Hobbit Casting Agent Fired For Dismissing Non-White Hobbits

[Verrenxnon]

Did Tolkien expressly state that Hobbits are caucasianoid?

My argument is that, with books being a medium of imagination, wouldn't a person of color imagine the world with other persons of color and only use white people when appropriate?

I can understand everyone's point, but this is one of the moral challenges of adapting to film.

 

[Spartan054]

not pointlessly its to get free money. if people actully tooke half these so called discrimination case to court they would all be thrown out and the plaintiff fined for slander. but then again the legal system has failed...

 

[SadisticPretzel]

"Humphreys was understandably outraged, saying "It's 2010 and I still can't believe I'm being discriminated against because I have brown skin."

You weren't, lady. Tolkein's hobbits were white. You weren't discriminated against because the movie people want to be accurate. Play the race card more!

 

[Coltaculuss]

An ethnically diverse cast in a fantasy film destroys the medieval setting for me, I would have no problem with a handful of ethnic characters showing up as corsairs or merchants from far away lands, but otherwise it would just be silly. And I don't remember many merchants in the Hobbit.

 

[JDKJ]

Those books have been out for upwards of 70 years. People can't claim ignorance on this stuff anymore, theres a statue of limitations on this kind of stuff.

Hobbits are white. The whole thing is supposed to be an allegory for Europe. There are non whites in Tolkin land, but they're from the East and ride elephants and stuff. Try out to be one of those, cuz if you end up hiring non white Hobbits all you're gonna do is piss off the fans for not being true to the books.

In The Hobbit there are characters who ride elephants? Can you provide a citation to The Hobbit that contains this mention of elephants being ridden? Or is this something that occurs only in your own imagination? Like the white Hobbits?

And, FYI, the Moors (a people from Northern Africa of Berber, Black African, and Arab descent) conquered and occupied for more than 800 years the Iberian Peninsula (an area of Europe comprised of what is now known as Spain and Portugal) during the late Medieval period. The influence of the Moors in that area continues to this day and is clearly found in the food, architecture, religion, etc., etc. Western Europe, whatever you may think it is an allegory for, is hardly "white."

 

[Kurokami]

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but aren't all of the people of middle earth white? I have never read any of the books but the only black people I remember were the elephant-riding dudes from the last movie.

Nick Fury. =[

Now instead of playing Nick Fury, he's playing Samuel L Jackson as himself with a name change.

Sorry, I kinda detoured, I think it's their own risk if they wanna grab black hobbits and risk alienating fans in the process. Though I prefer that if they insist on being PC, that they at least have some main characters as black people. (That way it'll hit them worse imo)

 

[JDKJ]

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but aren't all of the people of middle earth white? I have never read any of the books but the only black people I remember were the elephant-riding dudes from the last movie.

Nick Fury. =[

Now instead of playing Nick Fury, he's playing Samuel L Jackson as himself with a name change.

Sorry, I kinda detoured, I think it's their own risk if they wanna grab black hobbits and risk alienating fans in the process. Though I prefer that if they insist on being PC, that they at least have some main characters as black people. (That way it'll hit them worse imo)

And you, my friend, have neatly summed up the true sentiments of many posters to this thread. It's not that Hobbits are white as described by Tolkien and therefore a non-white can't be cast as a Hobbit. Rather, they simply do not want to see a non-white Hobbit. Which, I guess, is their choice. But it'd be a lot more honest of them to just come out of the closet and say so instead of hiding behind all that "Hobbits are white, blah, blah, blah" bullshit.

 

[SinisterGehe]

This stuff has overblown AGAIN!

If there are people that live in north, it add realism that they are white and vice versa.
I think the movie will be destroyed by politically correct b's... I am not being racist here, I am just thinking things trough logically. Where do people who are light skinned, live natively? Up north where there is little sunlight, and where Dark skinned people live? Down south where there is LOTS of sunlight.

Well this might drop off my movie list, if they studio is required take Black actors in the name of political correctness.

Off note:
-If I do a movie thats titled "The white tribe", which tells a story of a tribe in which every person is Albino and how they survive. If I do not choose a black person to be in the movie, am I racist?

I am all in for equality, but it doesn't need to be taken to the level of stupid.

 

[SinisterGehe]

This stuff has overblown AGAIN!

If there are people that live in north, it add realism that they are white and vice versa.
I think the movie will be destroyed by politically correct b's... I am not being racist here, I am just thinking things trough logically. Where do people who are light skinned, live natively? Up north where there is little sunlight, and where Dark skinned people live? Down south where there is LOTS of sunlight.

Well this might drop off my movie list, if they studio is required take Black actors in the name of political correctness.

Off note:
-If I do a movie thats titled "The white tribe", which tells a story of a tribe in which every person is Albino and how they survive. If I do not choose a black person to be in the movie, am I racist?

I am all in for equality, but it doesn't need to be taken to the level of stupid.

At least you're being halfway honest and showing your true colors (except for the part about "I am not being racist here" because, whether you know it or not, you are being racist).

You can't be racist, because anyone can be racist about anything.
If I can't say certain words in Public, because they are reserved specially to this one ethnic group of people, it is racist against me. (See where I am going with this?). I can be called racist because I didn't open door to someone, or pick someone in to my Gym class soccer team. I can be called racist if I disagree with someone. But I am not allowed to call anyone who's different from me racist, because that makes me racist.

The whole word of racism in its context is stupid! What the hell is this "other human race"? Last time I checked we are are all humans at the genetical level. (I hope I am not being racist here because I don't include people with different skin color in to group of their own)

What I am sick of hearing is people of "different" gender, color, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, hair color, shoe size... Etc, crying for special treatment. WE ARE ALL HUMANS, we are all the same and equal, with the same kind of pathetic short life's that serve no meaning.
I don't give a crap of what you are, if you don't fit the slot that I am trying to fill, you don't fit, simple as that. There is no need to call me prejudicing bastard.

I am sorry, but I am just getting sick of this crap about racism/sexism/whatever. Everyone is equal and at the same time no one is equal. You can not assume everyone accepts everyone without questions asked, people have their opinions, they have right for it.

Still, I am sorry about this rant, but I am getting sick of how this how everyone is acting in this world. And I know, I can not change it!

 

[JDKJ]

This stuff has overblown AGAIN!

If there are people that live in north, it add realism that they are white and vice versa.
I think the movie will be destroyed by politically correct b's... I am not being racist here, I am just thinking things trough logically. Where do people who are light skinned, live natively? Up north where there is little sunlight, and where Dark skinned people live? Down south where there is LOTS of sunlight.

Well this might drop off my movie list, if they studio is required take Black actors in the name of political correctness.

Off note:
-If I do a movie thats titled "The white tribe", which tells a story of a tribe in which every person is Albino and how they survive. If I do not choose a black person to be in the movie, am I racist?

I am all in for equality, but it doesn't need to be taken to the level of stupid.

At least you're being halfway honest and showing your true colors (except for the part about "I am not being racist here" because, whether you know it or not, you are being racist).

You can't be racist, because anyone can be racist about anything.
If I can't say certain words in Public, because they are reserved specially to this one ethnic group of people, it is racist against me. (See where I am going with this?). I can be called racist because I didn't open door to someone, or pick someone in to my Gym class soccer team. I can be called racist if I disagree with someone. But I am not allowed to call anyone who's different from me racist, because that makes me racist.

The whole word of racism in its context is stupid! What the hell is this "other human race"? Last time I checked we are are all humans at the genetical level. (I hope I am not being racist here because I don't include people with different skin color in to group of their own)

What I am sick of hearing is people of "different" gender, color, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, hair color, shoe size... Etc, crying for special treatment. WE ARE ALL HUMANS, we are all the same and equal, with the same kind of pathetic short life's that serve no meaning.
I don't give a crap of what you are, if you don't fit the slot that I am trying to fill, you don't fit, simple as that. There is no need to call me prejudicing bastard.

I am sorry, but I am just getting sick of this crap about racism/sexism/whatever. Everyone is equal and at the same time no one is equal. You can not assume everyone accepts everyone without questions asked, people have their opinions, they have right for it.

Still, I am sorry about this rant, but I am getting sick of how this how everyone is acting in this world. And I know, I can not change it!

This is interesting. In just two posts, you've managed to go from "light skinned people live up north where there is little sunlight and dark skinned people live down south where there is lots of sunlight" to "we are all humans and are all the same and equal." Very interesting.

 

[SinisterGehe]

This stuff has overblown AGAIN!

If there are people that live in north, it add realism that they are white and vice versa.
I think the movie will be destroyed by politically correct b's... I am not being racist here, I am just thinking things trough logically. Where do people who are light skinned, live natively? Up north where there is little sunlight, and where Dark skinned people live? Down south where there is LOTS of sunlight.

Well this might drop off my movie list, if they studio is required take Black actors in the name of political correctness.

Off note:
-If I do a movie thats titled "The white tribe", which tells a story of a tribe in which every person is Albino and how they survive. If I do not choose a black person to be in the movie, am I racist?

I am all in for equality, but it doesn't need to be taken to the level of stupid.

At least you're being halfway honest and showing your true colors (except for the part about "I am not being racist here" because, whether you know it or not, you are being racist).

You can't be racist, because anyone can be racist about anything.
If I can't say certain words in Public, because they are reserved specially to this one ethnic group of people, it is racist against me. (See where I am going with this?). I can be called racist because I didn't open door to someone, or pick someone in to my Gym class soccer team. I can be called racist if I disagree with someone. But I am not allowed to call anyone who's different from me racist, because that makes me racist.

The whole word of racism in its context is stupid! What the hell is this "other human race"? Last time I checked we are are all humans at the genetical level. (I hope I am not being racist here because I don't include people with different skin color in to group of their own)

What I am sick of hearing is people of "different" gender, color, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, hair color, shoe size... Etc, crying for special treatment. WE ARE ALL HUMANS, we are all the same and equal, with the same kind of pathetic short life's that serve no meaning.
I don't give a crap of what you are, if you don't fit the slot that I am trying to fill, you don't fit, simple as that. There is no need to call me prejudicing bastard.

I am sorry, but I am just getting sick of this crap about racism/sexism/whatever. Everyone is equal and at the same time no one is equal. You can not assume everyone accepts everyone without questions asked, people have their opinions, they have right for it.

Still, I am sorry about this rant, but I am getting sick of how this how everyone is acting in this world. And I know, I can not change it!

This is interesting. In just two posts, you've managed to go from "light skinned people live up north where there is little sunlight and dark skinned people live down south where there is lots of sunlight" to "we are all humans and are all the same and equal." Very interesting.

Can't you read between lines?
No matter are you light skinned or dark skinned you are equal.
Light skinned people Are 99% of time native to northern areas, and Dark skinned to southern areas, this has nothing to do with equality (By native I mean where your dominant genetic pool is from and to which it has "specialized" ). But if we look deep enough to our genetics we all trace back to south.

Can I ask you, what does my view of, "light skinned are native to north..." Has anything to do with my vision of all humans are equal? I got this feeling you just want to take a lead of my back and blame me to be racist bastard who hates everyone, call me a asshole and prove me that being good person from inside matters shit, that all people are equal assholes and deserve equal amount of hate?

 

[Hosker]

Those books have been out for upwards of 70 years. People can't claim ignorance on this stuff anymore, theres a statue of limitations on this kind of stuff.

Hobbits are white. The whole thing is supposed to be an allegory for Europe. There are non whites in Tolkin land, but they're from the East and ride elephants and stuff. Try out to be one of those, cuz if you end up hiring non white Hobbits all you're gonna do is piss off the fans for not being true to the books.

In The Hobbit there are characters who ride elephants? Can you provide a citation to The Hobbit that contains this mention of elephants being ridden? Or is this something that occurs only in your own imagination? Like the white Hobbits?

And, FYI, the Moors (a people from Northern Africa of Berber, Black African, and Arab descent) conquered and occupied for more than 800 years the Iberian Peninsula (an area of Europe comprised of what is now known as Spain and Portugal) during the late Medieval period. The influence of the Moors in that area continues to this day and is clearly found in the food, architecture, religion, etc., etc. Western Europe, whatever you may think it is an allegory for, is hardly "white."

This may jog your memory:
http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Mumakil

 

[JDKJ]

Those books have been out for upwards of 70 years. People can't claim ignorance on this stuff anymore, theres a statue of limitations on this kind of stuff.

Hobbits are white. The whole thing is supposed to be an allegory for Europe. There are non whites in Tolkin land, but they're from the East and ride elephants and stuff. Try out to be one of those, cuz if you end up hiring non white Hobbits all you're gonna do is piss off the fans for not being true to the books.

In The Hobbit there are characters who ride elephants? Can you provide a citation to The Hobbit that contains this mention of elephants being ridden? Or is this something that occurs only in your own imagination? Like the white Hobbits?

And, FYI, the Moors (a people from Northern Africa of Berber, Black African, and Arab descent) conquered and occupied for more than 800 years the Iberian Peninsula (an area of Europe comprised of what is now known as Spain and Portugal) during the late Medieval period. The influence of the Moors in that area continues to this day and is clearly found in the food, architecture, religion, etc., etc. Western Europe, whatever you may think it is an allegory for, is hardly "white."

This may jog your memory:
http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Mumakil

No, it doesn't. That's because the Mûmakil aren't mentioned in The Hobbit. They aren't mentioned until the second volume of the trilogy, The Two Towers.

Honestly, have you ever read a word of Tolkien? Aren't you just relying on the films for whatever you may about Tolkien's trilogy? Honestly?

 

[Hosker]

Those books have been out for upwards of 70 years. People can't claim ignorance on this stuff anymore, theres a statue of limitations on this kind of stuff.

Hobbits are white. The whole thing is supposed to be an allegory for Europe. There are non whites in Tolkin land, but they're from the East and ride elephants and stuff. Try out to be one of those, cuz if you end up hiring non white Hobbits all you're gonna do is piss off the fans for not being true to the books.

In The Hobbit there are characters who ride elephants? Can you provide a citation to The Hobbit that contains this mention of elephants being ridden? Or is this something that occurs only in your own imagination? Like the white Hobbits?

And, FYI, the Moors (a people from Northern Africa of Berber, Black African, and Arab descent) conquered and occupied for more than 800 years the Iberian Peninsula (an area of Europe comprised of what is now known as Spain and Portugal) during the late Medieval period. The influence of the Moors in that area continues to this day and is clearly found in the food, architecture, religion, etc., etc. Western Europe, whatever you may think it is an allegory for, is hardly "white."

This may jog your memory:
http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Mumakil

No, it doesn't. That's because the Mûmakil aren't mentioned in The Hobbit. They aren't mentioned until the second volume of the trilogy, The Two Towers.

Honestly, have you ever read a word of Tolkien? Aren't you just relying on the films for whatever you may about Tolkien's trilogy? Honestly?

Have you? They are in the books as well you know.

 

[sinterklaas]

Hobbits are white, end of story. Tolkien describes Hobbits as Englishmen from his time. And last time I checked, Englishmen are WHITE.

I feel for that dude that got fired because of bullshit.

 

[JDKJ]

Hobbits are white, end of story. Tolkien describes Hobbits as Englishmen from his time. And last time I checked, Englishmen are WHITE.

I feel for that dude that got fired because of bullshit.

"Englishmen are WHITE."

Wow. That's all I can say. So, I'll just say it again: Wow.

 

[JDKJ]

Hobbits are white, end of story. Tolkien describes Hobbits as Englishmen from his time. And last time I checked, Englishmen are WHITE.

I feel for that dude that got fired because of bullshit.

"Englishmen are WHITE."

Wow. That's all I can say. So, I'll just say it again: Wow.

Englishmen are white, people that have darker skin that live in England may be legally English citizens by they are not ethnic Anglo-Saxon English.

Do they also have little pointy ears, never wear shoes on their hair-covered feet, and stand no taller than four and a half feet? If so, then you're absolutely right in claiming that Tolkien described Hobbits as Englishmen from his time. If not, then you can be described as an idiot.

 

[Poptart Invasion]

Hobbits are white, end of story. Tolkien describes Hobbits as Englishmen from his time. And last time I checked, Englishmen are WHITE.

I feel for that dude that got fired because of bullshit.

"Englishmen are WHITE."

Wow. That's all I can say. So, I'll just say it again: Wow.

Englishmen are white, people that have darker skin that live in England may be legally English citizens by they are not ethnic Anglo-Saxon English.

Do they also have little pointy ears, never wear shoes on their hair-covered feet, and stand no taller than four and a half feet? If so, then you're absolutely right in claiming that Tolkien described Hobbits as Englishmen from his time. If not, then you can be described as an idiot.

yes, its a work of fantasy, but in the words of Neil Gaiman, "All fiction is fantasy of some sort."

besides, Tolkien was very clear that Middle Earth was essentially part of a prehistoric europe. disney may have gotten away with a caucasian with a tan playing a Persian prince, but that (like much of that movie) was pretty stupid and unbelievable to begin with.

you wouldnt have carrot top playing the protagonist of Roots, would you?

 

[Poptart Invasion]

actually, that last post of mine wasnt quite fair since it used a historical-fiction.

how about an anthromophisized version of the anansi stories, but with a few whiteys thrown in, in the name of equality.

or if biblo was played by a woman, or if gandalf was played by a twelve year old?

or a film of japanese mythology, with some roles played by russians, or africans, or indians (india indians, not native americans...well, you know what? native americans too!)

why was this any less ridiculous than those ideas?

 

[JDKJ]

actually, that last post of mine wasnt quite fair since it used a historical-fiction.

how about an anthromophisized version of the anansi stories, but with a few whiteys thrown in, in the name of equality.

or if biblo was played by a woman, or if gandalf was played by a twelve year old?

or a film of japanese mythology, with some roles played by russians, or africans, or indians (india indians, not native americans...well, you know what? native americans too!)

why was this any less ridiculous than those ideas?

Because Tolkien, in his own words, describes the Harfoot Hobbits as being brown of skin and, therefore, to have an actor of brown skin cast in the role of a Harfoot Hobbit isn't at all ridiculous. Rather, it would be entirely in keeping with Tolkien's description of a Harfoot Hobbit. And therefore makes all your analogies above nonsensical comparisons.