What's up with the racial inuendos?
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obishawn-2 — 19 years ago(December 21, 2006 10:11 PM)
It had nothing to do with race, those things were plot points, building up to the point to where Val felt left out and that the band was all about Josey. They had to use Val because Mel is too stupid to realize what Wyatt was up to.
I know this because Tyler knows this. -
MsDeTamble — 16 years ago(October 12, 2009 06:14 PM)
Hahaha duuuudee I was only kidding. I don't have anything against Alan Cumming at all. I simply adore Rosario Dawson. I don't actually believe that. It was some light-hearted sarcasm in order to show my support and love of one of my favorite ladies on the big screen. (And, an under-noticed and under-appreciated, talentd, young actress at that.)
And what of Henry, my Odysseus? Henry is an artist of another sort, a disappearing artist. (P. 285) -
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MsDeTamble — 16 years ago(October 13, 2009 08:41 PM)
I just think that this film has a lot of greats in it that we hardly ever notice. And I kinda wish that it had been a bit more of a hit in its day, because I really enjoyed it.
And what of Henry, my Odysseus? Henry is an artist of another sort, a disappearing artist. (P. 285) -
GlitterEyeMakeup — 19 years ago(January 09, 2007 10:10 PM)
as others have said, it wasn't racial, she got left behind as a form of foreshadowing,
but the other thing, about "incredibly tan", HELLO PEOPLE! Wyatt was albino, remember? He was sad and jealous. duh. -
hallogallo — 18 years ago(April 14, 2007 07:19 PM)
I haven't seen this film in ages but I remember the gags you mention.
I wasn't sure quite how to take them. I thought maybe it was because she was smarter that Josie and Melody, but at the same time it remminded me of a british group called Eternal.
They were a four piece r&b girl group, 3 black + 1 white. Over here, no one noticed or cared, ditto in europe and asia. However when the band tried to break the USA the record company cut Louise (the white girl) out of at least 1 of their videos and re-tinted (along with cutting all close-ups of Louise) another so the bands racial mix wasn't obvious(!). Louise also complained that during radio/TV interviews and promotional "meet & greets" she was often sidelined or outright ignored.
While all this occured before the movie came out (Louise left the band in 1995 if I remember rightly, with Josie coming out in 2001, meaning the script probably would have been drafted around 1998/99), I think it reflected that race around that time was probably still an issue for many people in the USA music industry.
Maybe the writers were reflecting that. That said, such a sudject doesn't sit well with the rest of the film, so I'm tempted to go along with the "she was the smart one" theory.
"I think you're a load of old crap too, Mr Mulligan." -
LeoOfLethe — 18 years ago(April 25, 2007 01:22 PM)
She was left behind because she was more aware of the change in their group dynamic. She was referred to as 'incredibly tan' because:
1.) she is tan
2.) it's potlitically correct and
3.) being a black person is not as vogue or main stream as being tan. -
jondoe6 — 18 years ago(January 22, 2008 06:37 AM)
It could be racist, it could be race. It may have just been packaging, as in how do you sell a band to a black american audience who has one white in it? Doesn't fit the sacred mold. How stupid.
Scarlett - thanks for replying. I thought you were overly sensitive in your question, and from all the replies come a lot of different viewpoints. Hate to warmy say we all learned something here, but we did. 'Racial' posts often devolve into the opinions of loud morons. (unfortunately, it's human nature)
Love the 'expendable bass player' remark - like the exploding drummers in 'spinal tap'. -
moviesrgreat89 — 18 years ago(March 14, 2008 03:55 AM)
I think your looking entirely too much into that. The limo started to drive off without her because she was the only one at the time questioning Wyatt's judgement about the welfare of the band (the discussion about the billboard). Remember when Melody started saying that Fiona creeped her out he was ready to just kill the both of them.
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lonewolf90 — 17 years ago(April 20, 2008 07:20 AM)
Yeah, I think you're a little over-sensitive. It's just cataloguing all the moments 'Val' felt left out and all the glory and fame went to Josie. Shes considered so unimportant that she doesnt get an invite and the limo leaves before her.
Remember this was originally a comic book and Valerie is incredible tan (in the words of Wyatt) in the archies. So I dont think shes added to poke fun of race or too sell to a black audience (who every suggested that above). Thats how the plot flowed. Melanie was too oblivious and didnt care, she was happy to be with her friends and on this magical experience and that only leaves one person. Valerie. Its just the beginnings of the thickening plot.
