The thing about Doctor Who

[mf_luder_xf]

When we're criticizing the fact that the Doctor is AGAIN white and male...we are not criticizing Peter Capaldi. Maybe there are some people out there who don't like him as an actor and thus don't like him as the new Doctor. But people criticizing the casting regarding race or gender are not blaming Peter Capaldi. I am sure many of the people who are currently upset at the casting fully support him as an actor in the role and will love him once they see what he does with the role (or at that point, they may decide they don't like him as the Doctor, which is fair game). Those of us criticizing the casting choice hold no aversion toward Pete Capaldi. We take issue with the fact that a character - who by definition can look like anything - is AGAIN, for the 12th time, still only representing white males. We are upset at Moffat for his choice, for his lack of creativity (I will not make the potential bigotry comments here as other people have done better than I could and I don't know Moffat as well as many of those people making those arguments), for his pointed and decidedly sexist comments.

So please, you can love the actor, love him as the next Doctor, but do not tell other people they can't criticize the casting choice based on race or sex, do not patronize people who are disappointed because of a lack of diversity in a character who can be anyone and anything. Your actor and the institution of the Doctor are safe. But people are allowed to be upset by the great potential being lost, and upset by the creators lack of creativity in their decision-making process.

Comments

[siberian-skys.livejournal.com]

You don't know how many times I've re-written this so it doesn't come off like I'm being catty. I don't think I succeeded, but this is the best I could do. Since I avoid communities like the plague, because of the wank, this is the first I've heard of people being upset about the casting. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I don't know why anyone was expecting anything, but traditional casting. It never even occurred to me that we'd get anything else. My own personal top 3 were all white, British male actors. Hell, it took over 40 years to cast a blond actor as Bond and that caused a stir. I keep saying that Idris Alba would make a great Bond when Daniel Craig gives up the part, but I can imagine the uproar that would cause.

[mf_luder_xf]

Yeah, if you're listening (reading) lots of other fans commentary/thoughts on the Doctor, it doesn't surprise me if you haven't hear. Most people are very happy about the casting. For me, particularly, I don't know Peter and I don't really watch the show, anyway, so I have no opinion on Peter himself. People seem to think he'll be a good Doctor, so judos to him for being cast.

No one was expecting nontraditional casting, which is why I think so many of us are disappointed - our expectations were met. It's not that people are anti-white actors or something. It's just that this character can literally look like anything...he could look like chuthulu, technically, right? So, when you consider the modern climate, I think it's a responsibility to cast more than just white actors. Not in all things, obviously - no one is saying there shouldn't be more white actors. But there should be more POCs (and females) who get cast in bigger roles. I forget - do you watch Elementary? Anyway, lots of people were upset Watson was cast as a woman - why not? She can still be the same character and be a different gender. I'd watch the hell out of a female Bond who flirted with all the women. Yes, sometimes, there is tradition or a core character to be built upon and much in the way we don't white washing of characters (see, for example, the problem with Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, much as I like Jennifer herself), we don't necessarily want to make a traditional white American character suddenly be a black person raised in Rwanda because then it negates the cultural and personality aspects that be entirely different between those characters. But when dealing with sci-fi, when dealing with an alien who regenerates and thus isn't actually human, why would such an alien constantly regenerate to look like a white human male? It's not like that would get him far in the rest of the cosmos, only on Earth. So, in 2013, I think it's perfectly acceptable to suggest and be disappointed when this character who doesn't have to adhere to standard Earth societal influences, still does. Particularly since the fanbase (or a large portion of it) have been asking for it - so there would be little backlash from their bread and butter (aka, the avid fans, not just the random British man who tunes in for the Christmas special). Ever since David said he was stepping down, people have been asking for someone less white and potentially less male. Helen Mirren said she'd like to see a woman in the role. And Moffat? Snidely said maybe it was time for the Queen to be cast with a man. Asshole.

And actually, a lot of people are actively campaigning for Idris Alba as the next Bond! I'd still watch it. Better to show a true role model to kids than listen to the people who get upset because it's a black British man instead of a white British man. I highly doubt there are no black men working for MI5 in real life, and even if there weren't, the joy of art is that it can lead the way as much as reflect real life, right?

Also, it doesn't sound catty. :)

[siberian-skys.livejournal.com]

Peter played Frobisher in COE better known and the Torchwood that shall not be named, He also played another character on the DW Pompeii episode. I had to look him up. I just thought he looked like a Doctor. He sort of reminds me of a mixture of Chris and David. My first choice was Gareth David-LLoyd which I knew wasn't going to happen, followed by Hugh Laurie and Stephen Frye. I was pretty sure I wasn't getting them either. I'm just happy it's not another kid. Bless Matt, He was far better than I would have imagined, but I'm old and am just not comfortable with my Doctor being young enough to be my child.

Moffett is on my shit list for a completely different reason. I'm still pissed-off that John hasn't been on any of Matt's DW episodes and if the rumors are true, he also got screwed out of being in the 50th Anniversary Special. It makes it even worse that Moffett was Jack's creator.

I'm glad I didn't sound catty. I've not had a lot of sleep since mom went into the hospital and work is driving me around the bend the last couple of days. At least the hospital finally released her. They were supposed to do it yesterday, but the buggers claimed they couldn't find anyone to do it and today they found a moron that didn't even bother to call her scripts into the pharmacy. At least she's finally home.

We should get shirts made as soon as Daniel Craig decides to turn in his gadgets. He can play Bond forever if he wants to. I think he's the best Bond ever, but when he does retire-- IDRIS FOR BOND.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

This. And your comment below also. Moffat's comment re 'Queen should be played by a man' really ticked me off. Because, actually, if you're talking about the character of the queen as the monarch, then it could be, when it's a king, not a queen on the throne. But really, the two roles are not comparable at all, one based on a real person whose gender is known and fixed, and another a fictional, appearance changing alien...

Anyway, thank you for articulating this so well.