nooniensingh | (no subject)

Let's start this off bluntly: J.J. Abrams, Bad Robot Productions, Paramount Pictures, and Viacom are complicit in an instance of giving a character of color role to a white man. That sucks and there is no excuse for it. I would like to point out, however, that the character of Khan was a dictator, and there are deeper cultural and political ramifications to his backstory now. Read on.

I have been a Star Trek fan since 1986, when The Voyage Home hit theaters. ("Captain, there be whales here!") I was a wee babby, and that was my first exposure to anything Trek. I was instantly hooked. I had no idea that the characters were supposed to be a diverse, multicultural crew, all I knew was that Kirk called somebody a "double dumb-ass" and Spock went swimming with George and Gracie. Just two years later, I was supremely privileged to meet Jonathan Frakes just outside one of the soundstages of TNG. I had no idea of the deep philosophy inherent in the show, just that Commander Riker was REALLY EFFING TALL. (I also got to see him dancing around in fairy wings at a rave on set once, but that's a story for another time.)

It wasn't until I got older that I started to really dig into the philosophy of Trek. That I really understood what Roddenberry was trying to accomplish with his silly little space-opera. He was pointing out to a country - a world - deeply embroiled in racist philosophy that, hey geniuses, we're all human and we can get our shit together if we really try.

And Gene Roddenberry was fought every single step of the way by the people who ran CBS at the time. Nichelle Nichols has told many, many stories about the problems she ran into on that set, not from anybody directly involved with the show, but those devious scumbags known as Studio Executives who just had to get their noses in. (For further reference, Star Trek was produced by DesiLu, the production company headed by Desi Arnaz, a man who'd had his own struggles against the white Hollywood machine.)

When Roddenberry wrote the episode Space Seed, Khan was originally conceived as a white, Nordic man. Blond, blue-eyed, seven feet tall and built like a brick shithouse. But then Gene changed his mind. He opted to make Khan an Indian man. Khan was given the surname Singh. (There are those who argue that "Khan" is an honorific, and his name is simply Noonien Singh. I personally agree with this, but that's just my opinion.) This was to try to get the attention of a man Roddenberry had served in the Korean War with, an officer named Kim Noonien-Singh. He'd hoped that the similarity in names would make the man write to the Star Trek production offices.

Ricardo Montalban was then cast as Khan.

A Latino man, playing an Indian man.

Huh huh huh?

Yes, let's face it, the number of Indian men working in Hollywood in 1967 was practically nil. But Gene had fought, and seemingly won, to get many, many people of color onto the show. So why not hire an actual Indian man to play the role?

White-washing. Yes. It was.

Ricardo Montalban was a huge star, having had his start in Spanish-language cinema. He was one of the rare few who'd crossed over to the "wider" audience, and managed to keep his Latino identity intact, an amazing accomplishment. (There's a reason Martin Sheen is "Martin Sheen" and not "Ramon Estevez.") He was cast as suitably "other" for the role, but not too different. His talent was such that he pulled off one of the greatest cinematic villains ever created, just creepy and violent enough to put everybody on edge.

When Benedict Cumberbatch was cast in the role of Khan, Hollywood took another step in the wrong direction in terms of white-washing. Another step, in amongst all the thousands of other steps. It is a systemic problem, starting at the top of the executive towers and working its way down to the audiences. That's the whole point of the Star Trek universe, to continue to point out that, hey geniuses, we're all the same and we can fix this if we work hard at it. And I really, truly honor the fans for pointing out the inherent hypocrisy in the casting of Into Darkness.

Fortunately, Benedict is a superb actor, and pulled off his Khan beautifully.

Which leads me into my idea, my thought, regarding a white man being called Khan.

The Eugenics Wars were an inherently racist and classist event in the Star Trek universe, created to point out what happens when humanity is removed, enhanced, or forcibly changed in any way. They were meant to be shown (or rather implied, since I don't believe we've ever seen them "on-camera" as it were, I could be wrong, I still haven't watched ST:Enterprise) as the first real impediment in human edification, the horrific result of power-lust and dictatorship. They were meant to show us the final destination of a road we're still currently traveling, where war and destruction are inevitable, when people in power have no conscience.

Khan was genetically engineered to be super-human, but given no guidance in the realm of morality. He was created to be the ultimate blank canvas, which his creators could paint with blood and power. All of the Augments were arrogant and cruel, and this was attributed to their gene structure. I disagree with that idea, the idea that cruelty is a genetic attribute. I like to think that it's a lack of real education, deliberately chosen by the Augment creators, to see just how ambitious their creations could be. ("Superior ability breeds superior ambition.") Basically? I think of the scientists behind this project as giant Nietzsche fanboys, with no consideration as to how life is actually lived. They had pictures of Ayn Rand on their walls.

That's a joke, for the record.

And then on top of that, we have Khan ruling over a quarter of the world's land mass, from China to Saudi Arabia. That quarter of the world's land includes half of humanity's population, everybody. Khan was no fool, he did not choose the countries with the greatest political power, but the places where there were more people, more raw materials for his ambition. His aim was to conquer the planet, and he was amassing an army, the largest army ever seen, every man woman and child...

If you go back into history, you can see just how many white men have attempted to rule that chunk of the world. Starting with Alexander the Great and going from there, there has always been that miasma of so-called supremacy over it. It's horrible, it's tragic, and it's wrong.

Khan being a white man, with that name being an honorific, is actually completely historically accurate, and paints a much bleaker picture of the Eugenics Wars, and what humanity had to accomplish to end it. It makes Khan a very effective villain, and his place in history's cloth even more appalling.

This isn't to excuse Hollywood's stupidity. But it does put a very interesting twist, at least to me, on a fascinating character.

In conclusion, here's Ricardo Montalban talking about rich Corinthian leather.

Also, please read the wiki on The Eugenics Wars.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

lthistorian

You know, I actually hadn't thought of it that way and it makes a whole damn lot of sense. (Though the whole casting process still makes me facepalm a bit -well, in general Hollywood and their casting processes regarding race make me facepalm) Though I actually wonder what would have happened if the other conquerors had gone the Alexander the Great route (yes, massive battles but also alliances through marriage, that actually made him for example, the only western man who effectively conquered a region such as Afghanistan, afaik).
Also, diverging a bit from topic, but I am loving the thread these two are having together.

From:

nooniensingh

Hollywood is full of fail when it comes to that kind of thing. Unfortunately, it always has been. I'm not trying to make the white-washing OK, because it never will be. But it was done, so I put way too much thought into it. XD

Frankly I would have loved to have seen John Abraham play the part. He's fantastic, and would have made a perfect Khan. But then again, Benedict Cumberbatch is...Benedict friggin' Cumberbatch. Give the man an Oscar already.

And yes, I hadn't even hoped that anybody would consider a Marla in the context of the reboot-verse. And here you are. I honestly had an OMG moment when you replied to my post.

From:

lthistorian

Hey, putting too much thought in media-related things is okay, I've spent the last five years of my life doing so (helloooooo film school student here)
Also, that fancasting is kind of perfect. (And also yes. But it is bound to happen sooner or later, it is known)
Well, the Marla/Khan relationship has had me fascinated since I watched a rerun of "Space seed" almost fifteen years ago and rued the fact that we didn't get to see more of them together. (Because yes, then I had no access to the novels, sadly). And well, it's a pretty sweet opportunity to try her in a "new" setting without leaving her old self completely.
(And damn I wrote a mini-bible here)

From:

nooniensingh

O RLY I'm a screenwriter by trade, myself. Aspiring, anyway. Haven't sold anything yet, but the struggle continues. What aspect of film are you interested in? Directing?

I need to re-watch TOS, it's been about fifteen years for me as well. God bless Netflix. I loved Into Darkness, it did a great job with tweaking the timeline just enough, and bringing in new viewers. (New viewers = possibility of new network shows, which YAY.) But the really nerdy part of me was like BUT BUT BUT SPACE SEED CAROL MARCUS DAVID MARCUS GENESIS PLANET WHERE IS?

I am the worst at TL;DR don't even worry. I mean...hello. Look up. I spent two hours on that post. XD

From:

lthistorian

Hello fellow writer! Lately I've ventured more into the world of theatre (almost finished a master's degree on Drama and Scenic Arts and participated in four semi-Professional productions this year) and I am interested in pretty much everything (entering an acting course next September and sending resumes everywheeeeeeereeeeeeeeeeee)

I've yet to see Into the Darkness, which got released last week in my country, but I have to wait to watch it with my family (massive fans we are, specially my dad and specially of TOS), but I predict the reactions will be pretty similar.

GOOD THEN, KINDRED SPIRIT. Let me hug you. And let's continue having these two plotting and being awesome (Though Marla is suddenly so overcome with awe, like "OMG he's letting me touch him. And he said that it was an honor. And he is perfect. He is great and the world will see it again."
And suddenly I realise that she reminds me a bit of Magda Goebbels. *Gulps*)

From:

nooniensingh

AH SO. Fantastic. I never went to school, but I just read and read and read scripts until I fall over, and watch lots of movies. Lots of movies. And lots of television. I grew up in Hollywood, and come from a family of writers, so I always love meeting people interested in show biz. :3 Acting is really bloody hard, I did it for a long while, and finally decided to switch to the writing side.

And oh. Oh honey. Oh my. You're in for SUCH a treat with Into Darkness. It's just as good as the first J.J. Trek, honestly. I've seen it three times in theaters already, and I loved it more each time. Although I now realize looking at our thread on SWS that I.......might have spoiled you for some plot points? AND I'M SORRY. I didn't realize.

As for the Magda Goebbels comparison, holy shit is that apt. I shouldn't laugh at that, and yet.

Out of curiosity, are you going to be apping at any games? I put in a reserve at PolyChromatic, but I'm always open to one-on-one RP on journals.

From:

lthistorian

Which is basically what one does at film school (well, mine was not actually school, it was a University but the purpose is the same.)so you went through the right path. (Also, I agree. But so is also being a technician on a low budget -I have worked as costume designer and maker- it sucks the life out of you XD)

And hey, no problem. The good thing I have with movies, tv shows and all that, is that it doesn't matter if I get spoiled, I can maintain my puppy-with-a-new-toy levels of excitement about the whole matter and get surprised nonetheless. (yeah, I am kinda weird in that aspect).

Also, so glad I am not the only one who sees it. Because really, the obsessive idealization is so there. And it's fascinating (not that I agree with it or anything Nazism related of course. My family suffered under fascism and honestly, I find the whole ideology revolting. But from a purely psychological and storytelling standpoint I find the idea of obsession really really interesting)

Tbqh, I haven't thought of it, but the most probably outcome is that no, because my life is pretty much packed ATM and I don't really feel like I could keep in with a game right now. though maybe that could change later, IDK.

From:

nooniensingh

oh god you poor babby :( Costume design/build is so damn hard, so many many props to you for even attempting it. That's a position on set that deserves nothing but immense respect. Well done you. :3

In re-reading the teleplay for Space Seed, Marla was presented as a woman in love, but yeah, her motivations were questionable at best. I'm really interested in exploring their love, simply because of their respective pasts and contexts. And it gives Khan a more human side, and her a more brutal side.

I have a feeling we're gonna get on quite well. I honestly prefer one-on-one RP as opposed to full-cast games, so there's no pressure at all.

From:

lthistorian

And now my cheeks are as red as Marla's hair.\o/

(Also basically a big yes to all that. That tendency she had for romanticising the "great" men of the past helped a bit too. And I am basically asdgfgdhb ATM. Because of reason)

And good ;).

Also, about the thread. Do we lead it to a close -for example, with Marla being called to report or something similar- or do you want to continue with it?

From:

nooniensingh

If you want to move the story to a thread on journals, no problem at all. If you'd like to continue at SWS, and wrap it up there, also awesome. I am so easy either way. Whatever you'd prefer, I'm fine with.

I mean it, your FC is fantastic, and I'm so eager to play out anything you want. I'm still easing my way through Khan's voice, so as long as we're on the same page, everything's copacetic.

From:

lthistorian

We can continue and wrap it up there and then see on another thread to happen (I may be searching for fanart to pose as Marla's sketches of Khan XD)

(Also thank you I spent a long time looking for an appropriate PB because of reasons and it suddenly appeared to me that Karen Gillan would be a perf Marla and well, it happened)