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Actually, they do have a major character who is Latino. Legolas Send a noteboard - 12/01/2016 07:15:31 PM

View original postYou say that the US just needs to "get with the rest of the world", though it's clear that Disney is a US-based company with a US mindset. You also ignore that Disney is clearly checking the box with a US audience in mind - if they were trying to be globally inclusive they would have had at least one Asian major character (preferably Chinese), or maybe a major character who is Latino. But they haven't. They are checking the box by making the two main characters a woman and a black man. This is a US-driven decision because these two demographics are the most politicized in "culture wars". If Asians complained loudly about being underrepresented in movies (they are), or if Latinos complained loudly about being underrepresented in movies (they are), Disney would likely put them in. But they don't complain loudly.

The pilot Poe Dameron is Latino. Indeed didn't really see any Chinese, but then again I understand Star Wars was banned from Chinese theaters until 2015, so for all the potential of the Chinese market they may not exactly have put it as high on their target list as other franchises do.

Disney has been a global company with a global brand for a very long time now. I'll admit, looking at the list here of the share of each recent hit movie's box office made outside the US, this movie does have a lower percentage made abroad than most - but it still exceeds 50%. Looking up a few Disney/Pixar classics ranging from The Little Mermaid to Inside Out, the percentage seems remarkably stable at 55-60% abroad.

Of course, what you also seem to underestimate is the extent to which your "culture wars", or at least the ones relating to women and race, are relevant abroad as well, if not in precisely the same way. Or at least in Europe/the Americas/Oceania, which still represent most of the foreign box office, except for those movies that really hit it big in China.

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Star Wars : The Force Awakens review (spoiler free) - 17/12/2015 09:18:26 AM 2084 Views
Love your review! I'm seeing it tomorrow night at 9pm. Can't wait! *NM* - 18/12/2015 01:20:16 AM 662 Views
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Re: I mean the novel of that name. - 22/12/2015 10:05:49 PM 1000 Views
Yeah, I think we're talking about the same one. - 24/12/2015 12:05:57 AM 893 Views
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Also, SPOILER thoughts. - 18/12/2015 01:00:32 PM 1118 Views
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Re: They were all good. Internet geeks suck. - 19/12/2015 12:19:10 AM 1044 Views
Well - 19/12/2015 05:53:56 AM 885 Views
Re: They were all good. Internet geeks suck. - 19/12/2015 07:46:06 AM 1094 Views
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I got the impression he was actually her boss or contractor - 28/12/2015 12:48:48 PM 1045 Views
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Absolutely, yes *NM* - 29/12/2015 01:54:52 PM 677 Views
Just saw it! Holy shit, shit, shit, shit.....it was amazing. - 19/12/2015 05:38:44 AM 949 Views
Loved it (Spoilers) - 19/12/2015 06:16:54 AM 901 Views
Fantastic characters, great entertainment, no originality, no logic - 29/12/2015 03:33:43 AM 937 Views
Your Mom has no originality or logic! *NM* - 29/12/2015 11:39:41 AM 669 Views
JJ Abrams should be able to do better than my Mom - 30/12/2015 04:20:54 AM 867 Views
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Lucas has created some of the most iconics chacters in movie history ? - 31/12/2015 02:29:02 PM 867 Views
So, Rey (Possible Spoilers ahead) - 30/12/2015 10:11:01 AM 945 Views
Re: So, Rey (Possible Spoilers ahead) - 30/12/2015 07:10:56 PM 1277 Views
Re: So, Rey (Possible Spoilers ahead) - 30/12/2015 09:24:08 PM 907 Views
Re: So, Rey (Possible Spoilers ahead) - 31/12/2015 04:58:24 PM 860 Views
It was fun, and I look forward to the next ones, but can't say I was that wowed. - 30/12/2015 09:26:10 PM 892 Views
Why is time for female lead and why does the lef think subtraction is the answer to inequality? - 04/01/2016 01:37:37 PM 729 Views
Because the six other movies had zero female Jedis of any importance? - 04/01/2016 05:58:25 PM 955 Views
Just another check the box movie, then - 04/01/2016 06:02:41 PM 828 Views
Oh, come on. You're really going to complain just because they had a woman and a black guy? - 04/01/2016 11:48:52 PM 918 Views
They are talking abou tmakin ght Gunslinger black - 05/01/2016 02:05:36 PM 867 Views
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That's not really what I said, you'll note. - 05/01/2016 07:48:08 PM 1037 Views
I don't think it was Disney's business acumen. - 06/01/2016 06:59:46 PM 1104 Views
Wow. That's... sad. - 06/01/2016 09:32:37 PM 954 Views
Re: Wow. That's... sad. - 08/01/2016 03:08:58 AM 936 Views
I am noit sure how well that 7-12 girl demographic will work in merchandising - 08/01/2016 06:30:47 PM 931 Views
Your premise is entirely wrong. - 12/01/2016 05:53:26 AM 863 Views
Actually, they do have a major character who is Latino. - 12/01/2016 07:15:31 PM 887 Views
The culture wars are just about blacks and feminists. - 13/01/2016 02:31:20 AM 911 Views
All that Paul said - 17/01/2016 05:13:59 PM 1511 Views
LOL - 05/01/2016 06:33:50 PM 871 Views
Funny that people use strwmen arguments to make themsleves feel smart - 08/01/2016 04:22:22 PM 944 Views
It's not a straw man - 08/01/2016 04:52:03 PM 914 Views
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Re: Finn reacts and is pretty much drug through the story - 06/01/2016 05:50:08 PM 892 Views
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The reall issue it looks like Luke sucked as Jedi master - 07/01/2016 07:14:31 PM 856 Views
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What a load of crap. - 08/01/2016 10:29:35 AM 847 Views
I only partially agree - 08/01/2016 03:27:10 PM 893 Views
Sorry if science isn't your thing but no what I said is true - 09/01/2016 11:49:15 PM 1010 Views
Re: Was finn as strong as Leia? I would say not even close - 08/01/2016 10:01:16 AM 809 Views
Well said *NM* - 05/01/2016 12:01:25 PM 683 Views
Because it isn't "subtraction"... - 08/01/2016 09:33:24 AM 866 Views
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I may be alone on this, but... - 05/01/2016 08:07:26 PM 925 Views
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What speaks against is for me... - 05/01/2016 10:57:44 PM 1262 Views
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It's all good stuff, like the first book in a good sci-fi/fantasy trilogy! - 07/01/2016 06:44:45 AM 966 Views
I think it's pretty obvious... - 17/01/2016 07:43:19 AM 965 Views

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