If it doesn't matter then why defend it so much? I didn't like that movie anyways. You do have a point in that whiteface was actually historically used to mock Irish people. I don't know why people weren't offended by white chicks. Maybe some people were, but I'm personally not. I guess it's because In American media black people have been mocked much more often, and perhaps the most in the past, not white people. There's also a huge difference in offensive content given context. This movie vs the old footage of Judy Garland are entirely different. Her scenario, poor thing, was meant to be mocking
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PrimeMinisterX (8716)
3 months ago
I think we have to differentiate between actual blackface, like they did in minstrel shows back in the day--which I agree is offensive and I can't blame someone for being offended by it--and simply using make-up to darken (or lighten, as the case may be) someone's appearance in order to look more like a character they're portraying.
I think that the intention is what matters. RDJ got away with it in Tropic Thunder for the very reason that people knew he wasn't intending to denigrate black folks, but I doubt Hollywood would even attempt that today.
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