11-28-2010, 05:05 PM
Gay 'blacking up'
I use this phrase to infer white actors 'blacking up' to play black people. My question is, can straight actors portraying gay people be compared to this?
Some weeks ago, in a weekend supplement, Antony Hegarty, of Antony and the Johnsons and Hercules and Love Affair, commented that it angered him to see straight actors playing gay roles. His argument was that gay people have a better understanding (obviously) of how it is to be gay, and are likely, therefore, to portray it better. He also believed that straight people taking gay roles could deny gay actors the chance to take it, marginalising them.
There was much response in correspondence to this- some agreed with him, while others did not. Some argued that actors are trained in portraying a fiction, so there is no conflict in a straight person 'acting gay'; others remarked that if what he says is correct, surely it is logical that gay actors may not play straight people, which surely would greater marginalise gay actors.
It is my view that his comments appear to imply that being gay is something that impacts upon ones entire being, persona or presentation. I am not gay, so I am sure he is better but qualified to comment. However, to my mind, while being gay can be an important part of ones identity, a lot of the time, for example when at work, when doing chores, socialising with a mixed group etc, homosexuality it not neccessariliy something that impacts or visably presents itself, as, say, race or disability may. Sexuality is mainly apparent in the context of relationships, and surely most on screen relationships are acted rather than based on real feelings. Therefore to me straight actors can easily play gay people and vice versus.
Conversly, I think it is probably better that black actors play black characters and disabled actors play disabled characters, rather than have people 'black up' for the role. I suppose that is because the way race and disability are apparent or present themself, and also the fact that these groups may be excluded from the majority of mainstream roles (usually white, not disabled). That is not to say other actors can't explore issues around disability and race in film.
I am unsure how consistent my views are, this is just my initial response. What do you think?
I use this phrase to infer white actors 'blacking up' to play black people. My question is, can straight actors portraying gay people be compared to this?
Some weeks ago, in a weekend supplement, Antony Hegarty, of Antony and the Johnsons and Hercules and Love Affair, commented that it angered him to see straight actors playing gay roles. His argument was that gay people have a better understanding (obviously) of how it is to be gay, and are likely, therefore, to portray it better. He also believed that straight people taking gay roles could deny gay actors the chance to take it, marginalising them.
There was much response in correspondence to this- some agreed with him, while others did not. Some argued that actors are trained in portraying a fiction, so there is no conflict in a straight person 'acting gay'; others remarked that if what he says is correct, surely it is logical that gay actors may not play straight people, which surely would greater marginalise gay actors.
It is my view that his comments appear to imply that being gay is something that impacts upon ones entire being, persona or presentation. I am not gay, so I am sure he is better but qualified to comment. However, to my mind, while being gay can be an important part of ones identity, a lot of the time, for example when at work, when doing chores, socialising with a mixed group etc, homosexuality it not neccessariliy something that impacts or visably presents itself, as, say, race or disability may. Sexuality is mainly apparent in the context of relationships, and surely most on screen relationships are acted rather than based on real feelings. Therefore to me straight actors can easily play gay people and vice versus.
Conversly, I think it is probably better that black actors play black characters and disabled actors play disabled characters, rather than have people 'black up' for the role. I suppose that is because the way race and disability are apparent or present themself, and also the fact that these groups may be excluded from the majority of mainstream roles (usually white, not disabled). That is not to say other actors can't explore issues around disability and race in film.
I am unsure how consistent my views are, this is just my initial response. What do you think?
![[-]](https://gayspeak.com/images/duende_v3_local/collapse.png)
