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[jimmythepage]

Can someone explain to me why they think this is racist?

It would be hilarious to read an appealing statement about it, don't raise your expectations, they probably have no clue at all, except that "she could've made it better" or "she could not do that at all", it doesn't get more deep than that.

 

[And_Gignac]

She looks great, the make up is on point and classy, and she wanted to accurately represent a character, so I dont see the problem tbh.

 

[J10]

As a so called member of "black ethnicity" myself, I think that any other member feeling offended by this should seek a planet for themselves where there is no risk to have their feelings hurt.

In other words -

Get the fuck off my planet because I'm not going to attempt to understand your feelings.

And you probably think of yourself as a tolerant person.

 

[Ties]

DEATH at people not seeing this is racist LMAO

 

[Anustart]

okay, are they referring to the person or the act? clearly "it" isn't referring to the person

My mistake then! Was thinking the act.

 

[eso76]

So, wait.

Painting your face to cosplay as a character of a different ethnicity is considered racist ?

Lol.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

In other words -

Get the fuck off my planet because I'm not going to attempt to understand your feelings.

And you probably think of yourself as a tolerant person.

This is what NeoGAF can feel like in these sort of big social issue threads. No one would ever say they aren't tolerant, but here they are not caring.

 

[BobLoblaw]

It's not possible to look like a character without looking like a character. Skin color has a lot to do with looking like a character. I don't know how this can be denied.

What the fuck are you talking about? So from now one, anyone who's trying to dress up like a character that is played by someone of a different race, they need to paint themselves to? Fuck outta here.

 

[Two Words]

What the fuck are you talking about? So from now one, anyone who's trying to dress up like a character that is played by someone of a different race, they need to paint themselves to? Fuck outta here.

No, read again.

 

[Alucrid]

so how many people do you see around halloween painting their faces up to look black?

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

What the fuck are you talking about? So from now one, anyone who's trying to dress up like a character that is played by someone of a different race, they need to paint themselves to? Fuck outta here.

Clearly skin color accuracy is the MOST IMPORTANT THING or the cosplay is bad.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

With a thread like this being at 1500+ posts I can't even imagine what the yearly (if last few years are any indication at least) Zwarte Piet thread is going to look like. You guys are going to love discussing the shit that's currently going down in the Netherlands when it comes to that 'blackface' character.

It's already been heatedly discussed recently because your court acknowledged it's racist: http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=848594

 

[Two Words]

so how many people do you see around halloween painting their faces up to look black?

I don't try and determine what is right or wrong from popular opinion.

 

[J10]

I don't try and determine what is right or wrong from popular opinion.

You're not trying to use facts and reason either.

 

[Leatherface]

My god. Not racist. No fucking way, In fact she did a great job and obviously just loves that particular character. Jesus Christ the sensitiva is over the top with this. wow.

 

[BobLoblaw]

No, read again.

I read it twice and it made less sense the second time. And you didn't answer my question. If Michonne was played by an asian actress, should she have painted herself a yellow complexion and glued/taped her eyes?

 

[Dosia]

People are way too sensitive nowadays. She is just portraying her favorite character. Seriously lighten up.

 

[Two Words]

You're not trying to use facts and reason either.

I disagree.

 

[AkuMifune]

I don't try and determine what is right or wrong from popular opinion.

And you never have to deal with bad weather living in a bubble, either. Win/win.

 

[zruben]

so how many people do you see around halloween painting their faces up to look black?

irrelevant to this situation.

cosplaying =/= dressing for halloween

 

[Alucrid]

irrelevant to this situation.

cosplaying =/= dressing for halloween

how many people at comic con, pax, anime conventions, etc are painting their faces up to look black? are they not portraying their favorite character? you would think that someone going to comic con would want everything to be on point.

 

[Two Words]

I read it twice and it made less sense the second time. And you didn't answer my question. If Michonne was played by an asian actress, should she have painted herself a yellow complexion and glued/taped her eyes?

I don't know much about make up. I wouldn't mind her making herself look more like an Asian Michonne. If the Asian Michonne had those characteristics, then fine. If she's nailing the look, I'm fine with it.

 

[Nafai1123]

Am I racist for not thinking it's racist?

 

[eso76]

People are way too sensitive nowadays. She is just portraying her favorite character. Seriously lighten up.

Oh you!

 

[And_Gignac]

In other words -

Get the fuck off my planet because I'm not going to attempt to understand your feelings.

And you probably think of yourself as a tolerant person.

Maybe some feelings need to be re-evaluated, considering this girl putting on some make up has 0 racist, negative intent? She is definetely not trying to mock black people, reinforcing negative stereotypes or anything like that. Does everything has to be, no pun intended, so black and white, so dicotomic?

 

[Brawndo Addict]

You don't need to nor should you try to match skin color to cosplay. Skin color is not a disposable accessory to help make your costume more authentic, it's just insulting. You don't see minorities putting on make up so that people understand they're Marty Mcfly or Thor. Iconic character design goes beyond racial appearance.

 

[joelseph]

how many people at comic con, pax, anime conventions, etc are painting their faces up to look black? are they not portraying their favorite character? you would think that someone going to comic con would want everything to be on point.

There is a large group of cosplayers at GenCon that get into Drow cosplay. Even thought its fantasy elves, It's awkward.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

I don't know much about make up. I wouldn't mind her making herself look more like an Asian Michonne. If the Asian Michonne had those characteristics, then fine. If she's nailing the look, I'm fine with it.

Then why didn't you just say you don't care what she does instead of dragging your argument out

It's ok to be honest

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Am I racist for not thinking it's racist?

Nope..just transparent.

Spoiler

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

Maybe some feelings needs to be re-evaluated, considering this girl putting on some make up has 0 racist, negative intent? She is definetely not trying to mock black people, reinforcing negative stereotypes or anything like that. Does everything has to be, no pun intended, so black and white, so dicotomic?

But she knows now and still doubled down.

 

[Kinyou]

This is what NeoGAF can feel like in these sort of big social issue threads. No one would ever say they aren't tolerant, but here they are not caring.

Being tolerant and caring are actually two different things. Tolerant just means that you allow something to happen even if you personally disapprove.

 

[zruben]

how many people at comic con, pax, anime conventions, etc are painting their faces up to look black? are they not portraying their favorite character? you would think that someone going to comic con would want everything to be on point.

yeah, that's exactly my point, cosplay is "serious business" for cosplayers, and they often do it in a respectful way. So, my guess 90% of people cosplaying a different ethnicity, would do whatever they need to look as close as possible to the character.

And that's not racism.

 

[Two Words]

Then why didn't you just say you don't care what she does instead of dragging your argument out

It's ok to be honest

I have been saying this the whole time. You can see it throughout this thread.

 

[AkuMifune]

yeah, that's exactly my point, cosplay is "serious business" for cosplayers, and they often do it in a respectful way. So, my guess 90% of people cosplaying a different ethnicity, would do whatever they need to look as close as possible to the character.

And that's not racism.

So if this was just a halloween costume, then you would think it's racist?

 

[Paskil]

Interestingly, if she had cosplayed every other aspect of Michonne without the blackface, and told everyone that she was "White Michonne," that would be racist to the same people. Even after telling them she so so that she wouldn't offend people for being in blackface.

I understand why blackface is historically racist. I've seen the harm that using it can wield. This is different though. You can't ignore the context of why she dressed up the way she did. She did not dress in that fashion to mock a race or ethnicity, she did so out of admiration. Something like Zwarte Piet is definitely racist because it enhances particular traits in a negative fashion (whether you think so or not). This is pretty much a complete recreation that is not meant to stray from the source material in any fashion. As far as I'm aware, the source character is not a black stereotype or offensive.

I respect peoples right to be offended. I can't say as a white male that I totally understand the things that a person of another race has gone through, individually or collectively. Racism is everywhere, but this is an instance where it is not happening.

 

[Ultryx]

Not racist.

 

[jimmythepage]

In other words -

Get the fuck off my planet because I'm not going to attempt to understand your feelings.

And you probably think of yourself as a tolerant person.

This is what NeoGAF can feel like in these sort of big social issue threads. No one would ever say they aren't tolerant, but here they are not caring.

I'm quite tolerant, but for someone helpless enough to find that thing offensive it's the best advice I can give them
Heck, if I had a chance to discover a new planet I would be very happy about it.

"Tolerant"..."Caring"...Those words actually have a meaning that goes quite more deep than just "why do you think this is not racist, when for me it's racist enough", but anyway, as everyone I'm entitled to have an opinion, it doesn't make it stronger or more right than yours, but it's more than welcome to explain yours to make others understand you better than with a quick joke/nab.

I actually spent some minutes there.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

I have been saying this the whole time. You can see it throughout this thread.

No, you've been making numerous posts with shaky logic

If you didn't care one would have been enough

 

[zruben]

You don't need to nor should you try to match skin color to cosplay. Skin color is not a disposable accessory to help make your costume more authentic, it's just insulting. You don't see minorities putting on make up so that people understand they're Marty Mcfly or Thor. Iconic character design goes beyond racial appearance.

there's no "NEED", but if you're really passionate about a hobby, you would try to do it the best you can.

It's not insulting if she's being accurate with the character portrayal; it's not like she was chopping watermelons with her sword.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

I'm quite tolerant, but for someone helpless enough to find that thing offensive

Geez.

 

[- J - D -]

This might sound dismissive, but the outcry for such an innocuous transgression such as this seems silly when there are countless racial controversies of actual, tangible malignancy occurring every other day, and seemingly every other half day on gaf.

 

[Eltros]

This PC culture is going to kill us. IMO it is only racist to people that are easily offended or looking for a reason to be offended. It was not done in a insulting way and in fact it appears to be done in just the opposite. She is a fan of the character.

 

[Alucrid]

yeah, that's exactly my point, cosplay is "serious business" for cosplayers, and they often do it in a respectful way. So, my guess 90% of people cosplaying a different ethnicity, would do whatever they need to look as close as possible to the character.

And that's not racism.

then please, show me all of this respectful cosplay full of painted black faces


no mr popos or that one Geordi La Forge

 

[ishibear]

It should be a requirement to read the thread before posting because people are being ridiculously obtuse.

 

[Ties]

This might sound dismissive, but the outcry for such an innocuous transgression such as this seems silly when there are countless racial controversies of actual, tangible malignancy occurring every other day, and seemingly every other half day on gaf.

now why should people devote all their resources to one issue?????

people can and will focus on more than one thing at a time?????

 

[zruben]

So if this was just a halloween costume, then you would think it's racist?

not exactly; they key is respect. I'm making a generalization because cosplayers tends to be more respectful, Halloween costumes tends to be "for the lulz".

Not racist = accurately representing a character
Racist = mocking a character adding a negative feature

 

[Fusebox]

again, no one is calling her racist

You know this thread is still here right? I can see the posts.

 

[Wazzy]

I would have to change my appearance in several ways. One of those ways involves changing the tone of my skin. I can't make myself look like Michonne without changing my skin tone in this case. I have the opinion that you should only cosplay if you can cosplay well. So if you can't go from the first picture and make yourself look like the second picture well, don't do it.

Why exactly do you HAVE to change your skin colour to look like her? Does someone HAVE to be skinny to cosplay a skinny character? It's someone appreciating the character and you can do that without replicating every single little thing.

Cosplay isn't just about looking exactly like a character.

 

[zruben]

then please, show me all of this respectful cosplay full of painted black faces


no mr popos or that one Geordi La Forge

 

[SmackDaddy]

This generation calls everyone out on everything. I guess it's good; people will stop being idiots. But god damn, racial divides are fucking objective differences. The moment people stop being offended by innocent, good-willed mentions of this, than the world will be a better place.