"Race-changing" figures
Thoughts on "race-changing" historical peoples
Recent controversies have inspired some thoughts on historical figures’ racial depictions.
These points are just musings and broad rules of thumb on how representation can unfold in film, TV, and other creative works:
If a figure existed, use his or her true phenotype
This, ideally, should go without saying.
A documentary on King Alfred the Great should depict him as white. It’s unlikely that he would have been anything else.
A similar work on King Osei Tutu I, the first King of Asante, should depict him as black. Again, it’s unlikely that he would have been anything else.
A piece on Emperor Qin Shi Huang should depict him as East Asian.
If something is factual, then said medium should specify things as true as possible.
Documentaries are by definition factual and real, so they cannot take many licenses or diversions from fact.
Use real appearances in historical fiction
Historical fiction naturally takes some licence, to form a narrative.
However, there still must be points akin to the setting, culture, era and people shown.
For instance, Gladiator and Gladiator II are films rooted in historical fiction. But we don’t see any native Americans in either film. This is logical since the Romans never knew that the Americas existed.
There are no native Americans in Vikings or Vikings: Valhalla, or The Last Kingdom. Again, neither the Norse nor Anglo-Saxons knew the Americas existed. OK, the Norse did reach the Americas but knowledge of this wasn’t widespread in early medieval Europe, and only widely uncovered in the 20th century.
Historical fiction should be set in the tone and feel of an era, even if it takes departures from established history.
Take the Woman King - based in early modern Dahomey. Most characters, naturally, should be black African.
Another example is Shogun, a recent series showcasing European engagement in early modern Japan. The characters depicted are East Asian and European, which is normal given the setting.
In Vikings, we didn’t see a black Ragnar. We didn’t see an Asian Harald Hardrada in Vikings Valhalla.
Cromwell (1970) cited Cromwell and King Charles I as white men, which they were in real life.
The theme fits then - real-life figures should be depicted as they were. Altering their racial type cannot be permitted, if adhering to the “rules” of historical fiction.
For fictional characters, it shouldn't matter
The case of James Bond is intriguing. Bond isn’t a historical figure, though he is depicted in a broadly historical setting (as in the 1960s Cold War era). He is depicted serving a real-life nation-state (the UK) and in one film we even saw an actress portraying then-PM, Margaret Thatcher. Bond also features in quite fantastical scenes, which even surpassed the technology of the Cold War era.
Could there be a black or otherwise non-white Bond? Ian Fleming, the writer of the original books, of course, had a white Bond in mind. It was unlikely to have non-white senior spies in British service at that time, or during WW2 where he gained the inspiration for his works.
But should it matter, since Bond didn’t exist? Even though he, sort of, existed in a historical setting?
Representation is fine - but should be done well
Representing a wide variety of people in all creative works is valid and necessary. A major facet of egalitarianism is that all people should have access to various scopes of public life. A major part of past discrimination was the limiting of certain peoples in various areas - from finance, education, entertainment, etc. A push for representation in that regard clearly seeks to rectify these past wrongs and inequities.
The video above depicts British actor Alexander Siddig as Hannibal Barca, the famed Carthaginian general. Whilst he is of Arab origin, phenotypically he may be similar to Hannibal’s actual appearance.
However, even a good thing can be pushed too far.
By misrepresenting historical figures, it only seeks to confuse and arguably heightens tensions.
History also should focus on the truth of what happened - to the best of our ability. We use a variety of sources to cite beyond a reasoned doubt that x person existed or y event happened.
The perfectly valid desire for representation should not - and cannot - be abused.
Moreover, not all of history is European or white history. There are so many stories, figures and related points that can be highlighted, thus providing proper representation.
What about Ulric Cross, the black Caribbean RAF WW2 ace?
Or Jesse Owens, who defied Hitler at the 1936 Berlin Olympics?
Why not a documentary or film on the early Chinese emperors, such as Qin Shi Huang?
Cahokia would be highly intriguing to feature, as would the Olmecs and other pre-Columbian era native American peoples.
The human imagination is limitless, so there are endless opportunities and scope for the representation of marginalised groups.