No, It's Sales-ism
Yawnies. Yet another cry of racism when it's clearly marketplace-ism: The fact that one actor is known in the USA, and the others are not.
From Fox/AP:
The American distributor of the Australian film "The Sapphires" is apologizing for the DVD cover, which some have called sexist and racist, and said Monday it is considering new cover art for future shipments...."The Sapphires" tells the story of an all-female Australian aboriginal singing group in 1968 that overcame prejudice at home to achieve success that included touring Vietnam to entertain American troops.
The Australian DVD cover shows four actresses of Australian aboriginal descent prominently in the foreground and the white actor who plays their manager in the background. Their positions are inverted on the American cover to showcase "Bridesmaids" actor Chris O'Dowd.
The Australian cover:
The American cover:
Via @Gorskon, here's actual racism -- ugly, ugly, ugly stuff.
Correct.
Jessica Mauboy broke through in 2006 on Australian Idol and has been a pop star Down Under since then. No one in the United States has heard of her.
Deborah Mailman was on a hit Australian TV show for five years last decade. You might have seen her film Rabbit-Proof Fence, but the only Americans who could name her would be hard-core fans of Australian cinema.
PKL at August 11, 2013 6:29 AM
So, let's get this straight. Because John McCain's son married a black woman, that makes John McCain himself a traitor?
I think I'll call this illogical, once removed. Not only is not traitorous to marry outside your race, it's not even John McCain himself that's committing this supposedly treasonous act; it's his son.
Tracking the logic of bigots. It could be someone's full-time job.
Patrick at August 11, 2013 6:32 AM
"Tracking the logic of bigots. It could be someone's full-time job. "
These days, just keeping up with who the bigots are can be a full-time job.
Cousin Dave at August 11, 2013 7:22 AM
Just a little pet-peeve of mine - and yes, I know that is the way it works, the bigger star gets the first/bigger notice - but, that first cover does NOT have the names matching with the actor/actress pictured.
O'Dowd's name is listed first, even though he isn't first in the line up. And, yes, I know he is the more famous of the lot. But, it really confuses star-ignorant folks like me.
This is the way Hollywood has been with their posters for a long time - and they just don't follow MY logic. Since I don't really know stars that well, I need the name next to, above, or below, their picture so I know who is who!
If I didn't see that second poster I might very well have thought that first woman pictured is named Chris.
I did say it was a pet-peeve; not something that is worth fretting over. But, even if I, as star-ignorant as I am, understand this logic why don't the nay-sayers?
Charles at August 11, 2013 2:14 PM
So not racism. They put the white girl in the background too. This is clearly sexism. /s
Elle at August 11, 2013 2:38 PM
Quite frankly, McCain has pretty much always been a RINO. He didn't need his son to marry a black woman to make him one.
But as far as the DVD cover, that is pure marketing.
Jim P. at August 11, 2013 8:04 PM
I looked at the pictures before I read your write up. Coming from someone who (1) doesn't know who Chris Dowd is and (2) doesn't think the first guy looks like the second guy, I can see how iy can be seen as racist. I'm not saying that I think it is, but in the day and age of snap judgements, all you see looking at the two pics side by side is white guy in back, then white guy in front.
Second, the title is The Sapphires, not The Manager. Might be a marketing decision, but its a very confusing message.
NikkiG at August 17, 2013 6:22 PM
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