Cheeseburger_in_paradise Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 With the makeup and all? With the big ears and darkened complexion?Obama Impersonation Some people are saying so. Bridges has been doing Bush for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Frenkle Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 With the makeup and all? With the big ears and darkened complexion?Obama Impersonation Some people are saying so. Bridges has been doing Bush for years. Wow, he looks a lot like Obama, but the blackface is probably a bit tasteless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Why does Steve Bridges hate black people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Wow, he looks a lot like Obama, but the blackface is probably a bit tasteless. Hold on a second. Was the black face done up in a demeaning fashion as if auditioning for the Christy Minstrels, where the entire group is targeted? Or did it only make him a close proximity of a specific person that he is lampooning? At a certain point reasonable people can make that distinction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RkFast Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Hold on a second. Was the black face done up in a demeaning fashion as if auditioning for the Christy Minstrels, where the entire group is targeted? Or did it only make him a close proximity of a specific person that he is lampooning? At a certain point reasonable people can make that distinction. No they cant....come on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Frenkle Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Hold on a second. Was the black face done up in a demeaning fashion as if auditioning for the Christy Minstrels, where the entire group is targeted? Or did it only make him a close proximity of a specific person that he is lampooning? At a certain point reasonable people can make that distinction. All I said was that it's a bit tasteless. Of course it's a double-standard, but I don't think you can look at it a vacuum. Just my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 but the blackface is probably a bit tasteless. What about when Dave Chapelle or Eddie Murphy put on makeup to look like white guys. Was that tasteless too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 What about when Dave Chapelle or Eddie Murphy put on makeup to look like white guys. Was that tasteless too? Or Robert Downey Jr's blackface in Tropic Thunder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 All I said was that it's a bit tasteless. Of course it's a double-standard, but I don't think you can look at it a vacuum. Just my opinion. It's tasteless to you, because you've been conditioned to think that any lampooning of a black man by a white man, no matter what the circumstance or context is in bad taste. This is not a vacuum, but a specific instance of a satire of a specific person who happens to be the President. Have we reached the level where perceived societal taboos trump free speech? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 (edited) Have we reached the level where perceived societal taboos trump free speech? Yes. Edited March 1, 2011 by joesixpack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Have we reached the level where perceived societal taboos trump free speech? "Free speech?" It's called "hate speech". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 It's tasteless to you, because you've been conditioned to think that any lampooning of a black man by a white man, no matter what the circumstance or context is in bad taste. This is not a vacuum, but a specific instance of a satire of a specific person who happens to be the President. Have we reached the level where perceived societal taboos trump free speech? I think all Gene is suggesting is that Bridges could have avoided these accusations if he simply impersonated the half of Obama that is white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 I think all Gene is suggesting is that Bridges could have avoided these accusations if he simply impersonated the half of Obama that is white. How does one do that? Make yourself like Frank Gorshin in Star Trek? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Or Robert Downey Jr's blackface in Tropic Thunder? Not sure if you remember, but just before Tropic Thunder was released, the left-wing blogosphere went batschitt crazy when they saw some images of Downey in blackface, and started trashing the director, accusing him of doing this because he refused to hire black actors. Hook. Line. Sinker. Marketing genius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Not sure if you remember, but just before Tropic Thunder was released, the left-wing blogosphere went batschitt crazy when they saw some images of Downey in blackface, and started trashing the director, accusing him of doing this because he refused to hire black actors. Hook. Line. Sinker. Marketing genius. But you know who got the point of the satire? The black community, who raved over his performance. Hook, line, sinker indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeseburger_in_paradise Posted March 1, 2011 Author Share Posted March 1, 2011 My thought was that it was fine, but there might be some backlash. It's not really blackface like from the early movies. And yes blacks have played whites. And Michael Dorn, who is black, was madeup as a Klingon. Which could get him in trouble, in some Klingon circles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Frenkle Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 It's tasteless to you, because you've been conditioned to think that any lampooning of a black man by a white man, no matter what the circumstance or context is in bad taste. This is not a vacuum, but a specific instance of a satire of a specific person who happens to be the President. Have we reached the level where perceived societal taboos trump free speech? No, I don't really care enough to argue too much, but there is a history to the general comedic device that is clearly offensive. To me, this guy was just trying to look authentic as Obama, as opposed to trying to meet a stereotype, and that makes a big difference. I'm not black though, and don't really have strong feelings about it either way. I can see why someone might be offended, but I certainly understand the importance free speech. But you know who got the point of the satire? The black community, who raved over his performance. Hook, line, sinker indeed. IMO, Downey was really funny playing that part. When you're funny, and don't have a particular agenda, you can get away with all kinds of stuff. Just ask South Park. Unfortunately for this guy, he looked pretty good but wasn't very funny. I think people should be offended by his inability to be humorous more than anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 And Michael Dorn, who is black, was madeup as a Klingon. Which could get him in trouble, in some Klingon circles. Don't forget about Andreas Katsulas who was made up to play a Narn. The NAARP is still upset that a human was cast to play a Reptoid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCinBuffalo Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 (edited) It's tasteless to you, because you've been conditioned to think that any lampooning of a black man by a white man, no matter what the circumstance or context is in bad taste. This is not a vacuum, but a specific instance of a satire of a specific person who happens to be the President. Have we reached the level where perceived societal taboos trump free speech? Yes. IF this was about 8-10 years ago, but all of this "crying racist" has the remarkable effect of eventually canceling itself out. See, if this was a few years ago, we wouldn't be using the words "bad taste", we'd be hearing the usual tools call everyone a racist, and then move on to call this comedian a super racist. The words have changed, because the tolerance for this nonsense has dissipated. Fundamentally, prior to to the tools trying to use "racist" as a piss poor political argument, calling someone a racist was done to identify honest to God racism, and because they were doing something unfair. And that's the real word here: fair. Is what this comedian doing fair? Is it fair....to call this comedian a racist? Oh sorry, using today's code word for racism...bad taste...is this in bad taste? Edited March 2, 2011 by OCinBuffalo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peace Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 The accent sucks but damn he looks a lot like him. Tasteless, no. Funny, no. Something for people to get their panties in a wad about, YES! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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