Mel Gibson tells Mayans to um... well do something not nice

[acsguitar]

Mel Gibson apparently went crazy again last night at Cal State Northridge when a Mayan culture expert accused him of racially stereotyping the Mayans in his movie Apocalypto. He was giving a presentation and afterwards the crowd was allowed to ask questions. An Assistant Professor of Central American Studies asked if Mel had read about Mayan culture before shooting the film and Gibson said he had. Then she pushed even further, saying his representations of Mayan sacrificial ceremonies and bloodlst were racist. Mel responded, "Lady, "TURN THE LIGHT" off." Then members of the Mayan community protested on how they were portrayed in the film and as they escorted from the room by event organizers Mel screamed at them "Make your own movie!"

[Amazinz]

Good for Mel. She deserved it.

[Art Vandelay]

Good for Mel. She deserved it.

How so?

[acsguitar]

Good for Mel. She deserved it.

How so?

She was born not full bred white person. To Mel thats wrong

[Amazinz]

Right. My bad. Mel Gibson was racially stereotyping the Mayans.

[Mookie4ever]

There's a huge Spartan protest going on right now b/c of that movie 300. It took me forever to drive to work this morning b/c the streets were choked with freakin Spartans. Go home to Sparta you lousy good for nothing Spartans I say.

[acsguitar]

There's a huge Spartan protest going on right now b/c of that movie 300. It took me forever to drive to work this morning b/c the streets were choked with freakin Spartans. Go home to Sparta you lousy good for nothing Spartans I say.

That can't be real

[Art Vandelay]

Right. My bad. Mel Gibson was racially stereotyping the Mayans.

I haven't seen the movie, so I can't speak on any possibly racist themes in the movie, but I will say that a professor of Central American studies and the "members of the Mayan community" probably know more about Mayan culture and whether or not it was portrayed accurately than Mel, I, or even you. But that's neither here nor there.

My question was about how she "deserved" that responce. If Gibson is going to give a presentation and take questions from the audience, he shouldn't tell an audience member who asks a perfectly valid question to "F*** off."

[Mookie4ever]

Right. My bad. Mel Gibson was racially stereotyping the Mayans.

I haven't seen the movie, so I can't speak on any possibly racist themes in the movie, but I will say that a professor of Central American studies and the "members of the Mayan community" probably know more about Mayan culture and whether or not it was portrayed accurately than Mel, I, or even you. But that's neither here nor there.

My question was about how she "deserved" that responce. If Gibson is going to give a presentation and take questions from the audience, he shouldn't tell an audience member who asks a perfectly valid question to "F*** off."

I don't know if she deserved to be told off by Gibson but doesn't this movie supposedly take place about 2,000 years ago. Isn't protesting the stereotypes in this movies kind of like us showing up to protest the stereotypes in Quest for Fire because it casts our ancestors in a bad light?

I understand the protests surrounding the Passion movie b/c those are stereotypes and prejudices that are perpetuated today but how many Mayans are affected by negative stereotypes concerning their past? Unless this is really a problem I see this as just somebody trying to stir up trouble.

[Amazinz]

I know very little about the Mayan culture. Luckily that's not a requirement for being able to determine whether or not the movie was racially stereotyping.

Since you haven't seen the movie yet I will keep this fairly generic. The heros in this movie are Mayan. The villians in this movie are Mayan. Everybody in this movie is Mayan. The characters are quite varied. The hero is an honorable, admirable guy doing everything he can to save his family. Even if Gibson screwed up some Mayan facts it's not like Mayans were painted with a broad brush.