Costume dramas are one of British film and television’s biggest exports, yet they remain an overwhelmingly white genre (you can count the notable exceptions, like the BBC’s recent adaptation of A Suitable Boy and Armando Iannucci’s ‘colourblind’ David Copperfield, on the fingers of one hand).
“Period drama tends not to have so much diversity, so to have this one character sneak into a predominantly white cast was really thrilling,” Tan says. “Vera’s this complex, enigmatic character who stands up for the things that she believes in — she’s a wonderful example of a three-dimensional female character. In a period drama, it’s rare to find someone like that from an East Asian background.”
So, where's this particular costume drama set?
"Period drama tends not to have so much diversity..."
ReplyDeleteThat is because, in the times and places where these dramas are usually set, reality didn't have much diversity either. This stuff isn't hard to understand, unless you are being wilfully obtuse that is.
Some poor bugger in, say, Finland, watching a current BBC period drama wishing they made them like they used to, The Onedin Lines and Poldarks (1975), those were the times...throw in I, Claudius and the weekends were brilliant.
ReplyDeleteTan? She is probably only in it because some balanced casting person, or casting algorithm, mistook her name for her colour.
ReplyDeleteAlmost every city,town and village in the UK has a restaurant owned and staffed by this televisually invisible race. (The exception being real hospital documentaries.)
Why are they not wingeing about discrimination? Why no Far East Lives Matter?
Is it because, like other groups from the old, former Empire they are happy just to work, make money, get an education, make more money, repeat, in our tolerant society?
When The Boat Comes In was around 1975 too, I think.
ReplyDeleteI’m old enough to remember The Jewel in the Crown with real Indians in India.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the chinese detective with the very good David Yip.
ReplyDeleteIf this woman wants to promote herself and the show she's in, is this the only line she can think of?
Can't these people - I.e. anybody who isn't white - have a shit without obsessing about "race"?
"This stuff isn't hard to understand, unless you are being wilfully obtuse that is."
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
"... wishing they made them like they used to, The Onedin Lines and Poldarks (1975)..."
There's a reason there's still an audience for classic TV shows.
"She is probably only in it because some balanced casting person, or casting algorithm, mistook her name for her colour."
LOL!
"I’m old enough to remember The Jewel in the Crown with real Indians in India."
ReplyDeleteMmmm, and Charles Dance.. ;)
"Can't these people - I.e. anybody who isn't white - have a shit without obsessing about "race"?"
Clearly not!