I don't get it ...

[fembuck]

The controversy over Jennifer Lawrence being cast as Katniss in Hunger Games is confusing the hell out of me.  Basically, people are saying that casting blonde, blue-eyed Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen is Hollywood white-washing at work, but I don't get it.

In the novel Katniss is described as having dark hair, grey-eyes and olive skin, while her mother and sister are described as grey-eyed, blonde's.  The family sounds fairly caucasian to me.  From the vague descriptions in the book it's impossible to tell what exact ethnicity Katniss is, but I think it's safe to say that she's not black, brown, asian or aboriginal, so the rage and indignance that is going on right now about the character being "white-washed" is so confusing to me.

The other actresses that are generally accepted to have been in the running for Katniss were:  Hailee Steinfeld (seems to be the fan favorite), Saoirse Ronan, Chloe Moretz, Lyndsy Fonseca, Emily Browning and Kaya Scodelario.

So... 

1) The novel leaves the character's ethnicity undefined, but generally she seems like a tan caucasian (Prim, her sister, being blonde an indicator of this imo, because if Katniss was part, black, asian, brown or aboriginal a blonde sister seems pretty unlikely). 

2)  All of the actresses in final consideration were caucasian.  If the list above really was who the casting directors had narrowed it down to, we would have ended up with a pretty pale Katniss, but even with slightly more olive skin (Steinfeld is the only one on that list who fits the description - and is the only one who's mixed), Katniss would still be white.

I don't see white-washing in Lawrence's casting.  I see Hollywood default casting at work here, but not 'white-washing'. 

They haven't changed Katniss's ethnicity because it was never clearly identified in the book. They just decided that because Katniss wasn't specified as being [insert ethnicity here] that they would cast a caucasian.  Suzanne Collins is happy about the casting of Lawrence.  She said she never thought they'd find someone so perfect for the role, so obviously she doesn't see the casting as white-washing or a misinterpretation of her vision.  And all of the actresses being considered for the role were pretty pale and/or blonde so it's unlikely we would have ended up with even a tan/olive skinned Katniss even if Lawrence hadn't been cast.

Is it right that Hollywood will generally just cast white unless they have to cast a person of colour?  No, absolutely not.  But as I understand the term 'white-washing', the Hunger Games casting really doesn't apply.  If they got Mortez to play Rue (a black 12 year old), I'd say you have an argument for white-washing there.  But Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss?  Ish don't think so.

No one denies that white-washing and race-switching is a problem in Hollywood movies, I just think that the casting of Jennifer Lawrence in this particular movie is a weak example to get into such a large snit about.  This is not The Last Airbender, Prince of Persia:The Sands of Time, or 21.

Comments

[ishfeeny.livejournal.com]

Agree w/ everything you posted here, but especially the fact that if the author herself is satisfied w/ the casting, then shouldn't we be satisfied as well? While we all have some vision of what Katniss might look like as we read the books, the final, absolute vision is from the eyes of Collins. And if Collins's gives it the ok, it's fine w/ me.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thank god, I'm not the only one who doesn't see what the big deal is. As a PoC myself, I usually pay attention to these things, but when I started hearing about 'white-washing' in regards to this movie I was like "Whaaaa?"

I guess the internet just has to be up in arms about something.

People are also complaining about Lawrence's age, as if a 20 year old being cast to play a teenager is absolutely unheard of. Like, who are these people that genuinely thought a 16 year old would be cast? It's a Hollywood movie!

[ishfeeny.livejournal.com]

I'm a PoC as well, and while I was up at arms over The Last Airbender (for multiple reasons, although the casting choices was one of them), I really don't understand where the complaints are coming from in regards to the Hunger Games.

...plus, not to geek out or anything but if Prim has blue eyes/blonde hair, then her dad must have had the dormant genes for it somewhere as well, so even if Katniss is mixed, it doesn't necessarily mean it has to show as much. I have plenty of mixed friends who if I didn't know personally I would have just assumed they were white.

As for the age thing, again, I could care less. Because hey, having an actress of a similar age would be great and all, but once again, I'd rather have an actress that could act her socks off in the role. And as you said, it's not necessarily something abnormal about Hollywood.

*shrugs*

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

The Last Airbender was definitely one to get up in arms about. That was blatant white-washing, and the movie itself was just horrible. Everything about that movie inspired rage.

so even if Katniss is mixed, it doesn't necessarily mean it has to show as much.

This.

Katniss was described in the books like Hollywood describes 'exotic' in casting calls. Basically dark hair, light eyes and a tan. She could be mixed, she could not be, we'll never know. Probably someone like Mila Kunis would be the most accurate in terms of looks, but ... whatever. Being olive-skinned doesn't define the character. After seeing Winter's Bone, there is no doubt in my mind that Lawrence will be able to play Katniss perfectly, so I don't care if she doesn't look like she gets much sun.

I'd rather have an actress that could act her socks off in the role.

Word. For this role especially I think it would have been difficult for them to cast a real teenager, because of the type of role it is. There's a gravitas that's needed for the character that most younger actresses don't have.

Fonseca is really the only other person on that list who I think would have been able to really pull it off, and she's 24. Actually Ronan would have been great too, but she's already got two assassin movies coming out, so I don't mind getting to see another actress playing a badass.

Anyway, I think some fans just like to complain about things. No matter who was cast these people would likely find something to bitch out. I just wish that the buzz wasn't so negative early on, and over something so stupid, but I want the whole trilogy to be made!

[ishfeeny.livejournal.com]

Not gonna lie, I wouldn't have minded Fonseca getting the role...although that's probably my bias towards her in Nikita more than anything else, but the girl can act and I could somewhat imagine her in Katniss's role, even with her age.

Perhaps I'm not as connected to the interwebs, but I haven't heart much negative buzz...granted, I haven't really heard ANY buzz so that kinda makes my previous statement moot, but whatever. Either way I look at it, chances are that once the movie comes out, I will be lining up with my friends who love the series as much as I do to watch it. We'll just have to wait and see how it turns out I suppose.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Not gonna lie, I'd have loved it if Fonseca had been cast too. Before seeing Nikita I might have turned my nose up at the suggestion, but Fonseca has showed amazing range and grit as Alex. I think she'd have done a fantastic job, and she looks younger than she is so I wouldn't have had a problem with her age.

Perhaps I'm not as connected to the interwebs, but I haven't heart much negative buzz...

I might be blowing the negative attention out of proportion. Really, I'm basing that statement on the article I just saw on the casting of Lawrence at AfterEllen, and on ONTD where there have been numerous posts about 'white-washing' and Lawrence being too old.

Of course, ONTD is full of turn-coat haters (seriously, they LOVED Lawrence up until the Oscars and now it's endless haterade), and the posters there are obsessed with posting topless pictures of Hunter Parrish and talking about how he's the perfect Peeta, so it's probably not the right site to base the general feeling around the movie on.

I just want the movie to be good. I want to love it like I'm loving the books, and I want it to make enough movie that they can film all three movies.

[lurkete.livejournal.com]

seconded

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Welcome aboard the "Really? Really?" train. We have plenty of side-eye and deep sighs in the face!palm lounge, if you're interested!