Well, for a start I think there's a problem with thinking that all that matters about a would-be anti-racist film is it's effect on white audiences. What about being an inspiration to non-white/POC audience members? Or at the very least, entertaining without making them want to hit their head against a wall at the racism (cutting down the emotional energy wasted on being upset by racism would have a HUGE anti-racist effect, since it would give POC/non-white people more energy to do other things)
I agree that a white protagonist can help audiences identify, and as I said in my post there's nothing inherently wrong with telling stories about white anti-racists. But there are more and less racist ways of telling such stories, and I think they should be in the minority of anti-racist stories we tell (I mean: should feminist stories be mostly about men?). Something that struck me replying to someone above is that I've encountered white "anti-racists" who buy into the white-hero story, and their commitment to anti-racism ends the moment a POC/non-white person contradicts them, or they don't get cookies and gratitude every time they do the least anti-racist thing. Maybe if these people encountered the idea of POC/non-white people controlling their own destiny and taking charge of the anti-racist movement in fiction they wouldn't freak out so badly when they encountered it in person.
I admit my argument about Dollhouse is a little shaky (I don't take it back, but am not certain enough to defend it with much vigour) It was just the best example that came to mind.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I agree that a white protagonist can help audiences identify, and as I said in my post there's nothing inherently wrong with telling stories about white anti-racists. But there are more and less racist ways of telling such stories, and I think they should be in the minority of anti-racist stories we tell (I mean: should feminist stories be mostly about men?). Something that struck me replying to someone above is that I've encountered white "anti-racists" who buy into the white-hero story, and their commitment to anti-racism ends the moment a POC/non-white person contradicts them, or they don't get cookies and gratitude every time they do the least anti-racist thing. Maybe if these people encountered the idea of POC/non-white people controlling their own destiny and taking charge of the anti-racist movement in fiction they wouldn't freak out so badly when they encountered it in person.
I admit my argument about Dollhouse is a little shaky (I don't take it back, but am not certain enough to defend it with much vigour) It was just the best example that came to mind.