tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post1829032550940524113..comments2024-03-17T00:10:44.022+00:00Comments on From Arse To Elbow: Straight Outta Chipping NortonDavid Timoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568348438980023320noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-17879577372809632422015-09-03T20:20:13.850+01:002015-09-03T20:20:13.850+01:00The point I was trying to make is that since Bond ...The point I was trying to make is that since Bond is totally unrealistic (and was even during the Cold War) you could quite easily get a black man to play the part, because it would hardly require you to suspend disbelief. The reason you wouldn't want a black (or working class) Bond (unless you're a hard core racist) is if you subscribe to an essentially upper/middle class myth about how Britain was and should be, or some kind of nostalgist for Empire.<br /><br />Personally I could easily do without James Bond.Igor Belanovnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-3330294951952042962015-09-03T17:27:32.356+01:002015-09-03T17:27:32.356+01:00The reason you wouldn't want a working class J...The reason you wouldn't want a working class James Bond is that it is unlikely you would get one in real life!<br /><br />This cuts to an issue, should art reflect reality or try to reflect what you would like reality to be.<br /><br />If it is the latter I would like to see no James Bond!<br /><br />If we then say, yes but art should allow for black people to have the same opportunities as white people etc, then you are in danger of turning art into a diversity project. where this overrides the actual content. But I guess this could give art some actual living power. i just think the issue needs looking at from all sides.Herbie Kills Childrennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-77957623791650517672015-09-03T11:43:52.483+01:002015-09-03T11:43:52.483+01:00Straight out of Asgard. The Guardian also touches ...Straight out of Asgard. The Guardian also touches on Elba as Norse God in this article about Heathcliffe. Makes Horowitz's remarks seem wilfully unguarded given the fuss that time.<br /><br />http://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/nov/13/how-heathcliff-got-a-raceliftHugo Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12705056750207255618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-53195190174288815672015-09-03T09:28:29.931+01:002015-09-03T09:28:29.931+01:00I think you've hit the nail on the nead here.
...I think you've hit the nail on the nead here.<br /><br />The Idris Elba/Bond issue reminds me in a way of the 'controversy' when the makers of Midsomer Murders tried to defend the lack of ethnic diversity on the programme by suggesting that it would not reflect rural life if black people were on the show. Given that Bond and Midsomer make very few concessions to reality, it does still demonstrate the dominance of upper/middle-class conceptions of 'Britishness' rather than any out-and-out racism, though it is still a Britishness that has a problem accepting minorities of any kind except socio-economic ones.Igor Belanovnoreply@blogger.com