Raq, I prefer to think of the casting from the actor's perspective.
They want more opportunities and to play a variety of roles, including cowardly villains.
That seems better than to try and control all the positive role models aspects.
It's sort of like the old complaint that minorities only got cast as aliens in science fiction series. Maybe so, and that's problematic, however from the actor's POV it's better to be able to play Worf and that character's story. Especially since a lot of the options for minority actors range from whore to gangster.
I mean, one way to look at it is "this kid wears a hoodie and magic athletic shoes, let's make him black!" And another way to look at it is "this kid's a satyr, and closer to nature...let's make him black!" And a third way to look at it is "this kid's a coward, let's make him black!"
Couldn't there also be a fourth way to look at it? Like, "Hi kid - which role do you want to play?" "This one." "Ok, audition for it." and then he does and he gets it?
That's not to say that sometimes there aren't nefarious things going on, but couldn't there also NOT be?
Maybe so, and that's problematic, however from the actor's POV it's better to be able to play Worf and that character's story.
Better to be able to play Worf than Picard? Or Crusher? Why?
That's not to say that sometimes there aren't nefarious things going on, but couldn't there also NOT be?
I wouldn't necessarily say "nefarious" but my understanding is that there is almost ALWAYS a "we need a minority - which characters can we make the black guy?" meeting.
Better to be able to play Worf than Picard? Or Crusher? Why?
Because Picard and Crusher were boring and Worf had a far richer character history?
Because Picard and Crusher were boring and Worf had a far richer character history?
Worf had one, very guttural, note. Crusher, yeah, boring, but I don't think she was more boring than Worf, save he got fight scenes.
Picard, OTOH, got screen time. He got to count lights, and play the flute. Data got to explore the nature of humanity. I hated Data, but he definitely had "stuff" to work with. Worf, not much of a challenge.
Same with Teal'c, on SG-1.
Aw, I loved Worf! Then again, I also loved Crusher. And since ita brought it up:
THERE ARE 4 LIGHTS!!!!
Same with Teal'c, on SG-1.
And Ronon on SGA. And pretty much Teyla. Not that SGA gave anyone anything to do not named McKay. And that wasn't a proper character.
THERE ARE 4 LIGHTS!!!!
That
is a fuck-yeah moment.
