By Ed Diokno
Views from the Edge
This is hilarious! At the risk of creating more buzz for the movie Ghost In The Shell, I had to share how the movie’s ad campaign backfired. Instead of promoting the film, it provided reasons not to go see it.
Ghost In the Shell‘s official Twitter just tweeted out a new video for fans, along with a viral website. The video shows footage from the film, with the lines, “I am hunted. I am the hunter. I am fearless. I am coming for them. I am Major.” You can go to a new website, IAmMajor.me, and upload who you are along with your picture to post on your social media accounts.
RELATED: Asian Americans decry whitewashing
The “I am Major,” campaign refers to Major Motoko Kusanagi, the lead character in the manga hit, In the film, Scarlett Johansson plays the lead character, which (as you can tell by the name) was originally conceived as a Japanese character.
Netizens – you gotta love them – took the opportunity to make a strong statement about their opposition to the practice of whitewashing characters of color so that White actors can take over the role.
The Ghost in the Shell Website https://t.co/eqy8CpndC6 has a meme maker of sorts where anyone could “become Major” so I had some fun…. pic.twitter.com/EadKs04H9a
— VzA (@ValerieComplex) March 11, 2017
@ValerieComplex #IAmMajor pic.twitter.com/QSETZMjCGm
— Jenn Chien (@ChienJenn) March 13, 2017
I Am White. I Am Appropriated. #IAmMajor https://t.co/SrLHTgQgsT pic.twitter.com/KVzk4XAHqk
— Pink Veronica ?️? (@riotgrrlriot) March 13, 2017
im bored so i made some memes in the ghost in the shell website pic.twitter.com/dqhDiYVZo2
— bee (@shellheads) March 12, 2017
Ghost in the Shell is not the first to practice whitewashing, and sadly, it probably won’t be the last. The “I Am Major” campaign was used to criticize another TV show, Iron Fist, that appropriates Asian culture and cast a White actor in the main role., and The Great Wall starring White savior Matt Damon even though it was shot in China.
The best post from you guys (4) pic.twitter.com/TcKkcULFjZ
— VzA (@ValerieComplex) March 12, 2017
Finally…
In short, #IAmMajor pic.twitter.com/hM8HH0QcSa
— Alice Thorpe (@AliceAKATintin) March 13, 2017
No matter how you try to defend why an actor like Johansson should play the lead in a film like Ghost in the Shell, you can’t deny the impact it will have on audiences.
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