Black people playing Norse gods

[joystickjunki3]

Before I get started, I'd like to issue a little disclaimer: I do not mean for this to sound like I disapprove of a black man playing a Norse god. That is not the point of this post.

OK, now that that is out of the way, let's begin. Please start by reading the following article from IGN.com.

http://movies.ign.com/articles/114/1140914p1.html?_cmpid=ign18

If you didn't read it, it's about a black man portraying one of the Norse gods (doesn't matter which one) in Marvel's Thor universe for the upcoming movie. Apparently, a white supremacist group is boycotting the film because of this.

I think their reasons are off-kilter, but their point may be minimally justified. I don't mind that a black man has been cast for the role, but here's my discussion topic for the situation: What would happen if a white man was cast as an African god?

Please voice your opinions on the matter.

JUST ONE MORE TIME: I personally do not give two shits if the man is black or white. I'm interested to hear about how everyone might feel if the situation was reversed.

 

[Amy Sorel]

Thor is a comicbook superhero based on Norse mythology, it IS NOT Norse mythology. End.

For hundreds of years Jesus was drawn as tall white guy with blond flowing hair and pale skin, when he probably was a short guy with dark curly hair and very tanned skin.

 

[joystickjunki3]

Thor is a comicbook superhero based on Norse mythology, it IS NOT Norse mythology. End.

For hundreds of years Jesus was drawn as tall white guy with blond flowing hair and pale skin, when he probably was a short guy with dark curly hair and very tanned skin.

That's not exactly what I was asking. I asked about how people might feel if a white man was chosen to play an African god. I don't care about the current situation; it does not matter to me if Thor is a comic book or not.

 

[ScarletRider]

So a black dude is cast in a bit part in a comic book movie.

Who cares?!

And Jesus was a blond? I always thought he had dark hair.

 

[ScarletRider]

That's not exactly what I was asking. I asked about how people might feel if a white man was chosen to play an African god. I don't care about the current situation; it does not matter to me if Thor is a comic book or not.

Eh, I think there would be an uproar if a white guy was cast as an African god figure. Especially with the implications that would bring up. <_<

 

[Nocturnal Gentleman]

What if a white guy played an African god? See: most portrayals of Egyptian gods. Nobody whines.

Plus some creatures from African legends have pale or silvery skin. Others aren't that human looking to begin with.

 

[Nocturnal Gentleman]

Similar to a white man playing, I dunno, Ghandi.

Funny you should say that seeing how one of the most popular films representing him did star a white guy pretending to be Ghandi.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

The way Gabe from Penny Arcade described it was pretty funny.

"Even a racist clock is right twice a day"

Now while I don't agree with boycotting the film, I'm of the mind that generally you should get an actor as close to what the character looks like in the source material. It will still be a great movie anyway, but whatevs.

 

[ExaltedK9]

Thor is a comicbook superhero based on Norse mythology, it IS NOT Norse mythology. End.

For hundreds of years Jesus was drawn as tall white guy with blond flowing hair and pale skin, when he probably was a short guy with dark curly hair and very tanned skin.

Bit of a change of subject there, but ok. I don't exactly know where you get that but OT:

I'm not a racist, and I don't think it really matters too much who they cast. But they are sacrificing a bit of authenticity I think.

Again, not a racist. And I'm probably never going to watch this movie.

 

[Swny Nerdgasm]

Similar to a white man playing, I dunno, Ghandi.

Funny you should say that seeing how one of the most popular films representing him did star a white guy pretending to be Ghandi.

Yeah but Sir Ben Kingsley is half Indian

 

[RatRace123]

It's a movie adaptation about a super hero based off of the old stories about an ancient scandinavian god of thunder.

I'm sure a few liberties can be taken.

 

[Ensiferum]

Yes, people would be up-in-arms over a white guy playing an African god. But of course it's not okay to be confused by a black guy playing a Norse god. That's just "racism." Gotta love those politically-correct double standards.

Personally I do find it confusing that an African-American is playing a Norse god, but then again he's part of the marvel version of a pantheon that's mythological to begin with, so in the end I don't care.

 

[Altorin]

Thor is a comicbook superhero based on Norse mythology, it IS NOT Norse mythology. End.

For hundreds of years Jesus was drawn as tall white guy with blond flowing hair and pale skin, when he probably was a short guy with dark curly hair and very tanned skin.

well, in the marvel universe, the norse mythology (and a lot of mythologies in fact) were entirely 100% accurate. Thor isn't just some guy that THINKS he's the norse thundergod, he IS the norse thundergod.

I personally don't have a problem with it (it being a black guy playing Heimdall), as I've seen non-north african people play characters in egyptian mythologies, and Heimdall isn't the title character. If they made a black Thor, I might be a little bit more concerned

 

[joystickjunki3]

It's a movie adaptation about a super hero based off of the old stories about an ancient scandinavian god of thunder.

I'm sure a few liberties can be taken.

Of course there can be, but my question was not regarding whether or not liberties can be taken. The discussion topic is about how people might react if a white man played an African god.

 

[Nocturnal Gentleman]

Similar to a white man playing, I dunno, Ghandi.

Funny you should say that seeing how one of the most popular films representing him did star a white guy pretending to be Ghandi.

Yeah but Sir Ben Kingsley is half Indian

That's nice, but there were plenty of Indian people wondering why they couldn't get a full Indian to play such a part. Mostly because he looked like a white guy. They MADE him look like Ghandi.

 

[Crystalite]

I really thing he is wrong for the role.
Why? Because he is black!

Why does everything have to be labeled rascist, as soon as someone says a black person is not the right one for a job, when the job consists of portraying a white man!?
This really aggravates me.

Imagine, for the next Hollywood movie, the main love interest is cast as a beautifull woman. Is it not discriminating, not to cast an ugly actress for the role? Hell no, because the plot requires her to have some kind of mainstream compatible beauty!

The reason Thor should not be cast black is the same reason he should not be cast asian, or female, or 5 Years old: Because he is not!
Mythology has quite clear descriptions on what he looks like...
*steam*

The one day rascism stops to be a real problem is the daily people understand its not about rascial predjudice, but about treating racial traits as they are supposed to be:
Factors of outer appearance, irrelevant in all strains of life, except for the movies, the same as beauty, age, hair colour or whatever.

Setting race apart like this only aggravates the stupid problem.

 

[FalloutJack]

Well, I didn't care if they hired Mos Def to play as Ford Prefect, so I doubt I'll have an issue here. Of course, I'm personally of the thought that Brian Blessed should've been Thor, but what the hey.

 

[RatRace123]

Of course there can be, but my question was not regarding whether or not liberties can be taken. The discussion topic is about how people might react if a white man played an African god.

My guess is that they wouldn't care.
I mean the only ones truly getting their nuts in a twist over this are the racists, right?

If the situations were reversed, those bigoted dillholes would keep their mouths shut and there wouldn't even be a situation.