Arts & Entertainment
Tilda Swinton releases emails to Margaret Cho about ‘Dr. Strange’ whitewashing
the actress published the messages after the comedian said she felt like a ‘house Asian’
Margaret Cho (Photo by Mary Taylor)
Tilda Swinton has released the email exchange between herself and bisexual comedian Margaret Cho following Cho’s criticism over whitewashing in Marvel’s “Dr. Strange.”
Swinton plays the Ancient One, a guru who helps Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), cultivate his spiritual powers. In the Marvel comics, the Ancient One is an Asian man but was changed to a Celtic woman for the movie.
In an interview for the podcast TigerBelly, Cho explains that Swinton emailed her to discuss the issues with whitewashing canon Asian characters. Swinton asked for Cho’s point of view but insisted the emails stay private. For Cho, the email exchange was unsettling.
“It was weird because I felt like a house Asian, like I’m her servant,” Cho says. “Like the ones when they have in the raj, they would have the house servant who was your confidante… The servant that was close to you. That’s sort of what I felt like, like I was following her with an umbrella. I had a weird feeling about the entire exchange, especially the part of, ‘Don’t tell anybody.’”
In response, Swinton released the email exchange to Jezebel.
“The diversity debate – ALL STRENGTH to it – has come knocking at the door of Marvel’s new movie DR STRANGE,” Swinton writes in her initial email. “I would really love to hear your thoughts and have a – private – conversation about it. Are you up for this? Can we e-mail?” the message continues.
Cho responds saying that she is a “big fan” of Swinton and would explain her viewpoints.
“The character you played in Dr Strange was originally written as a Tibetan man and so there’s a frustrated population of Asian Americans who feel the role should have gone to a person of Asian descent,” Cho writes. “The larger part of the debate has to do with the ‘whitewashing’ of Asian and Asian Americans in film. Our stories are told by white actors over and over again and we feel at a loss to know how to cope with it.”
Swinton replied by saying Marvel made the decision to make the character a Celtic woman “in a conscious effort to shake up stereotypes” and “wanted to avoid tired cliché.” She continues that changing the gender of the character was an effort to include more diversity for women in the film.
Cho has since responded with a statement released to EW stating that she still thinks her argument is valid.
“Asian actors should play Asian roles. I believe my emails stand on their own and should be taken for the spirit in which they were intended. I am grateful that the debate has now entered the national discussion and remain a huge fan of Tilda’s,” Cho says in the statement.
Friday, June 5
“Center Aging: Pride Monthly Luncheon with Chair Yoga & Drag Bingo” will be at 12:00 p.m. at the DC LGBQ+ Community Center. Lunch will be provided. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
“Comedy Show for LGBTQ+ Prosperity” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. This will be a funny, queer show produced by Grassroots Comedy to celebrate the DC LGBTQ+ Center and the beginning of Pride month. Across the country, LGBTQ+ people are losing access to care, protection, and support. These aren’t abstract policy changes – they are real people losing the resources they rely on to stay safe and well. And when that happens, many come to Washington, DC, a place long considered a site of refuge for these vulnerable populations. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Saturday, June 6
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Sunday, June 7
Pride Month Sound Bath Meditation will be at 10:30 a.m. at Atlas Salon DC. Pride Month sound bath meditation is an immersive morning of sound to slow down, reset, and rest in community while supporting LGBTQIA+ youth. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 8
Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary, whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more details, visit www.genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.
Tuesday, June 9
Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].
Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so — by sharing struggles and victories the group allows those newly coming out and who have been out for a while to learn from others. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook.
Wednesday, June 10
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Thursday, June 11
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC LBTQ+ Community Center. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
D.C.’s electronic music festival Project GLOW was held on the RFK Stadium grounds on May 30-31. The festival included an LGBTQ-focused Secret Garden stage.
(Photos by Andrei Nasonov)
The second annual Shepherdstown Gay Pride Parade was held in Shepherdstown, W.Va. on Monday, June 1.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Calendar: June 5-11
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