The Little Mermaid Controversy Continues

[Cekoviu]

Ummm, doesn't Aladdin take place in Persia?

The original story is set in China, although the story was told by Syrian writer Hanna Diyab. Disney set in Arabia, however, since the story was part of One Thousand and One Nights; where exactly it takes place is uncertain, thought it definitely is somewhere in the Middle East.

Oh. I think the last time I watched the Disney film was when I was like 5, so I guess my memory isn't exactly clear.

[The Black Forrest]

The original story is set in China, although the story was told by Syrian writer Hanna Diyab. Disney set in Arabia, however, since the story was part of One Thousand and One Nights; where exactly it takes place is uncertain, thought it definitely is somewhere in the Middle East.

Oh. I think the last time I watched the Disney film was when I was like 5, so I guess my memory isn't exactly clear.

Never mind the fact; Disney isn’t about making documentaries.

[Deacarsia]

Oh ffs. How about simply enjoying the production if it’s good? What is it with people looking for hidden evil meanings in everything? Do these people know the singer for two Disney Princesses was a Filipina?

It’s almost looks like both sides are running away from the color blind society.

I do not care if the singer for two Disney Princesses was a Filipina. Voice acting is different than regular acting, where you both have to sound and look the part. I do enjoy the production if it is good, though most live action Disney movies have been rather bad lately, but casting actors who do not look the part breaks the willing suspension of disbelief.

[Imperial Esplanade]

Ariel is a mermaid; thus according to your logic, anything less than a real-life mermaid is unacceptable. Is it not?

Yes, she is a mermaid, but mermaids do not exist. The story is Danish, and actors should match the look of the part. It is not that complicated. I would be upset if a black actor played Mulan or an Asian actor played Martin Luther King.

You do realize that being Danish does not *require* one to be white, correct? Especially for a mermaid, that lives in the ocean? For all we know, the story written for this remake could entail a mermaid that swam from the coasts of Africa to Denmark. If that's the case, would you say the opposite must be the case? Furthermore, it seems you would be getting worked over a cartoon character. Ariel does not exist, cannot exist, and cannot ever have existed. The mere concept of the character is that of human imagination.

Really, the only thing that makes any sense in that post is Martin Luther King, and that is because he was an actual human being. There are obvious limitations to who can, realistically, portray the role.

[Deacarsia]

Oh. I think the last time I watched the Disney film was when I was like 5, so I guess my memory isn't exactly clear.

Never mind the fact; Disney isn’t about making documentaries.

Well, they do make some documentaries, like Bears, Monkey Kingdom, African Cats, or Penguins.

[West Leas Oros 2]

Yes, she is a mermaid, but mermaids do not exist. The story is Danish, and actors should match the look of the part. It is not that complicated. I would be upset if a black actor played Mulan or an Asian actor played Martin Luther King.

You do realize that being Danish does not *require* one to be white, correct? Especially for a mermaid, that lives in the ocean? For all we know, the story written could entail a mermaid that swam from the coasts of Africa to Denmark. If that's the case, would you say the opposite must be the case? Furthermore, it seems you would be getting worked over a cartoon character. Ariel does not exist, cannot exist, and cannot ever have existed. The mere concept of the character is that of human imagination.

Really, the only thing that makes any sense in that post is Martin Luther King, and that is because he was an actual human being. There are obvious limitations to who can, realistically, portray the role.

I think most people want it to match the original movie, as opposed to the real world.

[Cannot think of a name]

Oh ffs. How about simply enjoying the production if it’s good? What is it with people looking for hidden evil meanings in everything? Do these people know the singer for two Disney Princesses was a Filipina?

It’s almost looks like both sides are running away from the color blind society.

It's one dude having a fit on social media that he didn't get a part.

[Imperial Esplanade]

You do realize that being Danish does not *require* one to be white, correct? Especially for a mermaid, that lives in the ocean? For all we know, the story written could entail a mermaid that swam from the coasts of Africa to Denmark. If that's the case, would you say the opposite must be the case? Furthermore, it seems you would be getting worked over a cartoon character. Ariel does not exist, cannot exist, and cannot ever have existed. The mere concept of the character is that of human imagination.

Really, the only thing that makes any sense in that post is Martin Luther King, and that is because he was an actual human being. There are obvious limitations to who can, realistically, portray the role.

I think most people want it to match the original movie, as opposed to the real world.

Fortunately for them, the originals still do exist.

[West Leas Oros 2]

I think most people want it to match the original movie, as opposed to the real world.

Fortunately for them, the originals still do exist.

Yeah, I can't imagine why anyone would want to watch the live action remake anyway

[Deacarsia]

Yes, she is a mermaid, but mermaids do not exist. The story is Danish, and actors should match the look of the part. It is not that complicated. I would be upset if a black actor played Mulan or an Asian actor played Martin Luther King.

You do realize that being Danish does not *require* one to be white, correct? Especially for a mermaid, that lives in the ocean? For all we know, the story written for this remake could entail a mermaid that swam from the coasts of Africa to Denmark. If that's the case, would you say the opposite must be the case? Furthermore, it seems you would be getting worked over a cartoon character. Ariel does not exist, cannot exist, and cannot ever have existed. The mere concept of the character is that of human imagination.

Really, the only thing that makes any sense in that post is Martin Luther King, and that is because he was an actual human being. There are obvious limitations to who can, realistically, portray the role.

Mulan may or may not have existed, it is unclear.

The Little Mermaid was written in 1837, when pretty much all Danes were white, and the original adaptation portrayed the characters as white. If the movie did make Ariel African, then you might be right that they should try to cast a black actress, but this seems like a cheap excuse to veer from the source material. I am not getting worked up; I merely am expressing my opinion. Obviously Ariel does not exist, but the concept still should be faithful to the source material.

[Deacarsia]

You do realize that being Danish does not *require* one to be white, correct? Especially for a mermaid, that lives in the ocean? For all we know, the story written could entail a mermaid that swam from the coasts of Africa to Denmark. If that's the case, would you say the opposite must be the case? Furthermore, it seems you would be getting worked over a cartoon character. Ariel does not exist, cannot exist, and cannot ever have existed. The mere concept of the character is that of human imagination.

Really, the only thing that makes any sense in that post is Martin Luther King, and that is because he was an actual human being. There are obvious limitations to who can, realistically, portray the role.

I think most people want it to match the original movie, as opposed to the real world.

Exactly.

[Xmara]

Sounds like he’s just throwing a tantrum because he didn’t get the part. He’ll get over it.

[Dogmeat]

I think most people want it to match the original movie, as opposed to the real world.

Exactly.

I think most people don't want another sad, uninspired live-action cash-grab at all.

[Imperial Esplanade]

You do realize that being Danish does not *require* one to be white, correct? Especially for a mermaid, that lives in the ocean? For all we know, the story written for this remake could entail a mermaid that swam from the coasts of Africa to Denmark. If that's the case, would you say the opposite must be the case? Furthermore, it seems you would be getting worked over a cartoon character. Ariel does not exist, cannot exist, and cannot ever have existed. The mere concept of the character is that of human imagination.

Really, the only thing that makes any sense in that post is Martin Luther King, and that is because he was an actual human being. There are obvious limitations to who can, realistically, portray the role.

Mulan may or may not have existed, it is unclear.

The Little Mermaid was written in 1837, when pretty much all Danes were white, and the original adaptation portrayed the characters as white. If the movie did make Ariel African, then you might be right that they should try to cast a black actress, but this seems like a cheap excuse to veer from the source material. I am not getting worked up; I merely am expressing my opinion. Obviously Ariel does not exist, but the concept still should be faithful to the source material.

https://www.npr.org/2019/07/09/73995075 ... le-mermaid

Seems as if the original creator for the character largely dismisses the notion that, because of the fact "pretty much all Danes were white," that therefore Ariel, herself, must be white. If going off of the source material, it's inherently based on the premise of fiction, as opposed to reality. If it were the latter, she obviously wouldn't be half-fish. If we're making that argument, I don't see how it is remotely infeasible for there to be a black mermaid swimming in the oceans around Denmark, if it can be reasonably explained.

Honestly, for all we know, Halle Berry might have done such a tremendous audition that Disney felt they couldn't pass up on the opportunity to sign her for the role. She is a tremendous singer, and she may just be such an underrated actress as well. There are a lot of things that go into these decisions beside "let's do something different for the sake of doing something different." I doubt a corporation, such as Disney, would have done something like this haphazardly. They may not be what they used to be, but they still know what they are doing.

[The Black Forrest]

Oh ffs. How about simply enjoying the production if it’s good? What is it with people looking for hidden evil meanings in everything? Do these people know the singer for two Disney Princesses was a Filipina?

It’s almost looks like both sides are running away from the color blind society.

It's one dude having a fit on social media that he didn't get a part.

Hey it sounded better in my head

My kid is on the diversity avenger kick. So I hear about this topic all the time with just about every movie or play.

[Ifreann]

Or maybe Disney can just stop with the rehashes that are never as good as the originals?

I doubt that it is possible for Disney to do that.

---

Diversity in media is when every role in every movie goes to white people *nods*

This is an impressive Strawman, truly a masterpiece of logical fallacies!

It's perfectly simple. You seem to think that letting non-white people audition for parts is enough, just do that and there's no problem. But casting isn't a neutral process. It certainly isn't a strictly meritocratic process. So it could very easily happen that there would be nothing but white actors in every movie and apparently you would be fine with that.

---

Including everyone instead of having nothing but white people does mean fewer white people. There are only so many films being made, you know.

Well yeah of course it technically means that, but I'm more talking about people getting upset if anything but a extra is a white person lol

So what I'm to understand here is that you do actually think that they're right, diversity does mean fewer white people, but you still disagree with them.

---

It's problematic to some if a non-white person is cast as Ariel. It's problematic to others if a white person is cast as Prince Eric.

The rest of us move on with life as healthy adults, because it's a children's movie and the color of the skin of the actors and actresses have zero effect on the roles they are intended to portray, or their ability to portray them.

Diversity in media is important, especially media meant for children.

---

Which is likely zero, because we all know these live-action adaptations of Disney films end up being shit.

Exactly. It is like Disney ran out of ideas, so they are recycling old ones.

I am sure that Walt Disney is rolling in his grave at the propaganda made by his movie studio.

I dare say old Uncle Walt wouldn't give much of a shit as long as there was money being made.

---

Oh. I think the last time I watched the Disney film was when I was like 5, so I guess my memory isn't exactly clear.

Never mind the fact; Disney isn’t about making documentaries.

Disney has made several documentaries. What Disney is about is making money.

---

You do realize that being Danish does not *require* one to be white, correct? Especially for a mermaid, that lives in the ocean? For all we know, the story written for this remake could entail a mermaid that swam from the coasts of Africa to Denmark. If that's the case, would you say the opposite must be the case? Furthermore, it seems you would be getting worked over a cartoon character. Ariel does not exist, cannot exist, and cannot ever have existed. The mere concept of the character is that of human imagination.

Really, the only thing that makes any sense in that post is Martin Luther King, and that is because he was an actual human being. There are obvious limitations to who can, realistically, portray the role.

Mulan may or may not have existed, it is unclear.

The Little Mermaid was written in 1837, when pretty much all Danes were white, and the original adaptation portrayed the characters as white. If the movie did make Ariel African, then you might be right that they should try to cast a black actress, but this seems like a cheap excuse to veer from the source material. I am not getting worked up; I merely am expressing my opinion. Obviously Ariel does not exist, but the concept still should be faithful to the source material.

Why?

[The Black Forrest]

Disney has made several documentaries. What Disney is about is making money.

Oh fuck off with your facts.

I should have clarified I was thinking of the Princess movies....



As a former employee of Disney; I can vouch for the money comment

-edit-

opps make that a former cast member as you are not an employee

[Nuroblav]

I really don't understand some people. It's just a bloody film! Diversity doesn't mean 'muh non-whites', it means accepting anyone regardless of who they are. That doesn't necessarily mean having to force other races down our throats. When I see a film, I don't care about their races.

[Ifreann]

I really don't understand some people. It's just a bloody film! Diversity doesn't mean 'muh non-whites', it means accepting anyone regardless of who they are. That doesn't necessarily mean having to force other races down our throats. When I see a film, I don't care about their races.

Diversity does mean forcing other races down your throat. Diversity won't just happen on its own, we have to actively create the post-racial society we want to live in.

[Vassenor]

I thought the controversy was the role didn't go to Harry Styles like the internet decided it was supposed to.

[Nuroblav]

I really don't understand some people. It's just a bloody film! Diversity doesn't mean 'muh non-whites', it means accepting anyone regardless of who they are. That doesn't necessarily mean having to force other races down our throats. When I see a film, I don't care about their races.

Diversity does mean forcing other races down your throat. Diversity won't just happen on its own, we have to actively create the post-racial society we want to live in.

Yeah I was on rant mode then

I thought the controversy was the role didn't go to Harry Styles like the internet decided it was supposed to.

Of course the Internet gets angry at that. It would be interesting to see some pop stars actually pick up an instrument and write their own songs.

[Liriena]

Inclusion in art is important but jesus fucking christ I'm tired of the constant borderline incestuous circle-jerking within the American culture industry about which corporate cultural product is the most "woke".

I don't even want a Little Mermaid remake.

[Liriena]

I thought the controversy was the role didn't go to Harry Styles like the internet decided it was supposed to.

Tbf, Harry Styles landing the role of Eric would have made me actually want to see this movie.

[Samadhi]

I really don't understand some people. It's just a bloody film! Diversity doesn't mean 'muh non-whites', it means accepting anyone regardless of who they are. That doesn't necessarily mean having to force other races down our throats. When I see a film, I don't care about their races.

Diversity does mean forcing other races down your throat. Diversity won't just happen on its own, we have to actively create the post-racial society we want to live in.

Ok boomer

[Cannot think of a name]

Diversity does mean forcing other races down your throat. Diversity won't just happen on its own, we have to actively create the post-racial society we want to live in.

Ok boomer

Boomer level misapplication of a meme leveled at boomers. Meta.