, let’s talk about the hot topic new release. I celebrated International Women’s Day by watching Captain Marvel, starring the amazing Brie Larson, which was released in theatres recently. It has already pulled in a whopping $153 million dollars at the box office since its Thursday release. I thoroughly enjoyed the film – and I won’t give too many spoilers, because I’m going to write a more comprehensive review about it soon. What I loved about it was how it was dominated by epically brave and badass female characters, and how nothing detracted from this fact. Captain Marvel is a film that revolutionizes the Marvel superhero genre, as it is the first movie in the Marvel franchise that features a female hero in the lead role.
Part of my satisfaction with these films is that they appeal to everyone, that there is no one “clear” intended demographic. For example, choosing a WoC for the role of Mary-Jane in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), a character who has typically been portrayed as a Caucasian redhead in the comics and previous films alike, was an excellent choice because it reflects on the diversity in New York City much more realistically. Because really, isn’t it more unlikely that a high school in NYC wouldn’t include a diverse student body? This factor also makes these films a lot more approachable, and diminishes the highly staged Hollywood lens that so infamously whitewashes its content. Speaking of the Spider-Man franchise, the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse (2018) (which won Best Animated Picture) is a stellar example of inclusion and diversity. You can read the review for Into the Spider-Verse here.
The thing that stands out most about these films is that they aren’t falling into the trope-y, stereotypical dynamics that some might expect. For example, the movie Girls Trip (2017) is a super comedic film, centered around four WoC characters. Yet it doesn’t fall into the just-for-women, straight-to-Netflix film that aims for a specific demographic. Rather, it is a comedy that subverts expectations of the predictable “norm”. It is yet another reminder that representation matters. Even documentaries like Gaga: Five Foot Two (2017), which chronicles the life of Lady Gaga, sheds light on the rollercoaster of fame much more truthfully than many other celebrity documentaries. Gaga speaks candidly about her chronic illness and mental health, and continues to be an activist in the queer, feminist, disability, and mental illness communities.
These films don’t aim to alienate anyone in telling a story about a primary group of people. Rather, they promote the message of inclusivity and acceptance, which is sorely needed in a world that is still plagued by bigotry and hatred. It is important that this visibility is not only clear, but that it is vastly explored. Minorities should no longer be stifled, repressed or underrepresented.
With a longstanding history of whitewashed, heteronormative, male dominated films and shows, it’s about time that our media more accurately reflects the world we live in. This is the world of PoCs, of fluid sexualities and gender roles, of subverted norms, of minorities who are aching for visibility on a large scale. As a WoC myself, I know how demoralizing it is to see years worth of media without ever seeing someone even remotely like myself on there. The Mindy Project is one of the first shows that empowered me because it was so wonderful to see a South-Asian woman who created and starred in her own show. Not only that, but the show was a smash success.
The show How to Get Away With Murder wouldn’t be able to pull off half the stuff they do if the cast, topics, and issues weren’t so raw and diverse. Topics like racism, sexism, HIV/AIDS, queer PoC relationships, and trans rights are heavily explored. The cast is predominantly PoC as well. It’s legitimately amazing to have an ABC show out there that so forthrightly faces loaded topics head-on, but then again, what else would we expect from a show where Shonda Rhimes is an executive producer?
Book Club (2018), a rom-com centered around four women in their 70s, breaks from the archaically ageist structure of typical Hollywood tradition. It is truly a delightful film, even if you’re not a person in your 70s, because it’s so lovely and refreshing and wonderful to be reminded that age is really just a number. The human condition can be explored at any point in life, and it doesn’t have to fit into the “perfect”, unattainable and stunted idea of the paragon of youth. The show Grace & Frankie does a superb job with this concept as well.
All these aforementioned movies and shows have been smash successes. You know why? Because they’re attainable, accessible, and reflect the inclusive society that we want to move towards. As mentioned before, visibility and representation of minorities in films and shows are crucial. And that’s the amazing, uplifting thing about them. While at one juncture time it might have been considered “bold” to have a cast that was predominantly made up of minorities, the films and shows nowadays that are confidently displaying visibility are the most successful ones. Representation matters.
In this particular scope, mainstream media is being inclusive and pushing forward these varied perspectives in a way that doesn’t feel like anyone is being ostracized in order to make its point. Where older movies might have brazenly genre-fied stereotypes, we are at a point in time where inclusion is becoming so much more integrated into our mainstream media, and where we are actively fighting back against and breaking free from these stereotypes. And honestly? It’s about damn time.
~ Z ~
Photo by Cory Agopian on Unsplash
