Is "Is Jar Jar Binks Racist?" Grammatical?

[rosco rathbone]

"Does the character of Jar Jar Binks embody a racial stereotype?" would probably be a better choice, as would "Is George Lucas racist?".

 

[Saint Peter]

Some of my best friends are uppity lizards.

 

[richard_daily]

"Does the character of Jar Jar Binks embody a racial stereotype?" would probably be a better choice, as would "Is George Lucas racist?".

Does it make me a racist because I want to strangle jar jar binks?

 

[bluntforcemama]

The film's Trade Federation villains had Asian accents. Another character, a slaveholder and merchant, reminded some of Jews or Arabs. All I see is paranoia (although there may be something there subconsciously).

 

[rosco rathbone]

The film's Trade Federation villains had Asian accents. Another character, a slaveholder and merchant, reminded some of Jews or Arabs. All I see is paranoia (although there may be something there subconsciously).

Probably more accurate to say that Lucas mines the common cultural background for resonant tropes and stereotypes; and the signifiers which say "slaveholder and merchant" have their roots in some kind of Middle Eastern history, however distorted by time.

 

[rosco rathbone]

Does it make me a racist because I want to strangle jar jar binks?

I want to strangle whoever thought him up.

 

[semen4her]

A black guy, Ahmed Best, does the voice.

He probably invented the voice, so no.

 

[DIYerUK]

This seems like alot of looking for something that isn't there.

How quickly people seem to forget LANDO CALRISSIAN when people play the george lucas is racist card. Here is a strong black role model that blew the shit out of the death star, Lando that is not george.

Would we have this conversation had peter jackson picked a black actor to portray gollum?

 

[rosco rathbone]

The question is not "Is Jar Jar Binks racist?" but rather "Is "Is Jar Jar Binks Racist?" Grammatical?".

 

[bluntforcemama]

Probably more accurate to say that Lucas mines the common cultural background for resonant tropes and stereotypes; and the signifiers which say "slaveholder and merchant" have their roots in some kind of Middle Eastern history, however distorted by time.

Nabobs of negativism.

What about Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen? Skids and Mudflap, twin autobots disguised as compact Chevy hatchbacks, constantly brawl and bicker in rap-inspired street slang. They're forced to acknowledge that they can't read. One has a gold tooth.

 

[DIYerUK]

The question is not "Is Jar Jar Binks racist?" but rather "Is "Is Jar Jar Binks Racist?" Grammatical?".

Then I don't believe its a fair question. The character in question should be judged as a whole. Would you pull every character in movie history apart and only pick on the odd facets and question their racial, sexual dynaisms. You need to look at the whole picture not just one tiny part.

 

[rosco rathbone]

Nabobs of negativism.

What about Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen? Skids and Mudflap, twin autobots disguised as compact Chevy hatchbacks, constantly brawl and bicker in rap-inspired street slang. They're forced to acknowledge that they can't read. One has a gold tooth.

I haven't seen it, but it seems from what you say that these bots reflect badly on urban youth. That could be problematical.

 

[bluntforcemama]

This is why my children are being raised on Pee Wee's Playhouse and Michael Jackson. They will be confused, fancy perverts.