A Dim Light for BrightLogan Lurry

A Dim Light for Bright: Minorities Aren’t Monsters

Logan Lurry

Ever wondered what it would look like to see racism masked in mediocre fantasy? There is no need to look further than the horrid film directed by David Ayer that is Bright. This movie (if you can call it such) takes place in a fictional world where mystical creatures such as orcs and elves mingle with humans as if it were commonplace. You would think the set-up for a great story would be relatively easy. However, just like Ayer’s previous attempt with Suicide Squad, this film falls flat, mostly due to the sour portrayal of minorities in the film. There is no easy way to tackle fantasy when your name isn’t one of the following: J.K. Rowling, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro, and Stephen King. There always seems to be the issue of making the characters within the film seem relatable despite their unhuman features. Filmmakers have found their way around that by giving them human like qualities, voices, and more specifically, smacking your favorite [white] actor behind the prosthetics. In Bright however, that way of humanizing the orcs and elves felt more like a white supremacist fever dream than anything else. Think that sounds a bit harsh, do you? Well please, allow me to enlighten you. Bright is essentially about an L.A. cop, played by Will Smith (I’ll talk about this casting later) who is forced to buddy up with an Orc cop, played by Joel Edgerton. Edgerton’s Orc character is the first cop of his kind to join the police force. I find that by placing the setting in Los Angeles, and making light of the police hostility, Ayer is attempting to echo that of the L.A. Riots of 1992, but in an oh-so terrible way. The L.A. Riots, as many know, is the explosion of years and years of racial injustice forced upon the black community by the almost completely white police force. Black officers got even more hate during the time and were seen as traitors by the black community for putting up, and even participating at times. It appears David Ayer wants to piggyback off that, but it just falls short with the rest of the movie. This is just the first inkling that establishes Orcs as not just the African American community, but the Hispanic community of Los Angeles as well. When we first see Will Smith’s character, Daryl Ward, he’s enjoying his life with his wife, whose white (go figure). Once he exits the house, we get a glimpse at the ONLY other black people of the film. In a very stereotypical fashion, we see them partying on the front yard of the house next door as if it were a hip-hop video from 2007. All drinking beer and partying, which you should know, it’s still the morning in this scene. Oh did I mention, Smith’s cop character is also trying to move out of this neighborhood.

As the film progresses, it seems as though the minorities of L.A. had been airlifted out and replaced with Orcs. Most notably the gang culture. Now this is a hard issue to tackle as is, but oh my God! Did anyone in costume design stop to think, “Hey, let’s not put these Orcs in jerseys and do-rags with gold chains because, you know, that’s racist.” After dealing with the ONLY Hispanics in the film, who were of course depicted as gang members, they deal with an Orc gang that takes ques from every gang stereotype. Whether that be the clothes, the blind violence, or the way they speak. The masking of racism doesn’t stop there either, let’s look at what they did with Will Smith’s character. On the surface, Daryl Ward is an average L.A. cop that has a family he is trying to provide for; however, he is completely racist towards the Orcs. Early on the movie, he even blatantly says how much he hates Orcs, to his Orc partner’s face almost as if he’s the fantasy version of a Jim Crow cop. Now how is this masking racism you may ask? It feels obvious once you explain it, but you must think about the context. When you watch a movie that displays racism, it’s going to be, 9.9 times out of 10, a white man. By putting a black man in that position, and making that black man Will Smith, it will go unnoticed. It’s part of the preconceived notion that only white people can be racist, and Bright attempts to play into it heavily. Reading up on the interviews Ayer par-took in leading up to the film’s release on Netflix of all places was just as dishearten as watching. In one interview, Ayer says that he’s trying to “redeem myself as a filmmaker.” This was following the shit-show that became Suicide Squad. Nice try, Ayer. Maybe you should stick to realism, because your attempts at fantasy are as cringe as the special FX in this film. From the thinly veiled racism to the poor storytelling, this film highlights a huge issue in films in general. The attempt to portray issues of race using other worldly or mystical characters. In doing so, you create a new image that other cultures are hideous creatures like Orcs, and there is just no room for this. If you’re interested in fantasy, Bright is not something you should have on your watch list, and for God’s sake, don’t be invested in a possible sequel.

Your Early 20s: Written by Someone in the Midst of a Quarter-life Crisis

Regan Hafer

20

You’re feeling pretty good. Probably in college. If that’s the case, you’re still far away enough from the reality of graduating that you’re not too worried…yet. You’re also so close to being but not quite there. Definitely old enough to drink, just not enough to do it “legally.” You think your fake ID is pretty convincing now that you’re not a nervous 18-year-old who may or may not have still have a curfew. On the other hand, maybe you recently lost your fake ID but are confident you can make it until you’re actually “of age.” I mean, it’s only a few more months, so what? Either way, you’re right on the cusp of “true” adulthood which is pretty exciting. I mean, so what you don’t have your life together yet but that’s okay because you’re 20 years-old and who expects a 20 year-old to have it all figured out? No, so go ahead, have a few too many drinks a few too many times a week. You’re good! Everything’s all good!

21

Yes! You made it. You’re 21 years-old and enjoying every minute. You probably had a birthday party and had wayyy too many people buying you drinks. But that’s like a rite of passage, so it’s totally acceptable that you got way too drunk and embarrassed yourself in front of total strangers at a bar. After that night however, things maybe get a little more real. You realize how expensive drinks are and are appalled at a $30 dinner bill. Who said that was okay? You vow never to pay for overpriced, sugary drinks ever again. Well, that is until marg night lines up with your paycheck coming through. But still, you cut back on overrated nights out and look forward to the day you have the money to drink and party like you want to. That said, you decide to pick up an unpaid internship and assure yourself that the experience you’re getting from it outweighs the cost of the paycheck you are no longer receiving.

22

Okay wow. 22. That’s kind of old. I mean 21 is definitely young. But 22? It doesn’t exactly

have the same feel. Also, you might be graduating from college this year. That’s terrifying. What are you going to do? You’ve spent the last four years focusing on the next party and whether or not you should skip class. Instead you should have been having a divine inspiration on what you should do with the rest of your life. I mean what were you thinking?!

23

Alright. Stay calm. That went by really fast. Why is everyone getting married? I mean who do these people think they are? Some are even younger than you! And you’re still young! You are. 23 is still young. It has to be. You thought 22 was old but it wasn’t. That was a joke because you’re 23 now and that’s still young. Also…this job. Nope. Not what you want to do for the rest of your life. You know that for sure. But what other options do you have. I mean, are you going to quit in pursuit of what you’re actually interested in? And risk failure? No thank you you’d rather sacrifice your happiness instead. Yes, you are much more comfortable with that.

24

Oh no…this is awkward…because, like…do you even belong on this list?