Whitewashing In Hollywood Case Study

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In the present time, one of the problematic trends in the world of communication can be found in traditional media (film and television), specifically in Hollywood, which is the improper and/or absolute lack of representation of non-white characters; such instances include stereotypical portrayals and whitewashing. Whitewashing – in the context of traditional media – is when a white actor/actress portrays a non-white character. The discourse regarding this issue has been opened yet again due to the increase of “whitewashed” roles in Hollywood’s latest films and television shows. Some of the castings that stirred the most controversy are that of Scarlett Johansson’s portrayal of Major Mira Killian, in the movie adaptation of the classic Japanese
Moreover, the writers will conduct a thorough analysis on the whitewashing of specifically, Asian roles in Hollywood. Should this topic be examined through a sociological perspective, the deeply-rooted racism and white supremacy in the American society and its manifestations in the media will be brought to light.
Interpretive Approach

In analyzing the whitewashing of Asians in Hollywood through the interpretive approach, Kenneth Burke’s dramatistic pentad – the act, scene, agent, agency, and purpose – will be incorporated for further contextualization. The act is white actors being casted, and eventually playing traditionally Asian roles. The scene is Hollywood, where white actors are significantly favored over their non-white colleagues in terms of casting. The agents are the casting directors and white actors, who explicitly contribute to the phenomena. The agency is casting directors opening casting calls that are not accurate for the role, as proven by Tilda Swinton’s response to the backlash towards the whitewashing of her role in Doctor Strange (2016) – having told Hollywood Reporter that she “wasn’t asked to play an Asian character.” The purpose of these filmmakers for whitewashing roles is to take over the non-white characters’ stories and messages and further imply that white-centric characters and storylines are the new norm. Concrete examples for this would be the Hollywood remakes of Japanese classics, such as Ghost in the Shell (2017), Speed Racer (2008), and Dragonball Evolution (2009) where white actors instead of Japanese actors portray the lead (if not all)

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