Michael Bay's thing with black people.

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Odoul said:
He doesn't even deviate from it a little bit. Sure it's all over hollywood but he seems to specialize in it. Maybe if he threw in an honest black character just once (or his movies weren't so terrible) I wouldn't notice.


I'm not saying it's malicious. It might not even be explicitly his intentions and that really is all he knows what to do with black people.
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you might be right, but I can't see the dude doing it from a racist perspective.

I think it's more from a 'look guys, I GET IT' when he doesn't get it.

also neorej got it right. he stereotypes everything.
 
His first movie was Bad Boys.

How many movies out there have 2 black main actors playing action heroes? Successfully?

Who gives a shit about honesty, as if the white characters in his movies were any different. They are always crazy and exaggerated for effect
 
WrikaWrek said:
His first movie was Bad Boys.

How many movies out there have 2 black main actors playing action heroes? Successfully?

Who gives a shit about honesty, as if the white characters in his movies were any different. They are always crazy and exaggerated for effect
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wasn't "Boy" a derogatory term used amongst white men to describe adult black men?
 
Rofl I heard one reviewer call some transformers in transformers 2 the step n' fetch robots. They also called bay a raging frat boy which best desccribes these stereotype problems. They are funny to him..and probably other people. It's largely irrelevant if he's racist or not (probably not). These stereotypes just make him giggle and many a black folk just like myself are probably annoyed by them.

and boy was never a racial term. It's just a belittling term that I guess we are more likely to catch than other people.
 
LOL but it was okay when Undercover Bother and White Chicks made racial stereotypes about white people. Its all meant to be fun, dont take it so seriously.

Edit: And WTF? It was a damn robot, it doesnt have a race! :lol :lol
 
JimmyV said:
LOL but it was okay when Undercover Bother and White Chicks made racial stereotypes about white people. Its all meant to be fun, dont take it so seriously.

Edit: And WTF? It was a damn robot, it doesnt have a race! :lol :lol
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lol since when was it ok..both of those movies got panned and tanked like nobody's business.

Edit: actually undercover brother is RT fresh...Now i don't feel so bad about loving that movie. I think i'm gonna go buy it on DVD today shiit
 
_dementia said:
wasn't "Boy" a derogatory term used amongst white men to describe adult black men?
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B0001GOHS4.jpg


THOSE RACIST BASTARDS!!!!
:lol :lol :lol
 
I agree that the twins are racist stereotypes and that Paramount and Bay should be ashamed and apologize for this. As I said in the review topic:

Also the Twins are just down right racist. I am shocked that those two made it past the censors and studio executives. I will be truly shocked if the black community isn't demanding an apology from Paramount and Bay by the end of the week. These characters weren't over-the-top like Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder. They were just flat out crude stereotypes.

I think some people in here are attempting downplay or derail this issue by throwing out far reaching theories on other possible Bay wrongs, such as _dementia and his "Bad Boys" comment above. Hell, some of you may as well say that the Twins are red and green which happens to be the same color as watermelon. RASITS!

No, there is no mistake that the Twins were suppose to represent a black stereotypes.

-One gold tooth
-Buck toothed
-Urban slang/ Jive
-Can't Read
-Popping caps in people's ass
-Gangsters
-Unintelligent

It isn't right, and it shouldn't be tolerated.
 
duckroll said:
Yes, I'm sure Michael Bay is racist. That must be why the first movie he directed was Bay Boys, and the first sequel he ever directed was Bad Boys 2.
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Nobody is calling Bay racist.
 
Instead of featuring fast-talking, jive robots, the next Transformers should have Autobots that complain incessantly, are far too concerned with minute amounts of money, and a hood ornament, that upon transformation into their anthropomorphic forms, should appear like a huge crook nose.
 
NR1 said:
No, there is no mistake that the Twins were suppose to represent a black stereotypes.

-One gold tooth
-Buck toothed
-Urban slang/ Jive
-Can't Read
-Popping caps in people's ass
-Gangsters
-Unintelligent

It isn't right, and it shouldn't be tolerated.
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If you attribute those characteristics to black people, then you are the racist. I could point to any number of characters in other movies with these same traits and they aren't black. Neither are the characters in TF2, because they are robots. If, instead of a robot, Michael Bay had a white guy in the movie holding a cardboard cutout of a robot, would you still say he was a "black stereotype?"

Because, that's exactly what is happening. Only instead of standing on set, the white guy is standing in a recording studio and instead of cardboard, digital effect representing a robot are used.
 
Dali said:
I agree it's not something he should be criticized for. People want realism and unfortunately to everybody, except Black people, the sassy receptionist (this isn't just a Bay hallmark), the asshole police chief, or the classic "mammy" character is what the general populace thinks is real enough. Show a suave Black character and they better be played by Denzel or Will otherwise the audience will get confused.
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Bunk would like a word.

I see the point you're making, though. The Wire's lack of initial commercial (and even critical!) success is likely partly instigated by America's difficulty in responding to non-stereotypical black characters.
 
AVclub said:
If you attribute those characteristics to black people, then you are the racist. I could point to any number of characters in other movies with these same traits and they aren't black. Neither are the characters in TF2, because they are robots. If, instead of a robot, Michael Bay had a white guy in the movie holding a cardboard cutout of a robot, would you still say he was a "black stereotype?"

Because, that's exactly what is happening. Only instead of standing on set, the white guy is standing in a recording studio and instead of cardboard, digital effect representing a robot are used.
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"Ghetto" culture is something I see in more white kids than black kids, yet whenever I see anyone making fun of that culture they're described as a racist.
 
AVclub said:
If you attribute those characteristics to black people, then you are the racist. I could point to any number of characters in other movies with these same traits and they aren't black. Neither are the characters in TF2, because they are robots. If, instead of a robot, Michael Bay had a white guy in the movie holding a cardboard cutout of a robot, would you still say he was a "black stereotype?"

Because, that's exactly what is happening. Only instead of standing on set, the white guy is standing in a recording studio and instead of cardboard, digital effect representing a robot are used.
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Then I guess I'm a racist for thinking the same with the Mammy character in Tom and Jerry cartoons, what with her being a stereotypical slack-jawed, uneducated domestic.

But no, she's just a cartoon. Just ink on some paper. Some white guy actually drew her.
 
NR1 said:
I agree that the twins are racist stereotypes and that Paramount and Bay should be ashamed and apologize for this. As I said in the review topic:

Also the Twins are just down right racist. I am shocked that those two made it past the censors and studio executives. I will be truly shocked if the black community isn't demanding an apology from Paramount and Bay by the end of the week. These characters weren't over-the-top like Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder. They were just flat out crude stereotypes.

I think some people in here are attempting downplay or derail this issue by throwing out far reaching theories on other possible Bay wrongs, such as _dementia and his "Bad Boys" comment above. Hell, some of you may as well say that the Twins are red and green which happens to be the same color as watermelon. RASITS!

No, there is no mistake that the Twins were suppose to represent a black stereotypes.

-One gold tooth
-Buck toothed
-Urban slang/ Jive
-Can't Read
-Popping caps in people's ass
-Gangsters
-Unintelligent

It isn't right, and it shouldn't be tolerated.
Click to expand...

I think Bay and Paramount shouldn't apologize for this. First of all, apparently you associate these traits with black people, so if you consider this being racist, maybe you are racist.
Second of all, as long as black people try their damn best to fit the stereotype described above, I don't find it something other people should apologize for.
Third, I would like to quote myself here:
neorej said:
To kick this thread back to Bay and his racism: Dad takes son to buy car but is a cheapass, his lawn is holy, mom is the typical "I don't know what's going on, but I'll roll along because dad probably knows best"-type, Sam is your typical high-school loser-turned-hero, Mikaela is the typical hot-chick-bored-with-hot-guys-kinda girl, and then there's the typical meany that wants to destroy the world helped by a bunch of henchman, each with exactly ONE characteristic, and the group of heroes, composed of the valiant and wise leader, a dude who does weapons, a healer, a comic relief, and a weaker one that gets the audience's sympathy. Then there's the US Army, who do nothing but scream very loudly and shoot a LOT. Of course, Bay threw in a group of hackers which is your typical bunch: a nerd, a hot chick, and the outsider that is absolutely genius and hacks a signal that the entire department of defence could not hack within fucking seconds. Then there's the secret agency dudes that are so arrogant it stinks and the DoD-people that are fucking stupid and triggerhappy.

GOD DAMN YOU MICHAEL BAY FOR STEREOTYPING BLACK PEOPLE!
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The movie was racist as hell. Plain and simple. However it wasn't done in a hurtful way they just made everything rather silly. Michael Bay did manage to get a stereotype in there for just about everything.
 
Phobophile said:
Then I guess I'm a racist for thinking the same with the Mammy character in Tom and Jerry cartoons, what with her being a stereotypical slack-jawed, uneducated domestic.

But no, she's just a cartoon. Just ink on some paper. Some white guy actually drew her.
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I'm glad you admit it. You are a racist. They never showed the woman's face in Tom & Jerry, only her feet. So there's no way you can tell she was "slack-jawed" and being uneducated and a domestic is not some sort of black stereotype. My Jewish grandmother was one of them. She also has gold teeth, btw. She like watermelon and chicken as well.

The difference between a racist and a non-racist: When someone gives an inanimate object like a rock or a cloud or a bush human characteristics, normal people will say, "Oh look, it's a goofy guy." Or maybe, "Hey that looks just like a frog." The racist will say, "Oh look, it's a goofy Mexican." or "Hey that looks just like a French frog!"

That's the case here. A hunk of metal acts stupid and violent and has big ears so in a racist's mind, it must be a "black stereotype." Sorry, but I just don't see it that way.
 
I haven't seen the movie and I don't care about "black acting" robots, but those images of the robots in the link do seem apelike. Again, I haven't seen the movie, so I don't know if it appears that way on screen as well, but if they made these robots "act black" while looking apelike, when the rest of the robots look like insects, that would be very insulting.
 
SanjuroTsubaki said:
The movie was racist as hell. Plain and simple. However it wasn't done in a hurtful way they just made everything rather silly. Michael Bay did manage to get a stereotype in there for just about everything.
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That's what he does best.
 
As a black person I don't see what the problem is. I think people have too much time on their hands looking for something to fuss at. If you are letting a movie have that kind of effect on you, you need to reconsider your life.
 
Slayven said:
As a black person I don't see what the problem is. I think people have too much time on their hands looking for something to fuss at. If you are letting a movie have that kind of effect on you, you need to reconsider your life.
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You seem too educated to be a black person according to the Bay. If he were to cast you, you would be the slightly more intelligent soldier with crazy ideas that might work.
 
Rappers are a negative stereotype. That's what the industry thrives on: selling the stereotype to the masses. If you're going to get offended, I hope you also get worked up into a rage every time you browse the hip-hop section of a CD store. Or watch a music video for that matter. Gold teeth, broken English, and violence a'plenty.

It's not necessarily based on ethnicity either, although our society has a nasty habit of describing whites who embrace hip-hop culture as acting "black." These stereotypes are an unfortunate fact in the entertainment industry. Michael Bay sure as hell isn't the only one playing off of them.
 
SanjuroTsubaki said:
You seem too educated to be a black person according to the Hollywood action movies. If he were to cast you, you would be the slightly more intelligent soldier with crazy ideas that might work.
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Fixed.
 
AVclub said:
If you attribute those characteristics to black people, then you are the racist.
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Yes, that is right. I am the only person in the entire world that uniquly holds the point of view that these characteristics represent black people in a negative light. *rolls eyes*

Give me a break, are you honestly accusing me of racism for identifying common racial stereotypes and calling it out?! Really? By that logic, then anyone that happens to notice a racial stereotype is racist. I guess we should all just go around and pretend we don't see these things.

Here we go:

Some viewers have said two jive-talking Chevy characters, Skids and Mudflap, are racial charicatures who constantly brawl and bicker in rap-inspired street slang.

...

But one New York cinemagoer said: "It's one thing when robot cars are racial stereotypes but the movie also had a bucktoothed black guy who is briefly in one scene who's also a stereotype."

Skids and Mudflap are forced to acknowledge that they can't read, and one has a gold tooth.

...
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Link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h0UUXef0nXgWrfESq89cWjqHsZ8w

THE PRESS ASSOCIATION IS RACIST!!!!
 
omg rite said:
Fixed.
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You didn't fix it. Michael Bay's approach is just so juvenile that he gets away with it as toilet humor. Most Hollywood films done by competent directors don't look so foolish having black characters stumble all around.
 
SanjuroTsubaki said:
You didn't fix it. Michael Bay's approach is just so juvenile that he gets away with it as toilet humor. Most Hollywood films done by competent directors don't look so foolish having black characters stumble all around.
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Dude, show me virtually any fast-paced popcorn action flick that features black people and I'll show you stereotypes.
 
Foxtastical said:
Tyler Perry makes bad movies.
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Pretty much. IMO, unless you can show that a stereotype is portrayed maliciously or in bad faith, then it's hard for me to worry about it, considering that movies made / produced by black or Hispanic actors / producers are CONSTANTLY engaging in some of the most over the top stereotyping.
 
nyong said:
Dude, show me virtually any fast-paced popcorn action flick that features black people and I'll show you stereotypes.
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...you just don't seem to get it. I'll just throw out Predator as an example to humor you.
 
AVclub said:
I'm glad you admit it. You are a racist. They never showed the woman's face in Tom & Jerry, only her feet. So there's no way you can tell she was "slack-jawed" and being uneducated and a domestic is not some sort of black stereotype. My Jewish grandmother was one of them. She also has gold teeth, btw. She like watermelon and chicken as well.

The difference between a racist and a non-racist: When someone gives an inanimate object like a rock or a cloud or a bush human characteristics, normal people will say, "Oh look, it's a goofy guy." Or maybe, "Hey that looks just like a frog." The racist will say, "Oh look, it's a goofy Mexican." or "Hey that looks just like a French frog!"

That's the case here. A hunk of metal acts stupid and violent and has big ears so in a racist's mind, it must be a "black stereotype." Sorry, but I just don't see it that way.
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Just because you don't acknowledge the existence of stereotypes doesn't make you an anti-racism saint. It just makes you oblivious to the obvious racial tensions and standards/double-standards.
 
Foxtastical said:
Tyler Perry makes bad movies.
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Yes he does.

My sister and I have gotten into heated arguments because I refuse to give him money too.

And I've heard this brought up before. "If you saw them as mocking black people you're the racist."

Really? Someone throws in decades old characteristics of what popular American culture has said is representative of black people into nonhuman characters. I notice it, and I'm the bigot for smelling the turd someone dropped on my plate.

Am I racist because I can tell what race these characters are a play on?
crows.jpg


And speaking of directors and stereotypes, Ridley Scott and John Carpenter both seem to have no problem casting black people and avoiding the easy stereotype. They also happen to be two of my favorites.


Carpenter even manages to have actual asian characters (in a movie where it seemed like caricatures would have been incredibly easy). And you can get away with murder as far as stereotyping asians in this country goes.
 
SanjuroTsubaki said:
...you just don't seem to get it. I'll just throw out Predator as an example to humor you.
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Of course I get it. People are only angry because the characters are goofy. Hollywood has created a trend of featuring entirely stereotypical black characters, with all the hip-hop stereotypical traits, but making them rational super-geniuses to sugarcoat it. Bay went goofy and people got mad. The truth is, aspects of his characters can be found anywhere in the entertainment industry. And the music industry is one place where the entirely negative stereotype still thrives- just listen to Kanye college-is-for-losers West. Or the sport's world for another example.

I will need to look over the characters in Predator again. It's been a long time since I've seen it.
 
gamergirly said:
This thread isn't going to end well. Stereotyping never does
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well, I don't see many black guys complaining about the large penis stereotype.
 
catfish said:
well, I don't see many black guys complaining about the large penis stereotype.
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Friend if mine does. Whenever he picks up a girl in a bar, she shows dissapointment at the trousers-off-moment.
 
duckroll said:
Boy, this sure is getting out of hand. :lol
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How so? Just because we're willing to admit something is stereotypical (Not necessarily racist) and an obvious negative depiction of Black culture?
 
I like the implication that Hollywood doesn't give enough serious roles to black people. In reality, it's probably more like this:

http://www.adultswim.com/video/?episodeID=0b10620594ec609f73480161a2905da1

Anytime I see a movie or show where the bad guy is black, he's almost always the most well spoken and intelligent person in the production (American Gangster, Crash, the first group in the first season of The Wire (I haven't watched much of this show yet unfortunately)). I can't think of any stupid black villains in recent years. Apparently the racism is all in small parts where a character says a passing line about how crazy it is to see giant robots fighting or something.
 
neorej said:
Friend if mine does. Whenever he picks up a girl in a bar, she shows dissapointment at the trousers-off-moment.
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hahahaha

yeah, ok those guys must actually REALLY hate that stereotype.
 
Eh, I would like it if they had more black characters that deviated from the expected stereotypes more often - but it happens for a lot of minorities. And I don't even think there is much (if any) malice involved, it's just what people know/what appeals to people.

If I was being portrayed in a movie about my life, I don't think ANYONE could get away with attributing any black-stereotypes to my role, I just wish I saw things like that more often in movies, but I don't sweat it.

One thing I do notice is that they try and get -certain- actors to play the parts of the non-gangsta/super stereotypical black roles, might just be a co-incidence though.

And people wondering about white people who play nerdy roles - well white people play everything in movies. Frequently. So you don't see them attached to any particular stereotype very often.
 
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