#AuthenticityInCasting: Six cases where social media spread the conversation

Social media has driven the conversation about authenticity in casting. Here are a few of the most visible hashtags along with a brief summary of their use.

#WhiteWashing

This hashtag crops up whenever a light-skinned actor’s ethnicity departs from the heritage of his character. It recently surfaced when Brazilian actor Henry Zaga was cast as Sunspot in forthcoming movie “X-Men: The New Mutants.” In the comics, Sunspot is Afro-Brazilian; Zaga is not.

#AsianErasure

This hashtag makes the rounds when a character originally written as Asian is cast with a non-Asian actor. It popped up frequently after Scarlett Johansson starred in “Ghost in the Shell,” an American version of a popular Japanese manga.

#ThankYouMattDamon

Used for comedic effect, this hashtag started trending after Matt Damon’s starring role in “The Great Wall,” which is set in 11^th century China. The hashtag is meant to acknowledge Damon’s many other (fictional) contributions to Asian culture.

#HollywoodBeLike

Another stab at humor, most commonly used to crack jokes about what flagrant casting abuses Hollywood might make next: Michael Cera as a Black Panther, for example, or Sally Field as Rosa Parks.

#BoycottExodus

Twitter urged the world to do just that after the Ridley Scott film “Exodus: Gods and Kings” used a largely white cast, including Christian Bale and Sigourney Weaver, in a biblical drama that took place in Egypt in 1300 BC.

#RumiWasntWhite

When Oscar-winning producer David Franzoni said he’d like to cast Leonardo DiCaprio as the 13^th century Persian poet Rumi, Twitter was none too pleased.

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AUTHENTICITY IN CASTING:

From “colorblind” to “color-conscious,” the new rules are anything but black and white

Timeline: 200 years of authenticity (or lack thereof)

Q&A: Why deaf actors should be given a chance

Stuck on the sidelines: One transgender actress’ story

Perspective: A call for change