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Post by Ola Schubert on May 19, 2005 6:48:13 GMT -5
I know some people think that Sumo, the character, is drawn in a way that they believe fuels racism. I am of another opinion. In Sweden we recently had a debate about a new ice-cream. It is called, Nogger and contains nougat, their new ice-cream contains liquorice, so they called it Nogger Black. The text Nogger was written on asphalt. Some people read it like “black n i g g e r” and connected the text on the asphalt to Afro American culture. I can understand how they made that connection, but not why they had to. It seemed obvious that it was not meant that way. Anyhow, I believe some people like to comment things like this just to prove to everyone they are not racists. But in fact, the majority of the people who thought the commercial was ok are not racists either. Yet, it is in this world we live. Holland got “Black Pete”, ever heard of this guy? I almost fell of my chair when I saw Black Pete, and thought that this had to be a remnant from the colonial era. I still believe he is, but that they changed the story. I am so far from a racist you can come, I do not attend to picture Sumo as a ordinary guy, and he is a jungle man on a huge adventure. Anyone who thinks I have portrayed a regular Congolese guy must get an education. Sumo is black; right, no one in this world can be that black. Well, I think I proved you wrong there, and Sumo is very proud of his skin colour. Still, he has got a black skin, a leopard cloth, a red mouth and a bamboo stick (Yes, bamboo grows in the Congo Basin).
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Ark
Full Member
member is 1337
Animation. And on.
Posts: 91
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Post by Ark on May 19, 2005 13:38:19 GMT -5
It's and interesting point you've raised, and something that has to be confronted in any form of media or entertainment.
I hardly would say it's racist myself however, you do mention how there are no super hereos similar to Sumo, and If I remember rightly, this is why you created him.
You obviously are very broad minded, and don't think of people as skin deep. Sure, the occasional moron is going to come along every now and then and proclaim you the biggest frontman the KKK has ever seen, but that's morons for ya.
I didn't even cross my mind if people would see this as racist to be honest. The only problem I could identify is maybe stereotyping (but name a hero that isn't stereotyped.) I'm interested to here what other people have to say about this.
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Roamer
Full Member
Sleepy restless searcher
Posts: 51
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Post by Roamer on May 19, 2005 14:49:49 GMT -5
Now I feel it is in some senses (some senses understandable for foreigners) nice to live in Russia. They say that nationalism is on the rise in our country. It is that we are beginning to experience minor (on nation-wide scale) misunderstading with Asians and people from Caucasus. But the movie of Sumo could never rise any question here. It hadn't even come to my mind that someone could ever think of searching for racism in this flash until someone else said it in the neighbour thread... Oh... Sad that people has to be apologetic over imaginary problems...
Whew.. All people are equal. So when we make characters, we employ those which look most appropriate for the story and the environment. Racism, to be proved such, needs to be a direct statement of inequity of physical/mental potential based on comparison, to my mind. Otherwise, National Geographic/BBC programmes showing us primitive (id est those having little or no access to technology and education) african tribes' life are all outright racist. Oh, look, they show us people with black skin who can't read and don't know how to use gunpowder! What a shame! What a crime!.. Truly, we all have our own problems with our heads. And they need to be cured... And they are always more obvious from the outside...
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Post by MizzBlackCherry on May 19, 2005 16:30:54 GMT -5
I personally think that if Sumo was of any other colour we wouldn't be having this conversation. I see actual racist depictions of asians in the media all the time, and somehow it's 'funny'. Hell, the reasons for stereo-types could go in so many directions, good or bad, true or false, that it's almost not worth getting into. I think as long as Sumo doesn't do anything actually offensive, such as cooking whitey in a giant pot of soup with a bone through his nose, he's fine the way he is. Anyone that sees it different has either gone too far with political correctness, or needs to take a closer look at their own insecurities.
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Post by Mario on May 19, 2005 17:57:22 GMT -5
Like i said, didnt even cross my mind, only as it was mentioned i thought about it.
Mind you, we here in germany get alot of that stuff taught in school, so we always carefully watch out if there could be any hint of racism in things. Our history is clearly told here in school, so we are aware of the crimes and nightmares wich we had here because of racism.
I visited the concentration camp Theresienstadt, near Prag,with our final school class, it has for all time burnt an impression in my soul. It was one of the hardest things to see in my life.
Gives me cramps in my stomach even thinking of it...
Well, but i have gone a bit from the point, i think its good we are aware and watch out for things. Thats no sign of overraction, but of care.
Still, it can be taken to far, we all laugh about a joke about blond women, we do about fat people or other stuff. I have no problem with that as long as it paints only a stereotype and is not, well how do you say that, under the belt line? What i mean is, not taking things to far.
I hope i did make a bit sense with that post, sometimes english is hard for me.
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Post by pascal on May 30, 2005 20:06:56 GMT -5
I would like to say, first of all, that I enjoy your work and have admired it for years. I don't believe you to be racist. I believe you spend your time becoming a better artist and not thinking of ways to offend other races. As an African-American, I don't find Sumo to be "doing" anything offensive, although when I saw his "image", my first reaction was negative. You, as an artist have the right to express your characters in any way you please. All I can do is say that it "reminds" me of the racist images of Africans in the past, that are still very hurtful to many people. www.ferris.edu/news/jimcrow/golliwog/more/gollxmas.htmIt is sometimes difficult for us to put ourselves in someone elses shoes and we can't make everyone happy. Who knows, Short people may take offense to "Nim". Nevertheless lets be mindful of how what we do and say may affect other people. Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects. ~Will Rogers By the way...I love your work.
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Post by riverkhan on Jul 20, 2005 16:54:30 GMT -5
Hi everyone and Ola,
I think it is just a great animation about an african hero. I agree with others. I don't find Sumo to be anything offensive.
Take care.
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smamdesign
Full Member
Flash and Photoshop is the only drugs i need!
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Post by smamdesign on Apr 19, 2006 7:09:33 GMT -5
I truly hate racism so this site (http://www.ferris.edu/news/jimcrow/golliwog/more/gollxmas.htm) was like hell for me.. But, i don't think Sumo is racism, its like all of you say; An African hero. And if someone says different tell them to watch the movie again and watch more than Sumo coming out of the bushes..
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