Older Ladie,s In Knickers

Superheroes Who can act for whom?

between participation and representation
film
Dr. Egon Deckard

In the interest of promoting debate on key issues of representation and participation has, I would like to link article by Mark Lawson for The Guardian and bring a little more about the subject.

The film has two aspects, both equally important to discuss this matter. On the one hand, is an industry in which equity of access regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, disability, etc., should always be respected. On the other hand, the cinema as a product seeks to transport the viewer into a fictional world with a certain level of credibility with the real world. There are always elements of truth to be sacrificed for the sake of artistic necessity of the work, and the public receives. For example, in a story about Germans executed by Hollywood personalities, they speak English (as in the case of 'Valkyrie' , starring Tom Cruise).

This then presents difficulties when selecting an / a actor / actress to represent a particular character, for historical, geographical or narration require certain characteristics. Generally it seems right that a man is representing a male and a woman representing a female character, though not necessarily a requirement (remember Marlene McFly in the second installment of 'Back to the Future ')


But it becomes more complicated when we consider the representation of racialized content (costume dramas about slavery), or based on stereotypes (As the Westerns). In that case, what can you do? It is clear that many of the futuristic series of the 60s and 70s did not seem to take into account the possible future population growth, but maintained the concept of Anglo-Saxon racial dominance (see, for example, 'Logan's Run' ) but at least some works have tried to recognize (eg characters 'Predator 2' are all contemporary ethnic minorities in the U.S.).

In an interview with El Universal of Cartagena ( can read it here), Ruben Blades said he would not accept roles that denigrate the Latin. This shows that generally they seek to act on behalf of this ethnic group in Hollywood productions. So it seems strange, at least, to request from Johnny Depp to play the role of Tonto in the remake of 'The Lone Ranger. " Not the first time an actor representing a character from another ethnic group, but this is something that has been seen recently with bad eyes, be seen as an excuse to prevent people of different physical conditions have access to the few occasions when are relevant to the film. If all disabled characters are played by actors without a disability, what so many career options as an actor can have a person with disability?



Question on participation and representation in film, which is industry first, but the creator of social imagination, on the other, leads us to question these issues. There are several studies on the privileged representation of certain ethnic characters on television (see IZI) and is therefore not surprising that even the young Colombian indigenous meztizas or claim that they can never be as pretty as a princess, as they have blue eyes and long golden locks.

As the film seeks to represent the world in which it is registered, it also creates representations which mankind receives the impact of these works are compared. The absence of characters Indians, therefore, is an industry problem, which ignores the actors of these ethnic groups, but also creates a problem of representation for those who, seeing films, are represented by people who do not even belong to indigenous groups . To what extent can we take it that an actor can play a role of an underrepresented minority group?


Colombian director Victor Gaviria has been recognized for working with actors that represent stories from his own social environment, instead of being represented by people living in socio-economic conditions much better than theirs, and only represent for a short period. Again it is one the same question about the access they have the actors to their roles, and the impact this has on the collective representation.

is not an easy question to answer. The film, like any other creative industry, this hard evidence that duality of its workforce, and those images that make reference build collective identities. If the dream of a young Embera or Wayuu is to become a Hollywood actor Can you imagine what kind of roles they would come to be proposed?

I do not expect answers, just raise questions. The cinema is not only the spotlight of the awards Oscar. The film also helps us define who we are and who we are not.