Since 2015 started, I can’t think of a new story where
people haven’t moaned about the way in which people have been represented in it
and it is getting on my nerves.
The Charlie Hebdo attack was terrible. I watched it on the
news and it shocked, saddened and scared me. But whilst I was watching the new
story I was repeatedly told how it was an attack from Muslims and how horrible
Muslims are.
Thankfully, I’ve been brought up with enough awareness to
not take things for face value. If I was naïve enough, it would seem like the
press want to force-feed me some Islamaphobia.
It wasn’t an attack from Muslims. It was an attack from
people.
Whether you are white or black, male or female, gay,
straight, bi ugly, beautiful, happy, depressed, young or old, Muslim, EDL,
whatever you are. You aren’t part of the label, you are a person just like
everyone else is.
I’m not Harry the White British Gay Student. I’m just Harry.
Obviously there are differences from me to Barack Obama. I
am white. He is black. And it is perfectly fine to describe that difference. It
isn’t racist to say he is black because he is. It isn’t racist to say I’m white
because I am. It isn’t a fault that I was born this way. Lady Gaga, you feel
me? But the minute that difference becomes more than a fact, it is racist. And
it is unnesseccary. When the fact I am white suddenly means I am a slave driver
and I hate black people and I should feel ashamed of history of white people
(that I wasn’t a part of and couldn’t change); When all of these things become
more important than what I have actually done and achieved, that is when we have a problem.
When I tell people about uni I don’t say ‘Oh yeah well I
live with 5 white girls and 3 black girls’. I don’t even hardly mention I live
with girls. I say I live with 8 housemates. Not because I don’t want people to
know about these people. Just because it doesn’t actually matter to anyone
else.
The other day, we was talking about the new Annie that has
just been released with a black actress playing the lead role.
For this example I‘ll refer to peoples skin colour just
because I love reaffirming stereotypes and labels. It was a
serious conversation and the quotes aren’t 100% accurate but very similar.
White: I wanna watch
Annie now. The old one, not the new one.
Black: Why not the new
one? Because she’s black. Why you being racist?
White: I’m not being
racist. I don’t wanna watch the new one because its shit and it isn’t shit
because the lead is a black actress. It’s just a shit remake.
And I can’t agree more. The new film is just shit. Not
because of the race of the actors. Just because it’s not the original.
I can appreciate why people are happy to see diversity like
this in the media. And I would be happy to see gay people represented in more
areas such as sport. But not because they are gay but because they are doing what
they want do and aren’t restricted because of their labels, showing other gay
people that it’s totally dare I say it, normal. Just like it’s normal that a
black child can be Annie.
By highlighting a difference and playing on the fact that,
for example, Princess Tiana from ‘The Princess and the Frog’ is a black
princess is reaffirming that she is different to all of the other princesses. I
can totally appreciate that a black princess in a Disney film is a massive
milestone and one that should be celebrated and people notified of, but it
shouldn’t be the sole reason you go to see a film. Because a move towards
equality is not having a notified difference between anybody.
I’m making a documentary at the moment looking at the
representation of LGBT characters and themes in fairy tales. I’m not there to
celebrate a huge leap towards equality if two princes fall in love. I’m looking
to see if people feel unrepresented in fairy tales and how this affects people’s
upbringings. Not ‘oh your gay you have to love this story where two princes
meet and live happily ever after just because you’re a raving homosexual and it
was made just for you.’ If there are gay characters in stories, so what. Yep.
Some kids will learn about gay characters and it will make them feel more
comfortable growing up. It will also show they are no different to the kid that
is learning from the heterosexual story.
Diversity at the Oscars: if you have made a good film. Well
done. Pat on the back for you. I don’t care if you happen to be a white male.
You made a good film and you should be praised for that. I don’t care if next
year it is all black females. Well done, you made a good film. Pat on the back
also.
I’m getting bored now. Both at me ranting and the thought
that people don’t already know this.
See you later, the White British Male. Slay me.
