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Our Heroes inspire us to be greater than, to become greater like them. Our Heroes embody the values, way of being and actions we aspire to. Our Heroes arise out of diverse communities. Because Heroes crystallize the values we covet, they transcend across virtually all cultures. Yet the paradox, perhaps is that each Hero culture in inception creates their hero like themselves, in their own image.
In 2018 Director Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther” was the worldwide hit, making more than $1 billion in 26 days. “Black Panther” tells the Hero story of African King T’Challa powerfully portrayed by Chadwick Boseman. The inspired “Black Panther” tells the story of defining yourself and becoming greater than you know yourself to be.
With its largely African American cast, “Black Panther” offers the transcendent African Hero to the masses embraced by not only the African American Community, but by the world at large. “Black Panther” is Hollywood’s reckoning: We want to see movies about diverse Heroes with diverse culture.
In a press interview Chadwick talked about attending the “Black Panther” World Premiere in South Korea. One of the visually stunning action sequences in the movie was filmed in Pusan.
Chadwick said that at the movie premiere in Seoul, many people attending wore traditional Korean attire. He was blown away. He knew then that they struck a cultural chord. At some of the showings in the US, some African American audience members wore traditional African dress to the movie theaters. So do our heroes really have to look like us?
I’m Japanese American. I’m all in for cultural diversity. Yet, I muse over my own Asian culture’s outrage over “whitewashing” in movies. Apparently, “whitewashing” occurs when the movie or television show with a written Asian character casts the white actor instead of the presumed Asian one.
The “whitewashing” tipping point occurred years ago in 1972 with the ABC television series “Kung Fu”. Bruce Lee originated the concept of the half-Chinese half-American Shaolin Priest traveling the Old West of the 1870’s helping those weaker with his Taoist philosophy and kung fu mastery. Jerry Thrope and Ed Spielman developed the TV series leveraging upon Bruce’s original concept.
When casting the lead of Shaolin Priest Kwai Chang Caine, the producers chose David Carradine, who was obviously not Chinese. The ABC Network concluded that they couldn’t attract enough viewers for a nationally televised series with a Chinese lead actor to justify the risk. Bruce Lee at the time was the unknown actor. On the surface this occurred as racism and discrimination. More likely, the choice spoke to the cultural ecology of that time. Hopefully, times have changed. Or not?
In retrospect Bruce Lee rose like the Phoenix from the uninspired studio myopia, going on to make “Enter the Dragon” for Warner Brothers. Bruce arose as the transcendent Asian hero of our times. Even today, Bruce remains Hero to millions of people. As a kid, Bruce inspired me to pursue the martial arts. Bruce continues to inspire people to pursue their greater than path long after his passing. That’s Bruce Lee’s forever legacy. That’s the Hero legacy.
“Kung Fu” emerged the hit ABC television series. It was my favorite TV show growing up as a kid. “Kung Fu” worked, because the show was not martial arts-centric. David Carradine was the gentle compassionate presence. This afforded the writers to focus their narrative on the Way of the Tao, defining the path of peace amidst violence. “Kung Fu” introduced Eastern philosophy to mainstream America in the cool accessible popular culture way. Apparently, the universe has both twisted senses of humor and poetic justice.
The 1995 Japanese Anime classic “Ghost in the Shell” recreated as the American 2017 big budget live-action motion picture starring Scarlett Johansson in the lead role of the Major. “Ghost in the Shell” was based on the internationally bestselling manga, the Japanese comic book by Masamune Shirow. The Major was the rescued dying young woman whose human remnants and being were implanted into a robot “shell”, cyber enhanced and designed to be the ultimate soldier. Remember too, the Major was more robot than human. This sourced the existential conflict narrative.
By design the Major fights fearlessly on missions. At the same time she defines her place in the world, reconciling her origin, discovering her purpose. Is there more than what she was ‘designed for’? What is the nature of life? What is her purpose? Will her journey reveal her noble cause? What defines our humanity?
In this advanced technology transference, the ‘ghost’ is the metaphor for the vestiges of the young woman’s soul: Her soul is the ‘ghost in the shell’. What really defines you? Does the soul or ‘ghost’ define you? Is the soul the heart of the Hero?
In the manga the Major is designed as the strikingly beautiful Japanese woman. The virtue and quality of a person’s soul has little to do with the shape of their eyes. I say that as a Japanese American, as well. So this focus upon the ethnic integrity is rather puzzling. “Ghost in the Shell” is about the soul transcending the ‘shell’ of appearance, our imposed limitations, and our own prejudices. Heroes do that.
The “whitewashing” outrage tasks Scarlett’s casting as the Major instead of a Japanese or Asian actress. I saw Director Rupert Sanders’s “Ghost in the Shell”. Personally, Scarlett Johansson was awesome. Her star presence enrolled the Hero story in “Ghost in the Shell”. She was powerful. She profoundly moved with both her spoken and unspoken. Actually, Scarlett’s flawless non-Asian visage elicited poignancy in “Ghost in the Shell”. Paradoxically, “Ghost in the Shell” was about the ghost or soul, not the ‘shell’ or appearance. It was the self-discovery.
Apparently, the studio cast Scarlett in the lead role as the meditated financial decision much like what happened with Bruce Lee in “Kung Fu”. Choosing Scarlett over the lesser or even virtually unknown Asian actress was the risk averse option for this multi-million dollar production. This was not the ideal choice, and it was a workable one. That is just my perspective. Another valid perspective would label this decision as euphemistic racism.
I saw the touching, well produced video on “Upworthy” about this Asian American Community outcry. A young Japanese girl searches for her personal superhero at her local comic book store. In angst and dismay she discovers only tall, blonde, blue eyed women superheroes. She rejoices when she discovers the “Ghost in the Shell” manga: Her hero looks like her. She is so very happy, and inspired. She buys “Ghost in the Shell”, and takes it home.
Later the grownup little girl, now the pretty young woman walks on the street passing by a movie theater. She sees the movie poster for “Ghost in the Shell”. Scarlett Johansson is the Major in the poster. She walks away broken hearted, silently disgusted.
The video is touching, perhaps narrowly focused. I am a member of Asian American Community. No doubt this issue provokes so much outrage. Are our heroes only the ones who look like us? Aren’t our heroes the people who represent our values, inspire by who they are and by what they do? Not entirely by what they look like?
“Black Panther” which is the way better movie was the universal cultural phenomena addressing those questions and more.
My heroes growing up were Bruce Lee and Julius Erving. Okay, Bruce Lee kind of looked like me. Although, Bruce was the handsome chiseled god with the perfect body that was so unlike me. But, Julius Erving did not look like me at all.
Bruce and Dr. J were my heroes, because of what they did and who they were. They inspired me, and dared me to dream. As a kid they gave me joy, and faith. They lighted a smile on my face, and filled my heart.
Years later Bruce Lee became the hero of a kid, named Kobe Bryant. Bruce inspired Kobe to become greater than he knew. I don’t think Kobe looked much like Bruce, nor did Kobe care at all. Just saying.
I’m now 56 years-old. One of my Heroes is Cystic Fibrosis activist and speaker, the late Claire Wineland. Claire passed away at 21 years-old. She inspired. Amidst all her pain, suffering and over 30 surgeries, she said, “I’m still okay.” Instead of looking for happiness in life, Claire said, “Have a life you’re proud of.” Amen. We’re all proud of Claire and the difference she made. And I’m proud of my life, too.
Claire said, “Make your life a piece of art.” Now I hope to paint my life as ‘My Work of Art’. She inspired me to continue to do so. And Claire did not look like me.
Yeah, it would be great if our Heroes look like us. Is that necessary? Nope. What’s more profound is that our Heroes inspire us, regardless of what they look like. Our Heroes matter because they inspire us to become greater than we know ourselves to be. Amen. Amen.
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Photo credit: Shutterstock
Hi Lisa – I love the photo! Awesome! It makes the article. – Jon