Black people playing Norse gods
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The original Scandinavian mythology probably wouldn't feature black gods, since the gods were conceived as anthropomorphic and no one there at the time knew humans could have that skin colour. It's well established that the gods could change shape though, so it wouldn't be impossible within the mythological frame.
Since it's based off a comic book universe, I suppose it would really be a matter of source material fidelity. I don't know or care about how Heimdal was portrayed there, and thus don't care about how he's portrayed here, but I could perhaps better understand someone being miffed if it was well established that the character had some specific characteristics which the movie adaption then changed, be it his eye colour, hair length, or skin colour. Movie adaptions change stuff all the time though, and this is pretty minor, so it would probably take some pretty rabid fans to really care for that reason.
As for disliking the character being black just because he's black, that's of course as despicable as ever.
Since it's based off a comic book universe, I suppose it would really be a matter of source material fidelity. I don't know or care about how Heimdal was portrayed there, and thus don't care about how he's portrayed here, but I could perhaps better understand someone being miffed if it was well established that the character had some specific characteristics which the movie adaption then changed, be it his eye colour, hair length, or skin colour. Movie adaptions change stuff all the time though, and this is pretty minor, so it would probably take some pretty rabid fans to really care for that reason.
As for disliking the character being black just because he's black, that's of course as despicable as ever.
Don't be stupid, I would have raged as much if they portrayed Jim Rhodes (Warmachine) as a white guy. Respect the source material. I don't want a black Captain America and I don't want a white Black Panther. And yes, the color does matter if you are basing a role in a movie of an existing character. As much as his demeanor, his haircut and his clothes.mr_rubino said:
I think there's a difference between main characters (and important secondary characters) and what is basically a bit character. Seriously what importance has Heimdall had in the last sixty odd years of comics? He guards a bridge and ocaisonally forsees danger. That's probably all we'll see in this movie.The Human Torch said:
Everyone's making a mountain out of a mole-hill.
I'm sure that'll be kept that in mind once the Caps and Blacks movies come around. As for the peripheral characters of absolutely no consequence, it'll pretty much open season on race for them. Next!The Human Torch said:
Hey, we gotta protect the racial purity of the made-up characters somehow. If we have a black Heimdal, then who knows what side characters could be next? Do you want your children exposed to the possibility of a Polynesian Cloak and Guatemalan Dagger in the next Spiderman movie? That's a world I can't live in.WolfThomas said:
In the first, I'm very happy to see that alot of people are actually bringing up the legends themselves. I don't know alot about Norse mythology, but it's pretty good to see source material other than the comics being cited.
On twisting races around I've always been of mixed opinions. I tend to view it as mostly irrelvant so long as no important aesthetic is destroyed (any race could easily play Baron Samedi, for instance) for with fictional and legendary characters the 'idea' of their existence is the most important. For all it's faults, I liked Daredevil's Kingpin because I knew who he was from his shoes alone as his stance and introduction provided enough raw power to get the message across.
As a God, Heimdall can be subject to rules such as 'appearence changes over time', or 'most bad-ass look wins'. The 'white god' can also be taken loosely and refer either to his armour (which I admit, I think is Gold in the trailer) or even his role as the guardian of the rainbow bridge. (since white is all colours combined and he must protect it all.)
That said, certain characters simply can never be black. As interesting as you could make a story with a Black Captain America, the US would never have had a black man being the face of their nation in WWII.
That being said though, how come I've never heard of this happening with Asians? Anyone hear of a time a black person got given an 'asian' role, or an asian a white one?
On twisting races around I've always been of mixed opinions. I tend to view it as mostly irrelvant so long as no important aesthetic is destroyed (any race could easily play Baron Samedi, for instance) for with fictional and legendary characters the 'idea' of their existence is the most important. For all it's faults, I liked Daredevil's Kingpin because I knew who he was from his shoes alone as his stance and introduction provided enough raw power to get the message across.
As a God, Heimdall can be subject to rules such as 'appearence changes over time', or 'most bad-ass look wins'. The 'white god' can also be taken loosely and refer either to his armour (which I admit, I think is Gold in the trailer) or even his role as the guardian of the rainbow bridge. (since white is all colours combined and he must protect it all.)
That said, certain characters simply can never be black. As interesting as you could make a story with a Black Captain America, the US would never have had a black man being the face of their nation in WWII.
That being said though, how come I've never heard of this happening with Asians? Anyone hear of a time a black person got given an 'asian' role, or an asian a white one?
If a white man played an African god, then the film would be cancelled because of some black elitists. I'm against this completely! Why is it that when a white man does something small, he is considered 'racist', but when another race does something of a higher caliber, nothing happens? Fucking hypocrisy, if you ask me!joystickjunki3 said:
well im fine with a black guy portraying a norse god even though not a single scandinavian or viking ever met africans except through the european slave trade and therefore had no black gods but quid pro quo we should now see a film about either an african god or figure as a white guy, but i'll guess this won't happen as people like panorama will claim its rascist and insensitive to africans even if africans couldnt give a monkeys arse about it so itll be banned and what have you. which wont happen to thor cuz no one cares about the feelings of the white people which reside in scandanavia ergo if theyre cool with it then we should be after all thor is thire history and part of thire cultural identity theres more to this than a simple question of can blacks portray whites and vice versa.
I guess it all depends on the appearance of the character in the actual comics. If the makers of the film want it to look EXACTLY like the comics, a change like this could upset hardcore Thor fans.
Having said that however, it's always been my understanding the gods and goddesses (from any religion) could assume many shapes, sizes and appearances, so having one appear as a black person would not be totally out of place in a Norse setting.
But that's just my opinion.
Having said that however, it's always been my understanding the gods and goddesses (from any religion) could assume many shapes, sizes and appearances, so having one appear as a black person would not be totally out of place in a Norse setting.
But that's just my opinion.
Well... some people would be pretty upset about it, as is their right. It is their religious belief being stepped on after all, and even if the rest of the world doesn't hold it, it doesn't mean they can't respect it. Heimdall was supposed to be "the whitest among white" and he should be so in the movie. It's not racist or mean or whatever, it was the belief system of a specific group of people. Even if it is a comic book superhero story now, it's all just a metter of time before the great events of our day become the legends of the future, and eventually fade into myth.
In a few thousand years, who knows? Abe Lincoln may be a black man facing down an army of Confederate cyber-ninjas with his elite Gymkata skillz, and forums online will be having this same discussion then, too.
In a few thousand years, who knows? Abe Lincoln may be a black man facing down an army of Confederate cyber-ninjas with his elite Gymkata skillz, and forums online will be having this same discussion then, too.
Pretty much this.burzummaniac said:
And by "pretty much this", I mean "pretty much this" is the kind of emotional, unfocused thinking that seems to be the basis for any of the complaints on this hilarious non-issue so far.
Metaphorgotten?TheDarkestDerp said:
(Thanks TVTropes!)
I think I have an idea of what would happen. There would be this one really pissed off group of black people who think all african gods should be black. Nobody else would really care. Also, there would be a thread about it on the escapist in which most people either said that the director can do what he wants, or that they should stick to their source material.joystickjunki3 said:
Yeah but, whats to stop a Norse God from appearing as a black man if he wanted to?WrongSprite said:
This wins - we're not dealing with people's actual bloody gods here, and especially not gods that "belong" to anyone alive today.Amy Sorel said:
And as for your African point, there are plenty of Jesus being black, and over here we all white wash him, so what does it matter?
They're gods anyway, they can look like they want.
In short: it'd make more sense to cast a white person, casting someone of another race doesn't really matter, apart from those 5 seconds where you go, "huh, would've thought he'd have been white," and then carry on watching the film.
That's because they don't only have Brits in Harry Potter films, although it's easier for them with the students to have them all British.enriel said: