When I went to see "Rio" in theatres a year ago, I was pleasantly surprised. The story was good and the music was great. While my dad and I were laughing about how the Brazilians were satirically portrayed in the movie, I began to worry that other people probably didn't understand the satire. There were some things said in Portuguese that were not translated, and a lot of things were exaggerated. I realized that this is really how Brazilians are portrayed in the media. It's not just satire; people were not surprised by some things, as though they thought it was the most natural thing in the world.
Brazilians are represented in the media as rather over-the-top, loud people that walk around half-naked with big behinds and big breasts. Or they're drug dealers. I would just like to clear that up right now. While some Brazilians are (I will admit from observing my family members), in fact, loud and over-the-top, they do not walk around the streets half naked! It's rather akin to saying that all English people walk around saying, "Wotcher old bean, how's the weather? Oh, quite, yes, it is indeed time for tea and crumpets, eh what? Cheerio!" It's just a caricature. Same goes for the large breasts and behinds. It's actually part of the Brazilian phenotype to have small breasts. And as far as behinds go, it varies, just like in any other country.
The drug dealer thing, just, come on. Seriously? Are all Islamic people terrorists? No. Exactly.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
"Brothers; not in blood, but in bond"
I decided to do a blog entry about this because this is something that's been on my mind for a while now: why are people less accepting of men being close friends? I am absolutely sick and tired of hearing two male characters in books, movies, and shows being called "gay".
First of all, so what if they are? I would like to make it clear that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It doesn't take away from the story one bit. But my main point is that men can have a platonic relationship. Girls don't face this kind of scrutiny. If two girls are very close friends, then everyone's thinking, "Aw, that's so cute, they're like sisters." But if two men are close friends, then the very first reaction is, "Oh, they must be gay."
Frodo and Sam, for example. They are two people who shared a unique and frankly terrifying experience. It brought them closer, as traumatic events can only do. It brought them closer to the point where they are practically brothers. They don't need a romantic attachment, because their bond runs so much deeper than that.
To put the Frodo/Sam relationship in perspective, think of Tolkien, in World War I, fighting in the trenches. The men who fought in those trenches became very close to each other. They were brought together by their mutual suffering and the thought that tomorrow, they could all die. They knew every detail of the the life of everyone in the trench with them. Those men shared such a deep kinship, that they even made promises to each other that if one of them died, the others would look after the deceased's family. Would anyone assume that they're gay, and say so derogatorily, nowadays? People now don't understand the sort of closeness that exists between men. It goes to show that while girls are criticized for their appearance, men are criticized for their friendships, which is, in some ways, just as bad. If they are made fun of for being close friends with a man, who can they then turn to for comfort and compassion without being worried about the jeers?
First of all, so what if they are? I would like to make it clear that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It doesn't take away from the story one bit. But my main point is that men can have a platonic relationship. Girls don't face this kind of scrutiny. If two girls are very close friends, then everyone's thinking, "Aw, that's so cute, they're like sisters." But if two men are close friends, then the very first reaction is, "Oh, they must be gay."
Frodo and Sam, for example. They are two people who shared a unique and frankly terrifying experience. It brought them closer, as traumatic events can only do. It brought them closer to the point where they are practically brothers. They don't need a romantic attachment, because their bond runs so much deeper than that.
To put the Frodo/Sam relationship in perspective, think of Tolkien, in World War I, fighting in the trenches. The men who fought in those trenches became very close to each other. They were brought together by their mutual suffering and the thought that tomorrow, they could all die. They knew every detail of the the life of everyone in the trench with them. Those men shared such a deep kinship, that they even made promises to each other that if one of them died, the others would look after the deceased's family. Would anyone assume that they're gay, and say so derogatorily, nowadays? People now don't understand the sort of closeness that exists between men. It goes to show that while girls are criticized for their appearance, men are criticized for their friendships, which is, in some ways, just as bad. If they are made fun of for being close friends with a man, who can they then turn to for comfort and compassion without being worried about the jeers?
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