
Ghostbusters trailer out: Anger over black 'add-on'
The Ghostbusters trailer has been unleashed upon the world, like a ravenous Slimer.
And there's so much promise locked within this tease.
Director Paul Feig and screenwriter Katie Dippold have carefully placed all the right elements into play; with the same sort of half-nostalgic, half-revamped feel that pushed The Force Awakens to such resounding success.
Plus, the film reaps from the strongest players of Saturday Night Live's modern history, and one box office queen; pitching Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones against the forces of the supernatural.
However, some fans have highlighted a problem within the film's casting; the combination of three white, educated scientist characters played against a black character who is seen to rely on "street smarts".
Like I'm excited for all-female Ghostbusters. But 3 white ladies & 1 Black woman (stuck w/"street smarts" trope) is barely diverse.1
— Imperator Fieriosa (@GeekMelange) March 3, 2016
It's a combination which unfortunately slides towards the usual, tired cinematic stereotypes when it comes to race, as many on social media have pointed out.
So the three white characters are scientists and the black one is a subway worker? The black character is the add-on AGAIN?! #Ghostbusters
— Anita Singh (@anitathetweeter) March 3, 2016
Feig's intentions with Leslie Jones' character seem pretty clear, marking a deliberate hark back to the dynamics of the 1984 classic; where Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis played scientists to Ernie Hudson's civilian character.
It's really cool that, in 30 years, the number of black ppl allowed to star in a #Ghostbusters flick has gone from one to one.
— Marc Rivers (@marcarivers) March 3, 2016
However, there's no particular reason to maintain the exact dynamics of the original, specifically when it came to the position of race within the film.
Ghostbusters looks awesome. Already shipping Kate and Kristen. But, why is the black lady is the one who is like "science? what's that?"
— Lucy Hallowell (@lucyhallowell) March 3, 2016
Hopefully, this trailer provides only a brief glimpse of a far more expansive narrative; and, considering Jones' is a regular SNL highlight, hopefully the team have got something a lot more interesting cooked up for her in the final film.