Hey, Who Wants to Talk About Racism in Transformers? Wheee! (Come On, It'll Be Fun! There's a Poll!)

Most critics--and more than a few filmgoers--who saw Transformers: Revenge of Jimmy Fallon came away from the super-mega-huge flick with a bad taste in their mouths, a ringing in their ears, loose fillings, and the feeling they'd been repeatedly mugged by a giant metal lizard brain.

I get why everyone rushed to make Transformers 2 one of the biggest-opening films ever. (After all, I was there midnight Tuesday, and I didn't really even like T-Formers1 that much.) And I do get why some fans are saying it was awesome, they loved it, it's just a fun summer movie, escapism, don't think too much about it.

But the point most of us are trying to make is that we like big, loud, fun summer escapism, but not poorly made summer escapism--great effects, but sloppy, lazy storytelling and characters. And just because it looks cool and gives you a momentary rush, doesn't mean it's good for you or your mind or your artistic taste buds.

Many critics who hated TF:ROTF(L) have also zeroed in on the film's perceived racism in the portrayal of the twin comic-relief Autobots, Skids and Mudflap. It raises a chicken/egg question: does the presence of what many of us consider to be minstrel-show-style racial stereotypes make TF:ROTF worse, or are they merely one of many bits of ickiness in the film, but make for an convenient broad target for our ire?

Here are the arguments for and against Skids and Mudflaps being racist:

Why we see them as racist:

--They speak in robo-gangsta "jive" or Ebonics, including rapper-style insults and threats of violence. (Calling others "pussy" and saying they'll "put a cap in your ass.")

--They are more simian-shaped than the other Autobots, with bulging eyes, and one of them has a gold tooth.

--When pressed, they admit they don't know how to read.

All this, many of us say, makes the characters little more than minstrel clowns, playing off cheap, negative African-American thug stereotypes. The movie site CHUD has labeled them "Little Black Sambots."

Now, the defense of the characters from some quarters:

--They're just comic relief, for fun, and not meant to be taken so seriously. Stop being so overly-PC and sensitive and laugh at them!

--They're robots, not human, so how can robot toys be racist?

--These kinds of stereotypes are often used to humorous effect by black film makers.

--The characters grew out of the voice acting done by Reno Wilson (who is black) and Tom Kenny (a white voice actor-comedian who is also the voice of Spongebob) and the actors were playing off the idea that these two Autobots learned about human culture from gangsta rap on the Internet and are just silly wannabees.

What say you all? Pick as many of the following poll options as you like and by all means elaborate on your opinions in the comments section directly below this post!

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More about the controversy, the response of the film makers, and my take on it all over the jump!

Meanwhile, the film's primary screenwriters, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have distanced themselves from Mudflap and Skids, saying that most of what people find offensive was not in their script, but was added to the characters by director Michael Bay. (Bay says the direction of the characters' personalities and speech was inspired by Wilson and Kenny.) Kurtzman went so far as to tell Film School Rejects, "It’s really hard for us to sit here and try to justify it....We were very surprised when we saw it, too... I wasn’t thrilled. I certainly wasn’t thrilled."

(All of this buck-passing makes you wonder if there was any adult supervision during the making of TF:ROTF... Mr. Spielberg, your name is at the top of the producing credits: did you ever bother to pop your head in and see what the kids were up to in the basement?)

What seems to be fueling the simmering controversy is the fact that the characters/caricatures are being passed off as good fun in what is supposed to be a kids' film. When the Wayan Brothers or Tim Story (Barbershop) or F. Gary Gray (Friday) put such stereotypes on the screen, they're doing so in a satiric context, making fun of the stereotypes even as they acknowledge they exist.

But isn't there a difference between doing that for an adult audience who understand what's being said, and doing it for an audience of 8 to 15-year-olds who may not? I personally love obnoxious, offensive, un-PC humor when it's used to draw attention to stereotypes--I subscribe to the old rule that anything is okay if it's funny. But I don't feel comfortable having it served to young kids in the form of what will be one of if not the year's biggest, most popular film.

The fact that they are presented as toy robots makes the racism all the more insidious. Wilson may feel they were performing satire with the characters' speech and mannerisms, but somewhere in the roar of the film, any such context was lost. Rather than commenting on real human behaviors, using the stereotypes in toy robots for comic effect in a kids' movie makes them all the more offensive and dangerous. Like putting nicotine in Frosted Flakes.

Comments

[Andy]

You know, all this crap about racism is a bunch of bull. Get over it. It ended in '50's, the rest has just been hype

[Jason]

Thanks for the L. You made my day. :)

[Jamie]

It bears mentioning that there are a like number of white-bred "gangstas" roaming around out there, the likes of which could arguably be caricatured in a similar light of ignorant comic relief. To wit -- I'd have been more offended if Skids and Mudflap were portrayed ingesting Kool-Aid flavored motor oil or eating the robotic equivalent of fried chicken to drive the point home... not because they come off like just another pair of urban would-be thugs who talk tough (and, ultimately, sound stupid).

[Pure american]

Why does it always come back to racism, they never said anything about black people get over it.

[Philip]

It is always funny to hear the get over it line. Since America was legally an aparthied nation until 1964, getting over 400 years of direct and constant oppression may take more than a few decades

[Louis Randall]

typical hollywood insidious racism under disguise as fun. This is why we need and love spike lee, Steven Spielberg and his liberal racist always get over with crap like this. I had transformers as a kid, this portrayal is disgusting. No! you get over it AMERICA

[Mike]

This is in all good fun I dont see the big deal. I agree with Jason there's just as many white kids out there trying to be "gangstas". So are they racist also? The author of this article in my opinion needs to take a step back and listen to himself hes looking for trouble when this is none.

[Anna]

Personally I think it is ok myself if (as a woman) I have to sit through seeing boobs in every movie made now even kids movies in one way or another I don't think it should be a big issue for racist things to be a part in a movie I mean it is reality after all isnt it? they do talk in ebonics right lol

[billy]

While I agree with what you say about there being a difference between an adult being able to understand the satiric nature of the portrayal and a child being able to, don't forget that this movie is rated PG-13. So it shouldn't be labeled a "kid's movie." Parents have the responsibility of reading reviews and in some cases seeing a movie first before taking their kids to see it.

[ejb]

why do some of the poll options mention Transformers ROTF as a kids movie??? I saw this movie, and I wouldn't suggest any kid under 13 see it. I would DEFINITELY not want to expose my 8 and 10-year-old niece and nephew to the lewd and suggestive humor, sexuality, and extreme violence. It's rated PG-13 and for good reason - KIDS UNDER 13 SHOULDN'T SEE IT! weird. this is a movie for the entertainment of adults. movies like Monsters vs. Aliens or the Shrek series do have some "innuendos", but not blatant sexuality, as in ROTF.

[Kyle]

The characters were, in my opinion, displaying the part of sub-culture of urban life. There are people everywhere that act like Skids and Mudflap, and they are both black and white. When people see this behavior however, they automatically revert this to another African American stereotype, and that is those people's faults. I enjoyed Transformers, but it is scenes like this that critics will use to show how racism is being portrayed covertly in movies.

[Jason]

Mike - That post was by Jamie, the authors name is under the post, not above.

I think that Jamie made a good point though. Thug culture is becoming rampant among our youth, regardless of race. This could be argued to be a lampoon of thug culture more than black culture. But, to argue against myself, the current thug culture used to be exclusive to inner-city black kids, before it was glamorized by MTV and gangster rap. Currently there is definitely a definable difference between thug culture and urban culture.

Unfortunately, my opinion is wholly moot since I haven't yet seen the movie in question.

[Marcus B.]

I saw the movie and I agree that there was an under tone of racism. It didnt completely offend me. However it certainly took away from the movie. Being an educated, black man I realize racial depression still exists and shouldn't be ignored. Film makers should consider this when creating films intended for family viewing.

[Locke Peterseim]

"The author of this article in my opinion needs to take a step back and listen to himself hes looking for trouble when this is none."

Mike, it certainly isn't just ME noticing and complaining about this--many, many other critics have noted the perceived racism, so much so that the film's WRITERS have distanced themselves from it. One of the articles I linked to was an AP article from USA Today.

As for the "looking for trouble" part, I'm appreciating hearing other thoughtful comments about why maybe we shouldn't be bothered by this. There's no doubt, many critics have been lying in the tall grass waiting for a clear shot at Bay, and there may be an element of pouncing on him for the racism because it offers a "clear" example of how he goes too far.

The "white wannabees talk like this, too" argument almost holds water for me and gets back to what Wilson, the voice actor, says they were doing: just making fun of people--or in this case, robots--who imitate gangsta-rap culture to appear tough. But that seems a convenient stretch: I'm guessing if you took a poll at the theaters, a vast majority of viewers will have "seen" Mudflap and Skids as "black" because of their speech.

And I can almost buy the argument that Bay's approach to Transformers is a pop-culture blender/trash compactor that sucks in every possible aspect of pop culture and mixes them all together. In that context, the Twins could be seen as just more rapid-fire, over-the-top reflection of a big aspect of current pop culture, gangsta macho posturing as seen in rap videos. (Though gangsta rap has faded in popularity in recent years, replaced by a more general hip-hop tone as represented by performers like Kanye.)

But still, I guess it all comes back to my general take on TF:ROTF: that it's all just TOO MUCH. It all goes too far--like I said, the entire film feels like kids making a movie and trying to get away with as much as they can, with no adult supervision. The racism just joins the sexism, the fart jokes, the robo-testicles, and so on as part of the crass excess.

As for it not being a kids film, come ON. Who are you kidding? Sure, it's PG-13 but do teenagers PLAY with Transformer toys? No. Let's hear from those of you out there with boys (and girls) under 13: do THEY want to see this movie? My 4-yr-old nephew sure as heck does. This is a blatant case of marketing and hooking a product to young kids, but then making the product crass enough to appeal to teenagers and, they hope, adults. The PG-13 is incredibly cynical, since they KNOW young kids will want to see it and will try to convince their parents to take them.

And that's where it all comes together and bothers me. It's dicey for adults to be handed stereotypes like Mudflap and Skids, but do we REALLY want young kids slipped this sort of thing?

My guess is, believe it or not, that having done it all, even Michael Bay might be feeling a bit guilty. He says now he wants to make a smaller, quieter film next, and then maybe Transformers 3--maybe I'm a foolish optimist, but I'm betting TF 3 will work a bit harder to have a plot that makes sense AND ease up on being offensive just for the sake of being offensive.

[Miah]

Nice Post Locke Peterseim!

I too am disgusted that a film based on a children's toy line could have so much innuendo, crude behavior, and to top it off -- racial undertones!

What are we thinking? Not a children's film... have you seen your local toy isle these last 20 years?

After viewing this movie I felt that it was very irresponsible of those who took part in its creation to let so much pass in what should have been the best movie of the year.

[Jason]

I think what is most disturbing about this movie for people is that it- like all art- is a mirror. It reflects our culture back at us in (what I hope) is an exaggerated manner and what we see disgusts us. It is all that is negative about pop culture and youth trends. Part of me wonders if this movie is brilliant satire. Locke, I think you were close to something when you said, "And I can almost buy the argument that Bay's approach to Transformers is a pop-culture blender/trash compactor that sucks in every possible aspect of pop culture and mixes them all together."

I wonder if in 50 years some scholar is going to look back at Bay's movies and go, "Waitaminute... I GET it!" and write a brilliant piece about how Bay was a misunderstood satire genius who even in his daily life never dropped the satirical act, actually BECOMING the satire.

...And maybe someday, our mouths will be on our elbows and we'll all like Michael Bolton. Who can say, really?

[Locke Peterseim]

The problem with that argument, Jason, is that Bay--for as great an action-maestro as he is--is NO satirist. Some folks like Drew "Moriarty" McWeeney (formerly of AICN, now at HitFlix) like Bad Boys II because it's SO over the top it becomes an almost satiric commentary. But is it satire if few in the audience see it as such?

A comparison would be Verhoven's Starship Troopers (which I keep meaning to review): I feel it's CLEARLY intended as SATIRE, but I'd guess many people who saw it (and liked or hated it) didn't view it as satire.

Let's just say you don't often see "Bay" and "subtle" in the same sentence.

(All this said, I'm VERY curious to see Bay do a smaller, quieter film. I've ALWAYS praised him for his action eye--and even TF:ROTF is FULL of utterly AMAZING battle visuals. But Bay himself would be the first to admit he's not that great when he wanders away from the BOOM--the result seems to be that he just keeps cranking the action up until it becomes not only absurd, but boring--as I feel in TF:ROTF.

I LOVE it when directors do a 180 and re-invent themselves and their style, and I'd love to see what happens if Bay tries it. I kinda doubt he's self-aware or introspective enough to really pull off a genuine shift--you don't get to be Michael Bay by having self-doubts! lol--but I'm anxious to see him try.)

[brent]

this movie was made for the generation that grew up with it. truly, most of us who have grown with the film do have kids, but it is OUR job as PARENTS to see films before subjugating the kids to see them. it is our choice nonetheless to be the last word in the decision for the kids to see these kinds of movies. people also need to remember what kind of movies michael bay makes. why should transformers be any different. and for the racist remarks....they aren't racist...they're RACIAL. people are forgetting about the freedom of speech clause in the constitution these days because of the fear of being sued. stop with all of this garbage talk. many of my black friends thought the twins were amazing. none took offense, but embraced the characters, like we all should.

[Locke Peterseim]

"people are forgetting about the freedom of speech clause in the constitution these days because of the fear of being sued."

Brent, the First Amendment protects you from having the GOVERNMENT censor or suppress speech. Michael Bay is free--obviously--to say and do whatever he wants in his film, as is Paramount to fund and release the film. And we are all free to go pay to see it. Just as we are also free to call Bay and the film on it when we feel they're way, way out of line.

No one is saying Bay or Transformers should be censored (well, no one in America--the Chinese government beeped out the reference to Shanghai in the film), but we get to sound off as much as we want about how bad we think the film is.

In my review I said I almost don't blame Bay or the film--I blame US for continuing to reward this stuff. As we all know, as long as movies like this crush box-office records, there will be more of them. Hollywood and Bay won't back off until they go SO far that a large number of viewers cry "foul" or "uncle."

I'm not a prude--I like sex and violence and bad language and un-PC crudity in films. But I prefer that a) those films be targeted toward age-appropriate audiences, and b) the films be GOOD.

And like I've said, I optimistically hope that even Bay, through that adamantium-armored ego of his, is getting the message this time around. There is enough critical backlash and outrage that even HE might be thinking he needs to step back a bit. On the other hand, the film is on pace to be the biggest of the year, so that's a very powerful conflicting message to Bay's giant metal lizard brain.

Marketplace of ideas, Brent--and yes, even a big, loud, dumb movie about battling robots is an "idea." Bay submitted his idea--we get to counter with our ideas about his idea. Namely that some of us hate it and wish Bay and Hollywood would make BETTER big, loud movies about battling robots.

[N]

Skids and Mudflap were like that in the original cartoon series. They followed the pop culture influence, and pop culture today is gangster idiots who need to relearn the English language. Saying that they are imitating black people is the racist part.

[Marlene]

Good grief! It's a movie!!

Racism will be an issue as long as we make it an issue. The racists from the 50s, 60s are getting older and that generation no longer dominates in this world so it will only continue if we allow it. Is anyone really 100% "something" anymore?!! Most of us have Native American or Hispanic in our backgrounds somewhere . . . unless you were alive to endure it, you have nothing to fuss about, if you were alive to experience (like my mother and grandparents), move on and allow the next generations to live without it.

The twins were funny and lightened the movie at moments. The curse words were a little much and unnecessary but overall, they fit into the film.

Great post! Love how you showed both sides of the issue!

[Polli]

First of all, ROTF is not a kids film. It's PG13 which means its intended as a teen and up film. Of course, everyone and their poodle brought the kiddies.

That being said. Forget the annoying little racist bots... what about the blatant sexism? I was much more offended by being greeted by Megan Fox's ass while she talked on the phone. There was absolutely NO reason for that little scene right at the beginning of the film. I have no words for the sex bot that turned up later. I have no problems with nudity or glorifying the female (and male) form, but watching a robotic tail emerge from someone's ass isn't artistic or remotely respectful or even that interesting. I'd like that 2.5 hours and my $24 bucks back, please.

[John]

I personally did not find the Twins to be racist, but rather funny at times. However, as the poster suggested, the Twins and the entire movie was just to much. Had the Twins been used sparingly, they would have been great, a little comic releaf to break up the monotiny of all the fighting and explosions. The problem was that they are in every other scene, and they do nothing but get old and dumb down the entire film. Like the Twins, the fact that you saw the robots transform, in depth, every two minutes ruined the whole "awe" factor and and it just simply got old. Was the movie entertaining? sure, I was entertained. Was it a good movie? Did the plot make any sense? Was it anywhere near as good of a movie as it should have been? The answer to all of those questions is a resounding NO! That is what left me offended, not the "racist" Twins.

[Bee]

they're not racist ? who ever wrote this crap is :/ they didnt actually say they are african-american ? so assuming they are because they talk different and cant read is assuming that all african-americans talk different and cant read ? so check your facts before you try blowing them into peoples faces. Hahaha yeaah boy !

[Jason]

"But is it satire if few in the audience see it as such?"
Yes. Just because high school students read Oscar Wilde and don't get it, doesn't make it not satire. Not that I think Michael Bay is Oscar Wilde, because that comparison would make me cry.

As for the bots being racist, I wonder how the Black community perceived them. It could be, that our culture is much more sensitive to possible instances of racism that we've ever been before. Call someone a racist and see how they react. Racist is the newest "worst thing you can call someone." People don't bat an eye at being called a four letter word, but call them a bigot or racist and watch how they get upset. Everyone is afraid of being labeled as a racist, therefore they are much quicker to loudly denounce anything within a mile of the line so they can have a public track record to point to in the event of being called a racist. So, could it be that the characters didn't cross a line, but that the audience was overly sensitive?

I thought Polli brought up a great point: Everyone is decrying the "racism" in this film when that isn't even the most dangerous and subversive thing in it. No one noticed the sexism (which apparently should have been equally appalling), and that is much scarier and more dangerous. Talk about reinforcing unrealistic standards of "beauty." Megan Fox could arguably be pointed to as the current most significant source of body image issues. Met any woman who was completely satisfied with how she looks? Movies like this are why.

[Smith]

Why is everyone even complaining about the brothers being racist? The whole movie makes fun of all colors, sex and cultures, for fun. There's even an italian type robot who gets his eye torched by Megan Fox! Does that bring back any ideas of the italian mob torture stereotypes? I even heard the brothers are white actors, and to me they don't even sound black, they sound more like a hillbilly. Also if they are white actors, acting "black" that would mean it's making fun of whites, showing that we want to be black.

[Fiirvoen]

In light of Smith's post, which confirms by proxy what I had suspected, I have to say that I didn't think the twins sounded black in the previews. Having not seen the movie, I couldn't make that judgment without reservation, but where I'm from, 90% of the hillbillies/rednecks use "black" slang and listen to two kinds of music: rap and country. (The two often have more in common than you'd think.)

[Porpoisepower]

It never crossed my mind that the twins were "black." To me they sounded like hicks. There was a couple "Ebonic" phrases but it sounded like red necks emulating rappers on MTV.

To me the first movie, had more significant racial profiling, (The scene where the cops break into the hacker's place), where the film broke down into another "scared black man running from the law" routine. Granted this is something the Wayans Brothers are guilty of just as much as Bay.