His “SVU” role is something of an anomaly on network TV—there aren’t any other Native actors cast as regulars on network shows and Beach is portraying a regular guy without all the hoopla. He’s not cast as a “Native” police officer per se or a crime fighter from the reservation.
Like most Natives who live in cities across the U.S., Beach’s character, though Native, is just trying to get by and his character brings a bit of normalcy to viewers.
By not relying totally on his race and culture, Beach’s character is breaking the mold and is breaking stereotypes.
6 comments:
Writerfella here --
Well, what did you expect? What is there about the word 'minimalization' that you did not understand?
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
Where in the world did you get the word "minimalization"? It doesn't appear in the article in question.
Writerfella here --
In previous posts of writerfella's that word was used several times, describing his own efforts in the film and TV industry. Anotherform of the same word occurs in writerfella's post about Will Rogers, making the same point. Try reading ALL of the posts sometime, Rob...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
I've read them all. Try learning how to write well: to link your comments with clear references to their antecedents. I'm willing to bet no one had the slightest idea what you were talking about.
I am going to go out on a limb here and guess that what writerfella is suggesting is that Beach's race and culture are minimalized by the show's producers. Though I am sure I saw at least one episode in which Beach's character, a Mohawk, does add something to a investigation concerning cultural ideas about one's body in regards mental health. I cringed when I first heard it because I thought it might create the stereotypical wise old Indian informing Whites on spiritual matters. But, it didn't come off that way. . What made the short monologue seem out of place was that it was self-referencing... the character was not talking about a crime committed by another Mohawk, which I think would have brought us back to the Indian cop stereotype (ala Hillerman) mentioned here in another post.
I don't think Beach's appearance on SUV by itself breaks stereotypes or what have you. I think other tv shows create and reinforce stereotypes.
I don't remember Chester Lake (Beach's character) expressing "cultural ideas about one's body in regards [to] mental health." So I can't comment on that.
Even a neutral character breaks stereotypes by not being a warrior, a mystic, or a drunk. But a character who demonstrates his personal and Native traits does more than a neutral character who does nothing.
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