[interesting trope]Jokes about blackface that avoid actually doing blackface

[u/DifficultHat]

1. In Zoolander when Hansel and Derek are in disguise, they are played by other actors. Derek removes his face makeup off screen so Ben Stiller is never seen in blackface except for his neck and ears

2. In The Neighbors the Weaver family is picking a Halloween costume. During the montage of them trying on options the parents and both daughters are wearing semi formal clothing (business suit, pantsuits etc) looking in the mirror looking disappointed, while Max is dressed as a dog. After a beat one of them says “No one is going to be able to tell we’re the Obamas”. The youngest daughter innocently suggests painting their faces and the parents immediately tell her no. (I hate that I couldn’t find a clip or a picture of this)

3. One episode of Ellsbeth included a plot point about a model being blackmailed with the negatives from a “cultures around the world” photoshoot where she was in makeup to portray multiple races. The photos are discussed but never seen.

4. In an episode of the Dick Van Dyke show, Rob and Laura accidentally dye their hands black the morning before attending a gala for “The Committee for Interracial Understanding”. They wear fancy gloves to hide it but then reveal their predicament when Rob is giving a speech.

5. Similar to Zoolander, in Master of Disguise when Fabbrizzio is disguised as Michael Johnson, he is played by Michael Johnson & his exit from the disguise is covered in a camera flash as he holds up the constitution he just stole.

[u/unicorntrees]

Funny how that choice was made in Zoolander, but also this scene also happened. I wonder if they wiped this make up off and then filmed the scene with the computer.

[u/j01101111sh → u/unicorntrees]

I always thought the joke with having different actors play the characters was that they're male models so they're so good at makeup, they can completely transform. I never thought of it as an avoiding blackface thing. But I haven't seen the movie since at least 3 US presidents ago so who knows.

[u/Youthsonic → u/j01101111sh]

Yeah the joke is definitely about how good the makeup is because it has 2 setups about it.

1.Derek said he used to do his own makeup when he was starting out 2. The tiny makeup kit hansel pulls out is for touchups

So the idea that they can somehow transform completely like that is ridiculous and fucking hilarious