Quiz 2 Part 2

For the second part of my quiz dealing with the construction of identity discussed in Klein's "Patriarchy Gets Funky" I chose to use the examples of Robert Downey Jr's performance as Kirk Lazarus in the US film, "Tropic Thunder" and Matt Lucas' performance as Ting Tong in the English television comedy series, "Little Britain". These two examples both exemplify what Klein discusses as the absence of visible role models for minorities, and most importantly media-perpetuated stereotypes embedded in the very fabric of language reinforcing the hegemonic supremacy of the white, heterosexual ruling class. Klein argues that all of the social problems she discussed were that of media perpetuated stereotypes acting as collective social mirrors reinforcing prejudice.

The first clip, is an interview with Robert Downey Jr. in response to his role as Kirk Lazarus in the Ben Stiller film, "Tropic Thunder". In the film Downey plays an australian actor, Kirk Lazarus, reknowned for his Oscar glory for taking unconventional roles and his method acting, getting into and becoming the characters he portrays. In "Tropic Thunder," Downey plays Kirk Lazarus playing the African American Sergeant Lincoln Osiris. For the role, Downey dons the historically racist and controversial 'black face,' - a white actor playing a black character by covering his face in 'black' makeup. The concept of 'black face' came under an enormous amount of political and social scrutiny in the past for its blatant racism and the debate was reinstated over this film. The only actual controversy over the film "Tropic Thunder" however was not the contempt by the black community over Downey's performance but by the Disability Advocacy Community for Ben Stiller's portrayl of a mentally retarded character, "Simple Jack." In the segment embedded, the two discuss the political incorrectness of the role and how it was so politically incorrect that it may have been acceptable - this divulges from Klein's text as she strives to enlighten on the damaging social affects of such portrayals to the ethinicities depicted.
The second clip is from the English comedy series 'Little Britain' and depicts British comedian Matt Lucas as an asian mail order bride named Ting Tong. The clip is full of negative asian stereotypes as Lucas speaks with an accented English dialect portraying Asian immigrant linguistic difficulties of pronounciation. The clip also personifies the Asian stereotype of Asians having enormous families who all live together as Ting Tong shows her family photos in her wallet that unfolds numerous times and says she hopes to bring them over to live with her and Mr. Dougray in the near future. The clip plays off the notion of the Asian mail order bride industry, which sees Asian women immigrating to foreign countries in exchange for money to marry men to gain a green card.
First and foremost the most evident direct parallel between the two clips is that both Lucas and Downey are white, English speaking actors portraying another ethnicity through costume, makeup and dialect. Downey's character speaks in a racially stereotyped 'Black English' as Lucas' character speaks in a racially stereotyped 'Asian English'. The use of white actors to portray other ethinicities was a huge social problem historically, as white actors in 'black face' portrayed African American characters when African American actors were negated by the media industry. Tied to this notion were white male actors portraying female characters in drag before female actors became socially acceptbale. Klein discusses these notions in her passage as social problems of media-perpetuation and oppression as well as terming the on-screen performances as new sources of 'carnival-esque imagery'. The carnival-esque imagery prevelant in both examples here is the overtop stereotype ridden performances of Downey and Lucas. Downey's character soothes his actual African American comrade with a racially charged speech about black oppression which consists of the lyrics to the 'Jeffersons theme song,' making a mockery of the historical oppression of African Americans. Lucas' carnival-esque imagery takes the form of the body suit he is wearing to become Ting Tong which includes female shape and slanted eyes. Both characters make a mockery of the ethnicity they represent by making jest of the circumstances of each ethinic group - Downey makes fun of the oppression of African Americans and Lucas the family structure and immigration of Asians.
The differences in the characters are that Downey's role is playing an Australian, white actor who is a method actor playing a black character. Lucas by contrast is a white English actor, playing a distinctly Asian character to be accepted as a portrayal of an Asian mail order bride. Both of the characters interactions with their supporting cast also differ: Downey is kept in check by his actually African American co-star Alpa Chino who is furious with the mockery of his ethinicity that Downey is putting forth. Lucas' character is an asian mail order bride and is met with contempt and annoyance by her co-star, Mr. Dougray who ordered her as she does not fit the advertised image of herself which he ordered her because of. Mr. Dougray also changes tune and interaction with Ting Tong when he realizes there will be an implied sexual benefit to keeping her around.
Both characters relie entirely on the perpetuated mass media stereotypes of the Asian and African American ethinicity and background and although both are done as comedy or satire, the damaging effects of these stereotypes does not go unnoticed. Although the audience watching each example know that both actors are white males, the stereotypes being used to convey otherwise are stereotypes that have damaged and continue to damage both ethinic backgrounds. The inclusion of these damaging stereotypes perpetuate them regardless of their satiric nature and attempts not to do so. The fact remains that each actor is using negative, media perpetuated stereotypes of each culture to create the character - as these stereotypes are immediately and easily recognizable the damage to each ethnicities cultural mirror remains and broadens as both examples have won awards.