What Role Does Whitewashing Play In Hollywood

Why does Hollywood have few ethnic actors in the lead roles? In modern day films it seems that Asian American actors never get the spotlight they deserve. “Whitewashing,” a term used to describe when a role of an ethnic minority is portrayed by a white individual. This is clearly displayed in the filmmaking industry of Hollywood. The deprivation of ethnic roles and movies still exists in the shadows of Hollywood.
Hollywood’s history of whitewashing may seem to have diminished, however it still exists today. For example in an upcoming film, “Ghost in the Shell,” there is a clear indication of whitewashing. In the original manga that the movie was adapted from, the lead role was to be of Asian descent, however instead of casting an Asian actress, the studio casted the Caucasian blockbuster actress, Scarlett Johansson. Misrepresentation of ethnic actors in “Ghost in the Shell’ is a clear indicator that whitewashing still exists in Hollywood. Another example of whitewashing in this film was shown when the main screen writer claimed that there were not enough A-list international Asian actors for the roles. Nevertheless, the point remains that Asian actors cannot make the A-list if they are not casted. Both of …show more content…
In the film, the story sends Bruce Lee’s character towards a supporting role and gives the lead to a Caucasian actor. Moreover an even more outrageous to this decision is that this biopic depicts Bruce Lee as arrogant and the Caucasian role as the “white savior”. Hollywood defends similar actions to this, with the claim that having ethnic actors in the lead roles is a gamble. Altering ethnic roles in a supposed beneficial profits is unjust and an insult to the ethnic actors. The representation of Bruce Lee as an arrogant person and being put in a supporting role is an example of the whitewashing