One of the more unusual movie sites I came across in my research for my La-La Land web directory was Skinema: An examination of dermatology in film. At first glance, this may seem like a ridiculously narrow area that would yield little content. Yet there's some interesting stuff here, including it's latest focus: The upcoming film version of The Da Vinci Code.
For the half dozen of you out there who haven't read it, one of the main villains is an albino named Silas. There has been concern voiced by NOAH (The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation) about yet another albino character cast as evil. The list that Skinema provides is certainly persuasive in its argument that this trend is the norm rather than the exception. Out of 85 characters, excluding Silas, 67 are portrayed as Evil.
NOAH put out a press release describing their efforts to persuade Imagine Entertainment and Ron Howard to make changes to the Silas character. An excerpt:
"NOAH is concerned that fictional novels and movies depict people with albinism so inaccurately that the fiction overwhelms reality. "One huge problem with The Da Vinci Code is how Silas is described with red eyes," McGowan said. " That's a myth. Most often in people with albinism the eyes are light blue or even hazel." Though their eyes are a normal color, many with albinism have impaired vision. McGowan points out that it is ironic that movies dating back to The Firm, and Lethal Weapon, have made people with albinism into sharpshooters. NOAH argues that the evil albino is a hackneyed plot device used repeatedly by filmmakers depicting people with albinism as being only wicked. NOAH believes that the absence of positive albino characters in motion pictures contributes to misinformation about the condition and stereotyping and discrimination against people with albinism."
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
fascinating Alonzo, thanks as always, skin is big right now with Michael Jackson and all