[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/Its_BradM]

I wonder whether this QUALIFIES as blackface? The intent of this scene is that he is covered in soot and coal, and not trying to necessarily portray himself as a PoC? Isn't he like.. hiding in the dark to scare the other workers for this?

Like.... is every example of being covered with something that artificially darkens your skin considered blackface? know what I mean?
Genuine question for exploration, obv not trying to like DEFEND blackface or anything.

[u/Existing-Bullfrog675 → u/Its_BradM]

Is camo considered blackface?

[u/pichael289 → u/Existing-Bullfrog675]

In MGS3 your weapons expert is black, sigint aka Donald anderson. If you wear the black face paint he pauses for a long time about it. It's not intentional it's just a holdover from translation I think, but its really funny regardless. Dude is also the one black guy in a Japanese game, he all but calls you homie, he is a complete stereotype becuse japan i guess doeant have black people?

[u/boozegremlin → u/pichael289]

It's funny because with all the humorous codec calls he's like the one normal guy.