Home Video Menu
Home Prev Next Menu
Better experience in portrait mode.

Films and Series with Cultural Representation Considered Negative

kapanlagi
Films and Series with Cultural Representation Considered Negative (Credit Film Poster: www.imdb.com)
Kapanlagi.com -
Written by: Adristi Putri Febrianti
There is a saying that suggests we should not make films or write books set in places we have never visited. The purpose of this advice is to avoid the emergence of bias, stereotypes, and stigma against a place or community. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with this principle, and many works fall into this mistake.

As a result, some films actually worsen the cultural image they aim to portray due to a lack of in-depth research, and often because the creators feel comfortable in their position as white individuals. This phenomenon is known as the "white gaze," which is the view that the perspective of white people about groups or cultures outside their community is the most accurate and objective, whereas the reality can be very different.

Films and series that do not consider the diversity of perspectives often serve as real examples of cultural inaccuracies that are not well understood. By studying these patterns, we can learn to be more careful and sensitive in depicting cultures or places that are foreign to us, as well as avoid similar mistakes in future works.

1. Emilia Perez (2024)

(Credit Poster Film: www.imdb.com)

In terms of plot and format, the film EMILIA PEREZ indeed has the quality worthy of an Oscar nomination. It's no surprise that this film made it to the Oscar shortlist, dominated the European Film Awards, and received many nominations at the Golden Globe. However, behind this success, many feel disappointed with how director Jacques Audiard portrayed Mexico in the film.

Audiard, who is French, admitted in an interview that he did not conduct in-depth research about Mexico, even choosing not to seriously study the Spanish language. This decision has drawn criticism, especially since he also did not choose Mexican actors to play the three main roles in the film. One of the most highlighted decisions was the casting of Selena Gomez, whose Spanish language skills in the film were deemed imperfect.

Criticism of this film has become sharper, considering the glaring mistakes in the representation of Mexican culture. The choice of actors and the less sensitive approach to local culture have been subjects of debate, leading many viewers to question the validity of the portrayal presented in EMILIA PEREZ.


Stay tuned for news about interesting films! If not now, when?

2. American Sniper (2014)

(Credit Film Poster: www.imdb.com)

Despite achieving great success at the Oscars with 6 nominations, the film AMERICAN SNIPER is considered problematic by many. In addition to romanticizing war, the film directed by Clint Eastwood and adapted from the memoir of an Iraq War veteran is deemed to fail in providing a fair and objective representation, particularly regarding the civilian population who are victims of war.

In several scenes, the film tends to demonize the civilians affected by the conflict. Furthermore, it also "censors" the important fact that it was the United States that initiated the war in Iraq. Instead of providing a comprehensive picture of the situation, Eastwood frames his film's story with propaganda that portrays America as conducting military operations to combat terrorism, while the Iraq War has a much more complex background.

This approach has led to AMERICAN SNIPER being criticized for not presenting a more balanced narrative and instead obscuring historical reality. By presenting a one-sided view, the film shows how the medium of film can be used to shape biased public opinion regarding a major event.

3. Emily in Paris (2020-2024)

(Credit Film Poster: www.imdb.com)

EMILY IN PARIS has been the target of harsh criticism from netizens, especially from native French people who feel that they are not well represented in this series. Written from the perspective of an American woman working in Paris, many scenes and conversations in this series are considered very stereotypical and inaccurate.

One of the most highlighted aspects is Emily's fashion, which is seen as excessive and not in line with Parisian lifestyle. Additionally, the fact that Emily (Lily Collins) cannot speak French at all despite working at a local company is deemed very unrealistic. Instead of focusing on her work, Emily's character appears more like a tourist on vacation in the city.

Furthermore, the producers of this series portray Paris as a very aesthetic city, without depicting real issues such as cleanliness or social inequality that exist there. If one wants to get a more realistic picture of life in Paris, many suggest watching films directed by native French filmmakers, who are more honest in depicting the state of the city.

(kpl/adp)

Disclaimer: This translation from Bahasa Indonesia to English has been generated by Artificial Intelligence.
Swipe Up Next Article

Cobain For You Page (FYP) Yang kamu suka ada di sini,
lihat isinya

Buka FYP