The only thing that matters is where the camera is looking

The only thing that matters is where the camera is looking.

This is the conclusion I have come to after ruminating about The White Lotus some more.

I don’t actually care what the storyline is for a character. I don’t care if they are a “good” person or a “good example” or if they represent any particular values.

When it comes to diversity and increasing representation, all that matters is physically, tangibly increasing representation, and that means who is actually on screen.

This made me rethink Zola… we saw it a few months ago. I blanched a bit because there are significant parts of the movie where Zola has no agency… things just happen to her. But on further reflection… it is her story. The camera is on her. It is processing how she is processing the things happening to her. And that, these days, is all I really care about.

Attaching some kind of “well, is this narrative a good representation of this marginalized group” is actually kind of deadly; it’s both limiting and boring. And it’s a restriction that white characters in movies and television haven’t had to fulfill in decades (if ever). White people can be anything on screen. Everyone else should be able to, as well. Just show them. Show them to me. Show them thinking, looking, reacting, wondering, drifting off, anything. Show them to me.

And here are some good examples, recently seen, where you can see just that:

The Chair (Netflix): This really pushed the limit of how much white male buffoonery I can take, but it stopped just short of my breaking point (it might go past yours), and they did themselves the favor of casting Jay Duplass who is immensely likable. Sandra Oh is the radiant star, with brilliant presence from Holland Taylor and Nana Mensah as well. And always nice to see one of my favorite character actors Bob Stephenson show up.

The Hunt for the Wilderpeople (Netflix): This has been on my list for a long time, it came out in 2016. It’s directed by Taika Waititi, what else do you need to know?

Reservation Dogs (FX/Hulu): Watched the first two episodes of this and enjoyed it a lot… sort of a Bottle Rocket-ish slice-of-life look at indigenous American teenage life in Oklahoma. Goofy and fresh-feeling (and co-created by Taika Waititi… WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?).

Have a great weekend!