Gay issues in “Star Trek Beyond” miss the mark
Gay characters in pop culture have always been a niche market. While there are certainly great mainstream films that have tackled homosexuality like “Brokeback Mountain” and “Chasing Amy” among others, entire films dealing with gay themes have often been cast aside as “niche.”
With the recent shift in opinion on homosexuality, more gay characters in the media are in demand. Hollywood is trying to even the playing field with popular gay characters in mainstream films.
Bradley Burgess
Rawr
The biggest example of this is in this summer’s blockbuster “Star Trek Beyond,” which revealed that Mr. Sulu (John Cho) has a husband and daughter. This reveal was done supposedly to honor the original Sulu actor George Takei, who is openly gay himself. However, Takei was not pleased with the decision, claiming that this reveal went against the original intention of the character.
While it’s a noble cause to have popular gay characters in mainstream media, taking a well-liked character and suddenly making him gay is not the only option. Hardcore Trekkies didn’t think this change in character was respectful of Gene Roddenberry’s vision and neither did Takei.
Appealing to a broader audience is one thing, but doing so at the cost of character consistency is a problem. Just because there’s no evidence that Mr. Sulu is straight doesn’t mean there’s evidence he’s gay.
There are positives to a well established and fan favorite gay character. But the solution to that problem is not to switch the sexuality of a character loved by many. It’s the same principle as a black Johnny Storm in “Fantastic Four.” That film tampered with a popular character and claimed it was to incorporate multi-cultural characters into a major blockbuster. However, the film itself doesn’t discuss the fact the character is multi-cultural and it doesn’t make a better film.
Takei himself is a proud and vocal member of the gay community. So when he thinks that Sulu being gay is not the best solution to this issue, shouldn’t his opinion be respected? Why does a well-established character with a fan following have to become gay? Why not create a new, original gay character and hope he/she is just as popular as Sulu? That would be progressive. Tampering with the original intent of the character is not.
As with every change to a beloved character, there must be a legitimate reason for making such a change as this. As far as I can see, there is no good reason on both a character level and story level to make Sulu gay. If fans want a gay hero, make he or she original and exciting. Don’t tamper with a hero who means so much to the fanbase and risk losing that audience.
Bradley Burgess
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Stories that tell the truth about society lead to an increase of diversity in media.
Recently, the media has seen an increase in the diversity of characters and casting choices. This diversity includes female actors, gay characters and other minority actors that play lead protagonist roles in film and on television. This trend is a product of an evolvingly diverse population and with it a diverse culture.
The choice to hire diverse actors made by casting directors and production teams are often branded as a ploy to gain attention from liberals and progressives. However, this is not the case. Producers of T.V. shows, movies, theater productions and web series are in the business of telling stories. At the end of the day writers, directors and actors care about telling stories in the most honest and truthful means possible.
For a story to be truthful it must, at least in some way, reflect the sentiments and state of the culture it is showed in, otherwise it might be considered false or absurd and isolate the audience.
Kevin Douglas Neighbors
Argonaut
In much of American and general Western culture, diversity is a cornerstone value. This value does not exist to increase diversity on the planet, but rather to recognize the existence of said diversity. The world is diverse and ignoring it is no longer an option.
Where better a place to call attention to the state of our culture than in the industry that naturally reflects that culture.
Take the recent addition of the character Dead Shot played by Will Smith in “Suicide Squad.” Was will Smith cast in that role because he is a black American? No. Smith is an excellent actor widely recognized for his work. Critics have lashed out against this casting choice, claiming it was for the sake of filling a diversity quota. In reality who wouldn’t cast Will Smith in a role if they had the option? The “Suicide Squad,” is a team of criminals who work together to fight crime. Not quite the same as the average day job, but for a second consider it conventional. Compare it to the average day job, look about the room, who is there? Probably people of multiple backgrounds correct? That is our Truth. That is most people’s Truth.
Therefore, if producers, directors, writers and actors are trying to tell truthful stories they should include people from all backgrounds.The 2015 cast of “Fantastic Four,” is another example of this. Johnny Storm was played by a black actor because there is no reason that any person of any color cannot be Johnny Storm as his race is never specified or talked about. The character is only depicted as white in art, and art changes with culture. Therefore, there is no reason the ethnicity, sexuality or even gender of a popular character cannot change, so long as it does not disrupt the function of the plot. And there is no reason to call attention to it when these elements change.
The University of Idaho recently put on a production of “As You Like It,” where Duke Fredrick, a role generally assigned to a man, was replaced by a woman. The production was successful and told the story just as it was supposed to be told. Anyone who watched who did not know the play would have no clue anything was different among the characters because the plot remained constant.
In most cases the plot does not depend on the ethnicity of a person, and when it does, it is abundantly clear. Let casting teams cast who they will and enjoy stories regardless of who plays who. A story is a story. The purpose for story telling is to pursue an active and apparent truth in society.