Skin Deep
I was really looking forward to the FX series Black. White. (obnoxious audio warning) I'm not sure why, because I immediately spotted it for what it is: a shallow treatment of the very complex issues of race and racism. I suppose I was hoping to be proved wrong.
The central premise of the show is gimmicky and flawed: through the magic of Hollywood makeup artistry, change someones skin and put them in a couple situations where the issue of race might arise, and see what happens. Of course, the producers are working with a completely stacked deck, thus ensuring the desired conflicts and outcomes. The white father, Bruno, is about as intellectually curious as an anal wart, while his black counterpart, Brian, is the unmovable force to Bruno's unstoppable motion. Who's right? Who cares. It's all about watching the sparks and sometimes the explosion. Then there's Rose, the white 17 year-old daughter every parent wishes they had. She's smart, funny, outgoing, and displays a wisdom and intellect beyond her years. She is paired with Nick, a black 16 years old boy, an 8th-grade dropout who makes the wrong decision at every junction, and who self-identifies with the stereotypical “thug” culture. Gee, who do you suppose is going to come out…well smelling like a rose in this pairing? (my only consolation is that I think the producers expected a lot of conflict between Rose and Nick, but they were too honest and intuitive to fall for it.) Meanwhile, the white mom, Carmen, is flakier than a psoriasis convention in a snow storm, paired up with a very strong, opinionated, and easily-offended Renee. Gee, what do you suppose is going to happen there?
There are some cheap laughs to be sure. Carmen wants to wear a dashiki to a black church, Bruno throws the n-word around like some kind of magic fairy dust, and Rose writes the worst…beat…poetry…ever. Cheap laughs, uncomfortable moments, but no serious exploration of race and racism.
The show is a
gimmick, nothing more. You can't just paint someone the other color and expect them to understand the real and complex issues of race, especially when the players have been hand-picked for optimum drama and hilarity. There is no honesty, only a facade to prop up a failing premise. The best that can be said for the series
is that it does a fair job of showing the difficulties of throwing 2
very different families into the same house and seeing what happens.
It's unfortunate they didn't hand this project over to Morgan Spurlock, whose series 30 Days (also obnoxious audio, sorry) shows you can take a real honest and serious look at the social issues that affect Americans.
March 24th, 2006 at 5:22 pm
When was the last time you saw a measured, reflective discussion of real issues on television? For that matter, anywhere?
I'm sitting here, trying to think of a place to go to find something like that, and I'm baffled.
Good post. I'd heard about that show, but I have trouble remembering to watch television (so what am I paying $50/month for…). This kind of programming doesn't make me want to tune in.
March 24th, 2006 at 7:17 pm
Trying to find insightful social dialogue on FX is like trying to get milk from a bull. I applaud you for your effort though.
Even if this show showed and explored more real situations, I don't think it'd ever stray away from one fundamental commonality in the general culture today: To point out differences above shared traits. Every social element, from politics to what food we eat is covered in this exact way. We are deep in a culture that highlights extremes, there is no time to talk about the middle. I don't mean to sound fluffy but until we get away from that, we will never be able to solve many of our problems.