« Name On Toast | Make a the world a wee bit better | Main | Fairy Tale Resurgence | Art & Design | The Slavs are all right »
The science fiction movie Star Trek continues its legacy of a visibly diverse ensemble cast. In the past few years, the success of television hits Heroes and Grey's Anatomy have proven that audiences respond to ensemble casts that reflect today's diversity. Star Trek, on the other hand, has always pioneered the portrayal of an intercultural and diverse-looking future. As Space has been broadcasting a Star Trek movie marathon, fans are reminded of the numerous ethnic cool characters that have become part of the American and Canadian psyche.
The portrayal hasn't been perfect. Hyphen Magazine's Race to Space: Asian Americans, stereotypes in Star Trek's Final Frontier (by Harry Mok) looks at how the Trek universe has portrayed racial stereotypes. Still, having cast John Cho to take over the role of Sulu (originally played by George Takei), the buzz in the Asian Canadians/Americans communities has already begun.
Cho acknowledged being an Asian-American, "there are certain acting roles that you are never going to get, and one of them is playing a cowboy. [Playing Sulu] is a realization of that dream -- going into space. (from wikipedia.com)
In the noticeable absence of black characters in science fiction (see older post, Black Women in Science-Fiction | Where are they?), we are equally excited to see Zoe Saldana play Nyota Uhura.
She is significant as one of the first major black characters on an American television series and for engaging in a then-taboo interracial kiss with James T. Kirk (from wikipedia.com).
More: John Cho, Star Trek Movie Lift Off on Friday (hyphenmagazine.com)
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.schemamag.ca/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1160
Homeless Man as Fashion Icon | Brother Sharp
Shop For Free! At The Frock Swap 4.0
Saul Williams: Video Interview on Grounded TV
Queen Yu-Na/Bond Girl: Behind the Scenes
Michael Phelps & Scott Lago Accuse Lainey Lui as Asian Medal-Biter
How to Be Part of World Expo in Shanghai | Jointhewall.org
The Ommwriter: Taking Paradise to You
Advertisement
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
Advertisement