The movie Ghost in the Shell (2017), starring Scarlett Johansson, faced significant criticism for several reasons most notably:
1. Whitewashing Biggest Controversy: Casting Scarlett Johansson, a white actress, as Major Motoko Kusanagi, a character originally depicted as Japanese in the classic anime and manga.
Critics and fans argued this was a clear example of Hollywood whitewashing—removing Asian identity from a Japanese story.
The backlash was especially intense because it happened amid a broader conversation about lack of Asian representation in Western media.
2. Cultural Erasure The film uses Japanese cultural aesthetics, language, and setting, but centers a non-Asian lead, which many saw as using the "style" of Japanese culture without respecting its substance.
This gave the impression that Asian characters and stories weren’t considered "marketable" unless recast with white actors.
3. Plot and Tone Issues Many fans of the original anime found the 2017 version shallow by comparison.
The original 1995 Ghost in the Shell is philosophical and introspective, dealing with identity, consciousness, and what it means to be human.
The live-action version was seen as more action-oriented and lacking the depth of its source material.
4. Twist on Identity The film added a controversial twist: the Major was originally a Japanese girl whose consciousness was transplanted into a white, synthetic body.
This was intended as a narrative explanation for the casting, but many found it made the whitewashing even worse, reinforcing the idea that Asian identity could be overwritten.
In Summary: While visually impressive, Ghost in the Shell (2017) was widely criticized for whitewashing, cultural insensitivity, and reducing a deep, philosophical story to a more generic sci-fi action film. These issues overshadowed its technical achievements and box office performance.
The movie Ghost in the Shell (2017), starring Scarlett Johansson, faced significant criticism for several reasons most notably:
ReplyDelete1. Whitewashing
Biggest Controversy: Casting Scarlett Johansson, a white actress, as Major Motoko Kusanagi, a character originally depicted as Japanese in the classic anime and manga.
Critics and fans argued this was a clear example of Hollywood whitewashing—removing Asian identity from a Japanese story.
The backlash was especially intense because it happened amid a broader conversation about lack of Asian representation in Western media.
2. Cultural Erasure
The film uses Japanese cultural aesthetics, language, and setting, but centers a non-Asian lead, which many saw as using the "style" of Japanese culture without respecting its substance.
This gave the impression that Asian characters and stories weren’t considered "marketable" unless recast with white actors.
3. Plot and Tone Issues
Many fans of the original anime found the 2017 version shallow by comparison.
The original 1995 Ghost in the Shell is philosophical and introspective, dealing with identity, consciousness, and what it means to be human.
The live-action version was seen as more action-oriented and lacking the depth of its source material.
4. Twist on Identity
The film added a controversial twist: the Major was originally a Japanese girl whose consciousness was transplanted into a white, synthetic body.
This was intended as a narrative explanation for the casting, but many found it made the whitewashing even worse, reinforcing the idea that Asian identity could be overwritten.
In Summary:
While visually impressive, Ghost in the Shell (2017) was widely criticized for whitewashing, cultural insensitivity, and reducing a deep, philosophical story to a more generic sci-fi action film. These issues overshadowed its technical achievements and box office performance.