PSX5Central
Non Gaming Discussions => Off-Topic => Topic started by: Ginko on September 15, 2004, 05:52:36 AM
-
"The following is a statement by Lawrence Auriana, President, Columbus Citizens Foundation:
Good morning. I am Lawrence Auriana, president of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, a non-profit organization that celebrates Italian-American culture.
Two days ago, I attended a showing of Shark Tale at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The animated film, by DreamWorks SKG, is unprecedented in recent children\'s movies in its use of ethnic stereotypes to characterize villains.
In other recent movies for kids, the bad guys are identified by personality traits alone. They are greedy. They are power-hungry. They are arrogant. They are violent.
In Shark Tale, bad guys are identified also by ethnicity. They have Italian and Italian-American names, such as Don Lino, Luca, Giuseppe and Gino, and by their use of Italian-American phrases of speech and slang, such as "capeesh," "consigliere," "maronne," and "agita." They praise violence as a virtue, they kidnap, they extort and they intimidate. They are creatures of rage and revenge.
The movie introduces young minds to the idea that people with Italian names -- like millions of Americans across the country -- are gangsters. Shark Tale creates in its audiences an association between gangsters and Italian-Americans that will become imprinted in the developing minds of children. DreamWorks is looking to profit from the mafia genre while inappropriately targeting children. Shark Tale in large part is a parody of mafia films that are created for adult audiences. DreamWorks reinforces the connection to the mafia by using the voices of actors and directors who have repeatedly depicted mob characters, including Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese and cast members from the Sopranos. But gang life and the mafia are not suitable in movies for children, however much DreamWorks may want to appeal to parents in an effort to increase the film\'s revenues.
>>>> Link <<<< (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040914/dctu033_1.html)
here\'s an idea, stop letting tv, radio, and film raise your children. I know this might involve a little bit of parenting but don\'t be too frightened, they are yours afterall.
I like that I\'ve already read something ridiculous, I just woke up and I\'m already smiling.:)
-
wow.
We ask that Mr. Spielberg and DreamWorks make changes in Shark Tale prior to its release in the United States by doing the following:
* Removing Italian names from characters
* Eliminating Italian and Italian-American phrases and slang
* Removing physical gestures and customs found in Italian and Italian-
American culture
* Removing from bookstores DreamWorks\' Shark Tale titles
Someone wanna explain how Italians gesture differently than you or I? Vivi ghet ovah heeeehre and give us an offer we can\'t refuse.
-
What about the prejudicism against WHITE sharks, eh? EH? EH?
-
lol!!
I think you\'re on to something. You need to contact the people behind this complaint and together you could probably make headline news. People would laugh at you but...:p
-
Originally posted by Ginko
lol!!
I think you\'re on to something. You need to contact the people behind this complaint and together you could probably make headline news. People would laugh at you but...:p
I get enough of you guys laughing at me here! :D
-
I\'m guessing they have no problem with The Godfather, Scarface, Godfellas, and of course the Sapranos for adults?
How do the kids even know the voices if they haven\'t seen these adult movies?
Those voices are to attract the adults into the movie and let them enjoy it with the kids. You put a voice on there from baby looney tunes and no adult would pay to see it.
-
it\'s america, if italians dont like it, cry about it. I\'m of italian decent but there is no reason to cry about it. what about those episodes of the simpsons with those mobsters. we should only watch the teletubbies and public access televison from now on so everyone will be happy.
-
good points brought up in another forum..
I can\'t be @rsed reading what he has said but who\'s @ss can I sue for being brought up in this world with the stereotypes when I grew up...
Please... everybody knows the only Politically Correct groups you can now make fun of are: white men and fat people. Everybody else is strictly off limits.:p
-
Don\'t forget about canadians.
We can still rag on them.
-
Canadorks were born to be ragged on. You could say Canada is America\'s hat while Mexico is America\'s underwear. :D
-
What a load of pasta fagioli.....
I\'m still waiting to see the WET-white entertainment television...
You can all cry the blues that everything is for us whiteys, but I\'ve yet to see a white stand-up comic do a bit about black stereotypes. It\'s all been driven to the radical racists, because god forbid anyone who\'s just joking around be allowed to criticize a black person on TV. Let the victim mentality reign on, I guess....everyone just takes themselves too seriously. we can\'t all be one people unless we can feel free to say whatever we want about people who are different.
-
what about South America?
-
What about South America? :confused:
-
0_o
yes, what about it?
-
Originally posted by GmanJoe
Canadorks were born to be ragged on. You could say Canada is America\'s hat while Mexico is America\'s underwear. :D
and what about south America?
there happy now?:p
-
A big hanging piece of shit about to be dropped onto the Antarctic. :D
-
Canada is US\'s attic. We forget it\'s up there, but every once and a while we go up there and wow, look at all the cool stuff.
-
The fish should eat ravioli and where expensive leather shoes as well.
-
And drive IROCs
-
And just suck ass in general. Like Italians.
-
Di, don\'t make me kill you.
What, I\'m not a violent Italian...
-
Originally posted by CHIZZY
What a load of pasta fagioli.....
I\'m still waiting to see the WET-white entertainment television...
You can all cry the blues that everything is for us whiteys, but I\'ve yet to see a white stand-up comic do a bit about black stereotypes. It\'s all been driven to the radical racists, because god forbid anyone who\'s just joking around be allowed to criticize a black person on TV. Let the victim mentality reign on, I guess....everyone just takes themselves too seriously. we can\'t all be one people unless we can feel free to say whatever we want about people who are different.
I love how an Italian group complains about a movie and somehow it is black people fault.
You have reached a new level of asswipery. Thumbs Up.
-
The movie looks very bad, prejudice or not.
Eh, maybe the trailer just made it seem that way..
-
Originally posted by Black Samurai
I love how an Italian group complains about a movie and somehow it is black people fault.
You have reached a new level of asswipery. Thumbs Up.
Well, these guys are acting like people of Italian descent are victims of "prejudice." I can see the bond. And where did he say anywhere that black people were at fault?
-
Originally posted by Black Samurai
I love how an Italian group complains about a movie and somehow it is black people fault.
You have reached a new level of asswipery. Thumbs Up.
Beat me to it.
Well, these guys are acting like people of Italian descent are victims of "prejudice." I can see the bond. And where did he say anywhere that black people were at fault?
The connection is clear but its not really on topic (considering we are talking about italians) and just shows more of a personal issue than anything else. Fault isnt really the word but just take it with a grain of salt.
-
I was merely commenting about the inability of all people to poke fun at the differences that exist between ethnic groups. And since I am white and only qualified to speak for myself, I put an example forth. My point is, if we are all truly equal (as I believe), then why can\'t I poke fun at other groups than my own? Are they better than me? No, just different. But unless you\'re black, you can\'t poke fun at black folks. Unless you\'re Hispanic, lay off the leafblower jokes. But white people are fair game for all. It\'s a F*cking riot to hear that white people can\'t dance ad infinitum. We get it. Hell, black comedians make fun of everybody. Hispanics, Italians, Greeks,Whites, etc. But if I did a comedy routine like what you see on Def Comedy Jam but in reverse, I\'d be a racist. It\'s like these groups like the NAACP and shit are afriad of their continued existence if they don\'t constantly search for "victims". So I guess that because I\'m a non-dancing, bill-paying, tax-paying white guy who thinks it\'s important to work hard and be productive, I\'m fair game for the rest of the ethnic groups to have a hoot over. But I can\'t EVER make a joke about every time I go to my local convenience mart I have to stand in line behind 10 Black people who look like they shop in a dumpster buying lottery tickets using money that came out of my paycheck. Now THAT\'s funny.
-
OMFG...
How the hell did the issue of black people being at fault come up?
-
Is it really?
Yes, we are all equal - or so people say. Im not saying that the white man keeps people down and all of that. If anybody has any advatages then anybody but a white person would say white people. Its not just blacks saying it.
Like i said, im not making excuses but the difference in amount of criticism that other people have got compaired to white people is fairly large. But of course in these days the past never matters much. Or at least thats what people say or try to believe.
Im just saying things. Its not the place to make it into an issue and that wasnt my intention in the first place so ill leave it at that.
-
Sorry if this has been posted.....
-Dan
-
lol. Though fairly eurocentric :p, that is pretty funny. heh heh.
-
How would you like to be an animator on "Shark Tale," and know that all the work you did over the last 2 years was going into the shitcan because the script made fun of Italians, and some viewers made a big stink about it? Fun huh? Kinda make you want to change employers, I would think.
Of course you should have known that what you were doing was a waste of time, and nothing more than a copy of "Finding Nemo." As usual, Dreamworks animation can\'t do anything but copy Pixar.
-
i\'ll steal one from carlos mencia here, if you think a shark represents you, you\'re a moron. plain and simple.
What kind of idiot do you have to be to look at a shark and say, "Hey that\'s me!"
-
Originally posted by Coredweller
How would you like to be an animator on "Shark Tale," and know that all the work you did over the last 2 years was going into the shitcan because the script made fun of Italians, and some viewers made a big stink about it? Fun huh? Kinda make you want to change employers, I would think.
While they\'re at it why don\'t they get rid of any other media containing stereotypes? Watches all tv stations turn into PBS
Of course you should have known that what you were doing was a waste of time, and nothing more than a copy of "Finding Nemo." As usual, Dreamworks animation can\'t do anything but copy Pixar.
A waste of time? Why do I feel like I just read something from mm?
-
Originally posted by videoholic
I\'m guessing they have no problem with The Godfather, Scarface, Godfellas, and of course the Sapranos for adults?
Scarface was Cubans. ;)
Canada is US\'s attic. We forget it\'s up there, but every once and a while we go up there and wow, look at all the cool stuff.
I like Robin Williams comment on Canada: It\'s like a loft apartment over a really great party.
-
Dear God! Why dont we all just screw until we\'re the same color! Ill start with the black women, Nicon, you take the Whities, G-man... well, I have a feeling you will take anything... Im gonna give Chizzy the asians, even though I adore them so... who wants to take the spanish chicks? I guess Ill go ahead and take them too...
-
I take the Spanish chicks. You know better.
-
I\'m working on making little scottish/german/polish/ukranian/japanese mutts, myself....
-
Originally posted by CHIZZY
I\'m working on making little scottish/german/polish/ukranian/japanese mutts, myself....
Sounds like WWII to me!
-
Originally posted by MPTheory
Dear God! Why dont we all just screw until we\'re the same color! Ill start with the black women, Nicon, you take the Whities, G-man... well, I have a feeling you will take anything... Im gonna give Chizzy the asians, even though I adore them so... who wants to take the spanish chicks? I guess Ill go ahead and take them too...
Heh. If their hot it really doesnt make a difference does it. :D
Hmmm... If they object - you know what to do. Show em whos boss :p
Silly people.
-
I\'m full Sicilian and I could have most of you\'se guys whacked at the drop of a hat and you don\'t sees me complain\'n.
-
^^^badda boom badda bing!
-
Originally posted by Ace
I\'m full Sicilian and I could have most of you\'se guys whacked at the drop of a hat and you don\'t sees me complain\'n.
*Scratches plans for a visit to the North End*
-
Originally posted by Black Samurai
*Scratches plans for a visit to the North End*
Some protection money and I\'ll make sure that you have a good time.
-
Nobody complained when Rocky Balboa changed his accent 20 times throughout the Rocky series.
Ah yes, the infamous asking out of his anal retentive wife who keeps thinking he\'s going to die after every fight....hopefully Rocky VI doesn\'t suck like Rocky V did. The Don King figure reminded me of the Johnny Cochran figure on all of those Seinfeld episodes.
See Yuz.