Transformers: Racists In Disguise?
When I was growing up, the animated Transformers show theme had the line “Transformers, more than meets the eye…Transformers, robots in disguise!”
Now it appears that some are accusing the robots of being racist stereotypes in the new movie “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”.
Well, at least twin robots named Skids and Mudflap. They are a couple of unassuming hatchbacks–until they transform like their Transformer kin into robots with personalities.
Some have accused the filmmakers of creating racial stereotypes with these two cars/robots. You see, apparently they speak jive. The humor stems from these two constantly fighting using fast talking slang.
Maybe it was just growing up in San Francisco, but I witnessed ALL races talking in jive and slang. It wasn’t a BLACK thing. It was a SLANG thing. Jive is spoken by all races (just ask Mrs. Cleaver in the original ”Airplane” movie!).
My beef stems from the lack of anger and criticism of the ACTUAL practitioners of slang and jive. Why criticize two robots who supposedly learned how to speak from studying the Internet.
According to Reno Wilson, the black actor who provides the voice of Mudflap, the two robots talked this way because they were “wannabe gangsters”. By the way, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants–Tom Kenny–is the voice of Skids.
Millions of American youth–AND adults–talk like this everyday. Why are we focusing on MAKE BELIEVE??
And why is there never any pressure on ethnic comedians who present themselves as racial stereotypes to clean up their act and behave better? I don’t get it. I won’t name names, but there are some comedians who talk like the WORST RACIAL STEREOTYPES from uglier days in America.
And people think that is SO funny. I don’t get it, I guess.
But what do you expect from a guy who drives a Buick and Honda that don’t turn into mighty robots?
When I had heard that Skids and Mudflap were being accused of being racial stereotypes, I thought the exact same thing: ridiculous. You make excellent points.
The problem, I think, is that it depicts jive-speakers as being comical, in positions of silliness and foolishness, as if speaking jive makes you a fool. You even point out that we should criticize the actual source, this is a common stigma for 'jive' (also dubbed black vernacular English). As a linguistic Anthroplogist, I can safely assure you that slang is very much part of the nature of language, oral communication is constantly evolving, faster so among isolated communities whose progress isn't stunted by mainstream assimilation. The southern drawl, the new jersey accent, all a result of localization of language. This includes BVE. It is a misconception to believe that language is static, such great examples are the Esperanto project. English is in fact muddled with various foreign words that have found their way into our syntax. People are often shocked that even non-spoken language (sign language) has regional variation. BVE is perfectly natural and should not be stigmatized as inferior (in fact many studies agree that it has, in fact, a more detailed and precise measurement of time gradients than mainstream English), it is simply the lesser used variation of English. To depict two robots as associated with BVE and behaving foolish ties the two concepts together and perpetuates the stigma that "jive" is inferior.
Normally I agree. Jar Jar from the Star wars movie doesn't bother me. If it stopped at the robots speaking Jive I wouldn't have a problem with it.
But once you add a gold tooth, simian ears, buck teeth, and jokes about being illiterate you've basically created a little black sambot. I really do think that they went too far with these characters.
As a Black male, I have been struggling with whether or not I should view the behavior of Skids and Mudflap as a racist stereotype. My initial reaction when I saw the movie was that although humorous to me, the dialog was reflective of the perception that many White people have of some Black people. Examples would be fighting each other, not speaking proper English and even not being able to read. These robots were obviously supposed to be ethnic or black and thus not the most positive depiction.
However, as I took a minute to process what I had seen, I agree with previous posts in that this depiction was representative of a set of characteristics, not a race or culture. I believe that in no way was this an intentional dig at Black people. I’ll go even farther to say that American society has gotten to the point that we should no longer be as sensitive as we have in the past. These characters could have easily been depicted as White trailer trash, Latino gang-bangers or Asian mobsters and we still enjoy the movie as an audience.
All you Transformers fans should also remember that more positive depictions of Black Transformers included Jazz (Scatman Crothers) and some “Primes”.
I as a Transformer fan find it hard to believe that Skids and Mudflap are meant to be racial stereotypes. If any of you watched the first movie when Jazz transformed and did his little break dance and said "Whats up b***hes?" Sam asked Prime where did he learn to talk like that and Prime answered "The World Wide Web."
Secondly the reading question in the movie was being referred to if the twins could read "Cybertronian". The Cybertronian language was before they (The Twins) were ever created hence they responded with the "We don't do much reading." Secondly the only transformers that could read Cybertronian were the Decepticons.
People who are making this a racial issue have no transformer knowledge and did not pay attention to the first movie at all they only watched it cause of the hype built by it. It was a good movie and even while I was in the theater watching it there were plenty of African Americans there laughing at the twins.
Its not just because they speak jive. They are depicted as 2 dumb blacks who speak jive. Obiviously the 2 dumbest and most ignorant transformers in the movie.
Have you seen a transformer with teeth before? I haven't. On top of that one has a gold tooth which I find extremely strange. These two vehicles in the early part of the movie if I recall correctly comprised the junky rust bucket neighborhood ice cream truck. Anamalous characteristics for transformers. Now when you see gold teeth I usually associate them with gangsta rappers. I'd be hard pressed to find anyone else who didnt either a liar or just completely removed from the media. You say you find the
accusations ridiculous? Really? They bickered and fought and were F&#*@ ups and served no purpose whatsoever other than to say "We dont read" when asked to translate the glyphs. They were annoying to. I went to Fox site on purpose because I knew they would respond in denial with this monumentally ignorant response. I can always count on FOX for something subtly racist or in this case absolute denial about its existence. Somebody scored a zero on SAT analogies.
qoute" Maybe it was just growing up in San Francisco, but I witnessed ALL races talking in jive and slang. It wasnt a BLACK thing. It was a SLANG thing. Jive is spoken by all races (just ask Mrs. Cleaver in the original Airplane movie!).""
well .. i guess when they called each other nigga.. in transformers two.. yes mudlflap and skids or whatever called each other nigga..
im pretty sure we all got the picture..
slang can easily be depicted to cross all racial boundaries..
this was a horrible attempt..
jive this jive that.. whatever man.. the people arent stupid..
and we are tired of the bs ..
black white asian JEWISH.. *tired of the lame a%% jewish jokes too"
we are just tired of it..
they werent trying to depict jive.. they made two black transformers who couldnt read or afford a dentist
and they solidified their point by what name they called each other.. nigga..
very sad in my eyes..
A lot of u guys r more racist than the movie. Just because they have a robot with gold teeth, big lips, and street talk; doesn't mean that they r referring to black folk. All races are starting to have gold teeth, a large # of folks have big lips, and everyone is starting to pick up street slang. It's funny how even this educated journalist associated these "ROBOTS" as an imitation of black people. Grow up everyone, although black folks are usually portrayed in this manner; this type of behavior is portrayed by all races.
It took Jar Jar Binks to the extreme. The gold teeth, the break dancing, the fist pounds, the slang… I'm surprised they didn't call each other the N-word.
Rusty THEY DID CALL EACH OTHER THE N-WORD!!
It Was racist!!! Like someone already mentioned…since when do they have noticeable teeth other than the Decepticons?? The one who speak Ebonics or "slang" has gold fronts??? Why? Its Obviously stereotypical!!! They Had to Act "Hood or Street" and they were the two with Black sounding voices! Come The hell on!!! All these little one or two Liners they kept sayin??!! They tried to be funny But it was at times just Flat out Corney!! Being a person who's also from the "City" it made it easier for me to notice the satire and th lack of comedy within the brothers dialect! the Writer tried to be too "hip, Kool, Now, Urban" what ever you want to call it! Even Shai Lebouf made reference to his dad smacking his moms butt with stereo types!! "This isn't a Rap Video" ??? Come on! The critics were right..Aside from special affects the story line and acting as D rated!
Don't be Naive! You said your self "all races are STARTING TOO wear fonts" AND This Type of behavior is USUALLY associated with Black People!! Duhhhh! That makes this all a giant racial stereo type! Hello??? These are stereotypes used in a mocking and unnecessary manner to depict "black robots" don't try to play this mess down! I'm guessing you aren't a "so called" minority So why would you acknowledge the truth! SMH!
Leave your response!
Follow us on twitter
Stitcher
FOX All Access
Recent Posts
Most Commented
Most Viewed