The Eternals: Representation vs. Pandering
I’m sure everyone has seen the articles, TikToks, and tweets regarding The Eternals and their incredibly diverse cast and LGBTQIA+ representation. Needles to say...some people are upset.
Why are they upset?
Because they seem to think that Marvel is “pandering” to the “woke left.” Because the only reason any studio would ever want to represent any minority or marginalized group is to pander to them to get their money and they just cant stand for it. Movies should have integrity. If BIPOC* and LGBTQIA+* people want representation, they should get their own franchise. It should be natural and not forced as if they’re checking a box.
And you know what? They’re right...to a certain degree.
Yes, Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA+ people should definitely get their own franchises. BUT they should also be in this one. They should be able to have it all without people calling into question why they are there in the first place.
My personal opinion is that if there had always been proper representation of these groups, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Because it would have felt natural. The only reason it feels unnatural to some is because they are so used to seeing themselves on TV and in Movies that the moment they aren’t there, they notice. Whereas people like myself, who are vastly underrepresented, never see ourselves in media like that so when we are there, we notice, too. But, for us, it feels good. Really good.
Because we’re being seen. If you’re always seen and always represented, you don’t know what this feeling is. It’s like a bubbling feeling in the pit of your stomach that makes you misty eyed and proud.
When the Black community saw Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa or Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia or Danai Gurira as Okoye, they saw themselves. And it was glorious. They embraced Black Panther with a feverish passion because not only was it a wonderful display of Black excellence, it was devoid of “Black Pain.” It was just a story of superheroes saving the world, and it made them proud.
When I first saw Mindy Kaling in Vogue, I cried. Not because I’m a fan but because someone from my part of the world was in one of the biggest fashion magazines in the world. I had never seen that before, and it felt good to see her there. I bought a Vogue magazine for the first time because of it.
I am so proud of Kumail Nanjiani to be out there in the MCU representing South Asia the way he is. As an ally, I’m also happy that there is LGBTQIA+ representation on the screen for my friends who never see themselves on such a grand scale.
If it feels like pandering, I don’t care. Keep pandering. Keep representing me in order to get my money. Because if you keep doing it, eventually it will feel natural to the people who keep getting triggered. Eventually it won’t feel forced. Because it would be normal.
“...we're upsetting the right people.”
So if you’re mad that there’s BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ love in The Eternals...stay mad.
The Eternals comes out on November 5th.
*BIPOC - Black, Indigenous, & People of Color
*LGBTQIA - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and/or Questioning, and Asexual and/or Ally
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