Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

How to Train Your Dragon 2 turns ten! Come and share your memories on the thread.

Reviews of HTTYD 2 (Some maybe have Spoilers)
Topic Started: 17 May 2014, 15:24 (14290 Views)
Eret 17 May 2014, 15:24 Post #41
User avatar
....Son of Eret

I've actually been thinking that for a while now. Its going to cause controversy, I was just waiting for people to start actually noticing. Gotta admit I can see where people would take offense to that.
  PM (offline)     Profile     Quote  
 
HideousZippleback 17 May 2014, 15:32 Post #42
User avatar

[color=blue]I'm just here for Snotlout.
[/color]

To what? I just a little confused by what the reviewer means when talking about Drago...
  PM (offline)     Profile     Quote  
 
KentuckyWildcat 17 May 2014, 15:36 Post #43
User avatar
Raw Vikingness

He's suggesting that there's some racism inherent in making the only darker-skinned character (voiced by an actor of African descent no less) the villain. While I think that's reading too much into things, I guess I can sort of see how somebody sensitive to that sort of thing could get that impression.
Come death. Come suffering. I will not live in fear. In this fleeting life where time escapes us, the path of least resistance is a slow quiet death. I'd rather burn out than fade away.
  PM (offline)     Profile     Quote  
 
HideousZippleback 17 May 2014, 15:37 Post #44
User avatar

[color=blue]I'm just here for Snotlout.
[/color]

KentuckyWildcat
17 May 2014, 19:36
He's suggesting that there's some racism inherent in making the only darker-skinned character (voiced by an actor of African descent no less) the villain. While I think that's reading too much into things, I can sort of see how somebody sensitive to that sort of thing could get that impression.
I don't really understand why somebody would be bothered by that...
  PM (offline)     Profile     Quote  
 
duckizo 17 May 2014, 15:40 Post #45
Member Avatar
Dragon Egg

HideousZippleback
17 May 2014, 19:37
KentuckyWildcat
17 May 2014, 19:36
He's suggesting that there's some racism inherent in making the only darker-skinned character (voiced by an actor of African descent no less) the villain. While I think that's reading too much into things, I can sort of see how somebody sensitive to that sort of thing could get that impression.
I don't really understand why somebody would be bothered by that...
It’s pretty racist to have a historical fiction movie with only white people as the good guys. You’re suggesting that dragons are more realistic than the existence of darker people who aren’t villainous. Also the archetypical association of white people as the good side and darker people as the bad side is definitely pretty racist. The whole “historical accuracy” argument for all of the good characters being white doesn’t really work in a movie where there’s dragons and such. It’s pretty problematic.
Edit: This was also heavily debated with Frozen-- a movie with sorcery, talking snowmen, giant ice monsters, and absolutely no regard for historical accuracy. And yet, no people of color. “Whiteness” is typically “universal” while you only ever see darker people in movies when it’s absolutely necessary for them to be, and then they are always “otherized” from the white perspective. Sorry for the rant-- I’m an English/Film major and we talk about the problematic stuff a lot. It’s something I hope to change when I get into the industry.
  PM (offline)     Profile     Quote  
 
KentuckyWildcat 17 May 2014, 15:49 Post #46
User avatar
Raw Vikingness

I really don't think that was the intent though. Historical inaccuracies aside, the main characters are still ostensibly Vikings, who were European. In the character of Drago, it seems that the producers opted for a villain who came from far away rather than a rival Viking and his appearance happens to be something that makes him different from the Vikings. Although I'll stop short of saying that it's completely unreasonable for somebody to feel that way, I think it's unfair to assume that the inclusion of a non-white villain is automatically a commentary on race.
Come death. Come suffering. I will not live in fear. In this fleeting life where time escapes us, the path of least resistance is a slow quiet death. I'd rather burn out than fade away.
  PM (offline)     Profile     Quote  
 
HideousZippleback 17 May 2014, 15:53 Post #47
User avatar

[color=blue]I'm just here for Snotlout.
[/color]

KentuckyWildcat
17 May 2014, 19:49
I really don't think that was the intent though. Historical inaccuracies aside, the main characters are still ostensibly Vikings, who were European. In the character of Drago, it seems that the producers opted for a villain who came from far away rather than a rival Viking and his appearance happens to be something that makes him different from the Vikings. Although I'll stop short of saying that it's completely unreasonable for somebody to feel that way, I think it's unfair to assume that the inclusion of a non-white villain is automatically a commentary on race.
Yeah I highly doubt that DW was going for a racial thing with Drago.
  PM (offline)     Profile     Quote  
 
Eclipse-Wolven 17 May 2014, 16:07 Post #48
User avatar
Ninja Dragon

KentuckyWildcat
17 May 2014, 19:49
I really don't think that was the intent though. Historical inaccuracies aside, the main characters are still ostensibly Vikings, who were European. In the character of Drago, it seems that the producers opted for a villain who came from far away rather than a rival Viking and his appearance happens to be something that makes him different from the Vikings. Although I'll stop short of saying that it's completely unreasonable for somebody to feel that way, I think it's unfair to assume that the inclusion of a non-white villain is automatically a commentary on race.
I agree. Especially since they seem to be doing a lot of world building in this movie and having Hiccup "expand the map" so to speak. Drago just came from a further away land and is a seriously bad guy. That doesn't necessarily make it a racial commentary.
-Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup-
  PM (offline)     Profile     Quote  
 
duckizo 17 May 2014, 16:08 Post #49
Member Avatar
Dragon Egg

I don’t think it was intended as a “commentary on race”. I’m sure they didn’t specifically say “let’s make him black because he’s the bad guy”. It’s just an issue of problematic representation.
  PM (offline)     Profile     Quote  
 
HideousZippleback 17 May 2014, 16:10 Post #50
User avatar

[color=blue]I'm just here for Snotlout.
[/color]

duckizo
17 May 2014, 20:08
I don’t think it was intended as a “commentary on race”. I’m sure they didn’t specifically say “let’s make him black because he’s the bad guy”. It’s just an issue of problematic representation.
They most likely wanted to have a person from a whole 'nother culture and place to spice things up, nt aim for racial crap.
  PM (offline)     Profile     Quote  
 
Users browsing this forum:
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 30 guests
Print view
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · How to Train Your Dragon 2 · Next Topic »
  Add Reply