I noticed something interesting in Iron Man which is that, despite that movie’s shoddy use of women-as-sex-objects (which echoes, of course, Tony’s view of women-as-sex-objects, although I am internally divided as to whether the movie ultimately considers this one of the things that makes Tony a jerk, or one of the things that makes him a badass) is the backgrounded presence of women in scenes where they could easily have been overlooked.
In the military coms centre, for example there she is, uniform pressed and blonde hair in a neat bun. As the Stark Industries scientists wrestle with the task Obadiah gives them, there she is, a pale woman in a labcoat.
It’s not enough, but it’s a start.
I watched The Incredible Hulk with half an eye out for this representation, and sure enough, something similar happens there. However, I belatedly realised something else, which led to the following conversation with a friend who works in film. We’ll call him… Tom.
Tom: So I just went and see me some Hulking. It was explosive.
Karen: Right? Lotsa smashing!
Tom: So damn much smashing.
Karen: Here’s a question for ya.
Tom: Yes sir.
Karen: Where are the American women of colour in that movie?
Karen: I mean, there is like MORE THAN ONE WOMAN in the army! And one of them has a major role, which is fucking great.
Karen: And there is MORE THAN ONE WOMAN in the sciences! Which is also great!
Karen: But how come they’re all white? I know that’s not the only skin tone in the USA. I have been there. And even Iron Man did better on speaking roles for women of colour, by which I mean it had one. And she had a British accent.
Tom: Well, we in the straight white male arts tend to feel that if we have one of any given non-us group, nobody can call us out on avoiding them. This is why we give Cliff Curtis so many roles.
Karen: Oh, that Cliff Curtis*. He’s so dreamy.
This is not just gross; it’s frankly embarrassing. What goddamn century is it, anyway? Even if we haven’t sorted out the jet-packs and the teleportation windows, you’d think that we could handle getting some American women of colour in American-centric cinema, in speaking and non-speaking roles. When an actress as accomplished as Gabrielle Union says:
I still hear things like ‘Gabrielle, you gave the best read! If we decide to go black, you’re at the top of the list.’ I’ve actually been told, ‘Gabrielle, you’re absolutely perfect for the role, but the role is a girl who’s most popular in school.’ I’ve been to the point where I brought in my yearbook. ‘See how popular I was? It really can happen.’
well, then, I want to throw up.
TV tends to do better. I am cautiously optimistic about the new ABC series The Middleman. Not only is it cute, funny and drenched in comic book geekery, but the female lead is played by Latina Natalie Morales. In the show’s first two episodes, women of colour have speaking roles a variety of speaking roles! as temp agency managers, as police officers, as artists by day/brown-suited-destroyers-of-villainy by night. They are not there to be Latina or Black, but women of color, present in the world.
It’s not enough. But it’s a start.
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- Cliff Curtis, who is Maori, of Te Arawa and Ngati Hauiti, has played Shi’ite Iraqi, Spanish, Cuban, Mexican, African-American** and, occasionally, Maori characters. He is totally dreamy.
** Well, your reading may differ, but you know how all the Die Hard movies have at least one Black man (note: man. That is what I am talking about) who works with McClane? In 4.0, that guy’s position is occupied by Justin Long***, who is extremely white. When I noted this to another friend, she said ‘But the head of the FBU unit! He was the Black guy!’ This guy? Cliff Curtis.
*** Also totally dreamy.
