One of the things, being Indian American as well as a participant in my school's theater program, that has made a significant impact on my views are the lack of Indian-American actresses in the American media and in stage productions--onstage particularly, but also on TV and in movies. Not only that, but I have only seen one play where an Asian American played a lead role, and no musicals in which this occurred. And that's saying a lot, because I have seen at least twenty plays in my fifteen years--we have gone to at least five a year within the past three or four years. And that one time? The actress had been Indian American, and she was playing Narrator 1 in "The Brother's Grimm Spectaculathon". After that, she never got a role again, and had to stick with being stage manager.
I have a few hypothesis on why this color based casting may occur, and how directors may unconsciously color base cast.
1) Ethnic minorities are often raised to an invisible double standard. I believe that most directors do not color-base actors and actresses on purpose--but let's face it--when faced with a white kid and an Asian-American kid with equal talent auditioning for the same role--whose going to be cast? The white kid. Realistically, the Asian American would have to be twice as good as the white kid in order to stand out past him. He'd never get the part unless he really was much better.
2) Ethnic minorities don't "fit in". When casting siblings, say in "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", or "The Boxcar Children", the director won't put three white kids together with an Asian, or a black or Latino kid. It just doesn't "fit". The director notices this, whether being aware of his racial casting or unaware, it makes a difference ultimately in the choice.
Our next question is, is this wrong? I can see both sides of this issue. On one hand, our constitution guarantees the right to be hired and/or employed without decision on race, creed, color, gender, or disability. But some argue that in the theater, when race, gender, and ability do play a part in the result, this shouldn't matter. Many people also believe that historical realities should be preserved at all costs. But in a day when a quite a hefty number of plays and musicals are historically based in a western setting, it is difficult for ethnic minorities to get jobs in shows like these, particularly Asian-Americans.
Just my thoughts,
Srujana
I have a few hypothesis on why this color based casting may occur, and how directors may unconsciously color base cast.
1) Ethnic minorities are often raised to an invisible double standard. I believe that most directors do not color-base actors and actresses on purpose--but let's face it--when faced with a white kid and an Asian-American kid with equal talent auditioning for the same role--whose going to be cast? The white kid. Realistically, the Asian American would have to be twice as good as the white kid in order to stand out past him. He'd never get the part unless he really was much better.
2) Ethnic minorities don't "fit in". When casting siblings, say in "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", or "The Boxcar Children", the director won't put three white kids together with an Asian, or a black or Latino kid. It just doesn't "fit". The director notices this, whether being aware of his racial casting or unaware, it makes a difference ultimately in the choice.
Our next question is, is this wrong? I can see both sides of this issue. On one hand, our constitution guarantees the right to be hired and/or employed without decision on race, creed, color, gender, or disability. But some argue that in the theater, when race, gender, and ability do play a part in the result, this shouldn't matter. Many people also believe that historical realities should be preserved at all costs. But in a day when a quite a hefty number of plays and musicals are historically based in a western setting, it is difficult for ethnic minorities to get jobs in shows like these, particularly Asian-Americans.
Just my thoughts,
Srujana
