- Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:30 am
#506646
To be fair, in the US figures show that around 1.7% (likely double that though) of adults identify as LGBT and 12.7% are African American and 4.7% are 'Asian' (both South and East) which means it's likely that these percentages will be represented in media.
Combined with the economic & social factors that are applied to the ethnicities (grouping together in poorer environments, lack of education leading to a lack of opportunity in the very poorly paid junior acting community, and intellectually challenging writing gigs) it's hardly surprising that there's an inbalance when it comes to minority demographics - as well as the tension between those pro-LGBT and anti, which has the potential to make figures drop significantly.
Change is slow, but if you look where we are now compared to 10 years ago - things have changed a lot for the better (except for the loss of LOST, that will never be for the better). All social change is slow, but it's coming. In 30 years time, marginalised demographics will have benefited from our progressive movements and have 30 years of experience in their roles - meaning that they will be qualified for the best jobs in a society that legally can't discriminate. Any positive shift (like Brooklyn 99) is part of a long term plan and should be applauded, but I don't feel that we should expect full representation of all communities in the next 5 years, it's just not realistic.
I say this as I'm constantly sad that South Asian characters are continually left out of almost everything (save the soaps) yet are relatively prevalent in both the UK & the US. East Asian even moreso.
WHILE I'M ON MY RANT OF MADNESS.
I'd hate it for Idris Elba to be Bond. Stop making characters change and start making new characters. Luther is a brilliant example, because he's Black but it's not his defining feature. The part wasn't even written for a Black actor, but growing up in East London and being ~40, Luther could have grown up with little racial tension - being a minority would have affected James Bond's childhood and therefore shaped his personality. If you want a minority James Bond, WRITE A CHARACTER WHO IS BASICALLY A MINORITY JAMES BOND. AND. A female Doctor in Doctor Who would work - but there are few non-violent male leading characters who act with empathy and have a strong moral fortitude that I believe it'd be a shame to take him away as a role model for young boys growing up.
It's good to be back.
chrismoyles.net
