Lurker > MikeHope

Another way to ask it is: Is it more productive or counter-productive to conflate these two ideas?

ArchNemo posted...

If you take out any sort of context, yes it make sense.

However the fact is that blackface has been historically used as a way to demean black people which is why it's frowned upon and always will be.

Doesn't that argument require that the 2 separate definitions share the same term?

Definition 2 has not been historically used as a way to demean black people.

Definition 1 has, for sure, and I don't think any sane person would defend it.

But definition 2 would be equivalent to a non-Irish person wearing Liam Neeson looking makeup to imitate Liam Neeson.

Is that kind of cross-racial impression inherently bad?

_BlueMonk posted...

I'm curious what context would be ok for option 2 tc

Well, imitation is not often thought of as bad. Shows like SNL are often based on the idea that imitation can be done respectfully or appropriately. Often these imitations are aided by makeup.

Very rarely does the imitating person have the exact same racial background as the person they are imitating. And so, if we acknowledge that imitation isn't necessarily bad, then we would have to articulate in which way and over what dimension cross-racial imitation is necessarily bad.

By the way you phrase your question, from my interpretation of what you are saying, it would seem to suggest you assume almost all imitations across race are necessarily bad, is this what you are arguing?

pegusus123456 posted...

Who

Many people.

Do you believe people do not think this?

Do you argue it is always necessarily bad?

pegusus123456 posted...

Who

Are you saying it is always necessarily bad?

Xethuminra posted...

Well said

The Boys is Watchmen for the modern audience

Thanks

Currently "blackface" as a word is used to describe 2 things:
1. The racist and bigoted misrepresentation of black people in plays and minstrel shows in the early 20th century that reduced black people to exaggerated offensive false stereotypes.
2. Any time a white person wears makeup to appear to be black.

Any sane person would condemn 1, however many people would say 2 isn't necessarily bad depending on context.

Do you think it would be helpful to have separate terms to describe these separate things?

I could totally see a person on the left seeing the gaslighting and exploitation of good causes for profit in Vaughtland's woke zone and go "yeah ok, I can see how that's evil."
I could totally see a person on the right seeing Homeland just straight up murdering somebody for protesting them and go "yeah ok, I can see how that's evil."

The show properly frames the villains of modern times, and it's not your respectful neighbor who fundamentally disagrees with you on political issues, it's extremists and corporations.