Is 300 Racist? The Sentinel investigates
Monica Durban
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: Commentary
The battle scenes show that King Xerxes I lead a diverse army of Egyptians, Asians, and Persians, and accurately portrays the inclusion of a diverse mix of races within both armies. To say that this movie is racist against Arabs, one must also assume that Egyptians and Asians should also take offense.
If one wants to argue that the skin color of the actors who represented the armies of Sparta and Persia is proof of this discrimination, they need to look no further than history books to find that the races of the armies were portrayed accurately as well. Ancient Greeks were fair skinned in 480B.C, before their blood lines mixed with the Turks to give them the olive skin that they have today. Persians and Egyptians have darker skin, while Asians, who fought alongside Persians and Egyptians, have fair skin. This also shows the army of Xerxes I was not particularly discriminatory towards one certain skin color, neither in history nor in the film. The movie accurately depicts the people who fought in this battle centuries ago.
If we wanted, we could play this discrimination blame-game and say that the Spartans were also discriminately portrayed. Because of their unwillingness to surrender, we could easily say the movie depicts Spartans as arrogant fools, who should have accepted Xerxes' demands of surrender. This interpretation might sound silly, but no more so than those that see the movie as demeaning to ancient Persians.
Even further what do the dissenters of 300 suggest that the filmmakers do? Should the filmmakers have changed history and casted men of different racial backgrounds in order to promote diversity? Of course not. It is unfair to apply today's politically correct standards to events and people of the past.
The Battle of Thermopylae was a real battle fought by real people, and 300, is only a film depicting the events of this battle. While many events in movies are exaggerated by Hollywood for entertainment, the basic principle and plot surrounding 300 is one which is based on historical accuracy, and cries of "racism" cannot change the truth that lies behind the plot.
If one wants to argue that the skin color of the actors who represented the armies of Sparta and Persia is proof of this discrimination, they need to look no further than history books to find that the races of the armies were portrayed accurately as well. Ancient Greeks were fair skinned in 480B.C, before their blood lines mixed with the Turks to give them the olive skin that they have today. Persians and Egyptians have darker skin, while Asians, who fought alongside Persians and Egyptians, have fair skin. This also shows the army of Xerxes I was not particularly discriminatory towards one certain skin color, neither in history nor in the film. The movie accurately depicts the people who fought in this battle centuries ago.
If we wanted, we could play this discrimination blame-game and say that the Spartans were also discriminately portrayed. Because of their unwillingness to surrender, we could easily say the movie depicts Spartans as arrogant fools, who should have accepted Xerxes' demands of surrender. This interpretation might sound silly, but no more so than those that see the movie as demeaning to ancient Persians.
Even further what do the dissenters of 300 suggest that the filmmakers do? Should the filmmakers have changed history and casted men of different racial backgrounds in order to promote diversity? Of course not. It is unfair to apply today's politically correct standards to events and people of the past.
The Battle of Thermopylae was a real battle fought by real people, and 300, is only a film depicting the events of this battle. While many events in movies are exaggerated by Hollywood for entertainment, the basic principle and plot surrounding 300 is one which is based on historical accuracy, and cries of "racism" cannot change the truth that lies behind the plot.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 51
Candide
posted 4/19/07 @ 2:29 AM NA
Ok here is the story:
There was only 1 Spartan and he was the storyteller of the group. As the movie opens all of the other 300 Spartans are already dead! Dillios was the only one left alive and his king had told him to tell a ?GRAND TALE? so that they would not be forgotten, and that is just what he did. (Continued…)
sean
posted 4/20/07 @ 11:41 PM NA
I draw issue with the assertion that Iranians are dark skinned. I am a light skinned Iranian and proud of my appearance and lineage. Furthermore, I have met quite a number of Iranians in college and city circles, and I can accurately say that about 80% have light skin (not light being closer to Indian skin color). (Continued…)
saeed
posted 4/22/07 @ 8:39 PM NA
I really wonder that the matter of being dark skin or light skin is such important in america, and you still did not get ride of your racistic culture. (Continued…)
Sean
posted 4/23/07 @ 11:40 AM NA
Silly girl, I guess you need to wake up and smell the coffee. I know you want 300 to be true as you want every mythology but your insecurity will still remain and you will still be what you are Monica. (Continued…)
Roberto Ibale Sean's Bitch
posted 4/28/07 @ 6:01 PM NA
Sean you whiteboy, go listen to your Emeneim and dress up in your wigger pants and shut your pasty piehole. Hey I have an idea, go to some nascar races, get drunk and smash beer cans on your head. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 4/28/07 @ 8:53 PM NA
Where exactly are you getting your facts from when you claim Greeks were fair skinned before they mixed with the Turks??
Read the Iliad, which was composed around the 8th century BC, describing the battle of Troy (i. (Continued…)
Monica
posted 5/01/07 @ 4:40 AM NA
I think most people are missing the entire point of the article in general. It's not about skin color at all, or hair color (I actually never mentioned the Greeks having fair hair). (Continued…)
JK
posted 5/03/07 @ 4:00 AM NA
Um. You did watch the movie right? The Spartans were depicted as gloriously handsome, beautiful white people whereas the "Persian" army were populated by the most grotesque looking creatures, who were supposed to represent said Persians, Asians and Africans. (Continued…)
Rouzbeh
posted 5/10/07 @ 10:06 PM NA
ok ok...Monica
you just said that this movie is not racist. I am persian and I am insulted by this movie. i don't care about the skin color, but when was the last time a persian king walked around half naked??? or when was a persian king bald? where in the history of persian empire says that?? persian kings were always clothed and they mostly had full beard and somewhat long hair. (Continued…)
Rouzbeh
posted 5/10/07 @ 10:41 PM NA
oooh, one very very important thing I forgot to mention.
one of the biggest mistakes they made in the movie was that they said persian empire wants to turn spartans into slaves. (Continued…)
Post a Comment