Is it just political correctness?
Could Marvel's sale slump be due to the inability of Marvel to grasp the changes over the last decade? It would likely be one of the reasons. There were suggestions that Marvel's decision to diversify the superheroes played a part in its change of fortune, as hardcore readers only recalled (and relished) their white heroes. A woman donning the Iron Man costume might be going too far, yet this was simply a reflection of the times. A politically-correct time.
Political correctness was a non-issue when the Vietnam War, civil rights, and feminist movement turned American society upside down. It was a time to be angry, even if it meant joining a bandwagon. "Blazing Saddle", an homage to Western films, wouldn't be a classic if Mel Brooks didn't keep on pushing buttons. It featured a black sheriff, which was totally unheard of. (And it would still be the case up to now.) Ian Fleming, on the other hand, didn't hide his misogynistic leaning in his 007 novels. If the James Bond fans liked the early works (starring Sean Connery), then it won't be due to their Walter Mitty moments. They rather wanted a faithful adaptation, but it doesn't suggest their lack of political correctness.
"Blazing Saddle" won't make it past pre-production if it would be made right now, as the American public was taking themselves too seriously. This may be one of the reasons why Hollywood chose to produce action blockbusters starring superheroes. Marvel (and DC Comics) won't mind at all. It might have given moviegoers fewer options, which would be a shame. There were other films, which reveled in political incorrectness. And it was an uneven outcome. Let's have a look at it:
Breakfast at Tiffany's. Mickey Rooney played Holly Golightly's Japanese neighbor, and his feature would offend the Japanese sensibilities. The Second World War was still fresh on the minds of some producers, so the big screen may be their outlet. Hollywood had never been too kind to Asian characters, not even giving them the same opportunities as their black colleagues. It would be another matter, though. Rooney's appearance was far from a caricature, but all was forgotten when Audrey Hepburn appeared on the screen.
Dumbo. A baby elephant's huge ears, which enabled him to fly above anyone else, shocked some people after its release in 1940. It would be better to be not different than anyone else.
Soul Man. It was that silly premise that made people talked about it for months. A white man wanted to go to college, but he wasn't an overprivileged kid. And then he found a scholarship for African-American teenagers. He must take tanning pills to pass as one. If C. Thomas Howell didn't have a career after the release of this comedy, then there won't be any need to look further. But take another look. Could this movie inspire the manufacturers of whitening cream? It was an outrageous question, but "Soul Man" created a buzz.
White Chicks. Two black cops went undercover and played and looked the part of two teenage college girls. They turned out to be distant kin of Iggy Azalea instead.
Any film featuring Rob Schneider. And to think that he would be a half-American comedian.
Are you politically correct to go further?
