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Original poster

“Soul” movie - casual sexism

31 replies

2020inhouse · 31/12/2020 19:18

Is it just me, or did anyone else notice the casual sexism in this kids’ movie - one of the characters is called out by another character as having chosen the voice of a middle aged white woman, which is then described as the most annoying voice that exists...it reminded me of the vitriol directed at “Karen’s” and seemed really inappropriate in a movie for kids. (The movie isn’t great incidentally!)

OP posts:
LumpySpacedPrincess · 31/12/2020 19:47

Yup, noticed it too. Shame as it was a cracking movie but they just had to wedge that casual sexism in there didn't they.

GrossePois · 31/12/2020 20:38

It was indeed noted.

DontWalkPastTheCastle · 31/12/2020 20:42

Well it was dripping in woke, so clearly middle aged white people are the natural target of the wokest. I watched it yesterday and couldn't get my head round the complete gibberish non-story, which was forfeited in the name of mawkish shite.

testing987654321 · 31/12/2020 20:45

I always found the voices of middle-aged women comforting, even when they are being a bit sharp, as they have experience and can be trusted. Shame some of the young apparently don't recognise that now.

Original poster
2020inhouse · 31/12/2020 20:53

If you replaced any of the adjectives you would not get away with it but seems ok - in fact politically correct- to degrade white women of a certain age.

OP posts:
FWRLurker · 31/12/2020 21:07

Yeah I groused at that part too.

MrsDeadlock · 31/12/2020 21:09

Yep. Couldn't miss that dig. Such a shame as it's a great movie

CarlottaValdez · 31/12/2020 21:10

Me too a bit which is a shame because I thought it was an otherwise fantastic film.

NiceGerbil · 31/12/2020 21:11

There was an actress recently who was told her voice was too old to reprise a voice. She went public about it saying wtf my voice is the same.

I'll try to find it.

I didn't see soul but depressing to hear this.

NiceGerbil · 31/12/2020 21:14

I found that enraging tbh.

ForeverFaithless · 31/12/2020 21:15

Yup - noticed this too, not amused.

Hoppinggreen · 31/12/2020 21:16

Yes it was noted here too

PenguinBarnotBird · 31/12/2020 21:24

The movies pretty rubbish, too try hard to resonate with most of the 6-9 year olds it’s presumably aimed at

Daydrambeliever · 31/12/2020 21:47

I really thought Soul was rubbish. Was really disappointed.

ForeverFaithless · 31/12/2020 22:13

Better off watching Father Ted

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 31/12/2020 22:18

I thought the whole thing was shit - didn’t grab the kids, weird nonsensical plot, boring main character. Why can’t he have a permanent teaching job and play in a jazz band at night? Plus he was horrible to 22, who is a female unborn child. Selfish prick.

SwimmingOnEggshells · 31/12/2020 23:18

I also noticed it, it was very jarring. Disappointed in Disney.

AdultHumanFemale · 31/12/2020 23:49

Oh. DC and I loved it Wink
But yes, totes unnecessary line.

PlanDeRaccordement · 31/12/2020 23:58

They have something similar in the film “Sorry to Bother You”
Basically there is a broke young black man who gets a tele-sales job.
When he gets a tip to use a “white voice” at work he suddenly gets very successful and becomes a “power caller” and then he’s making lots of money but the “whiter” he gets the more morally corrupt the sales deals become and more corrupt he gets.
This is not a children’s film btw.

DontWalkPastTheCastle · 01/01/2021 00:26

Exactly, the gig he got was in the city he lived in, he could have done both!

But that wouldn't have sucked up two hours of my life would it! Damn you Pixar.

ZaraTheWonderDog · 01/01/2021 01:03

I didn't mind the dig about the white womanvoice. It was a bit jarring but I had forgotten about it until.i read this thread. I'm not sure what point the poster is making about I'm Sorry To Bother You? That is a film with a lot to say about race but I wouldn't say it's sexist.

The deal with the gig in Soul wasn't that he couldn't have done it and teach too, (though that would surely have been exhausting, given that he would need to play into the small hours every night and teach during the day), but more that once he got his dream gig, he didn't feel the sense of completeness and achievement he expected.

The message of the film was that life's beauty and meaning is not about goals or status but by experiencing each moment as it arises. It's nothing revolutionary but my daughter and I liked it a lot. And the music was gorgeous.

NiceGerbil · 01/01/2021 01:15

Is it a thing that plays better to a USA audience I wonder?

I've never heard the phrase 'white woman voice' before and assume it refers to a certain subsection of women who are white but beyond that (the obvious) I have literally no idea what that means.

Although I'm white so it's more than possible this is a UK thing that I just don't know about.

Could you give some context at all? I mean if you feel comfy doing so.

'
The message of the film was that life's beauty and meaning is not about goals or status but by experiencing each moment as it arises'

I've not seen the film. But it sounds like a brilliant way to explain why poor people/ oppressed people/ people who never stood a chance should be happy with their lot.

Again, not resonating with me.

NiceGerbil · 01/01/2021 01:19

I rewatched trainspotting the other day. Those boys were experiencing each moment as it arose.

It's a superficial statement that means nothing and changes nothing.

I would far rather have a great job that I enjoyed and that pays well, than experience each moment as it comes.

I'd far rather say everyone should have clean water and decent sanitation and safety and food and whatnot than experience every moment as it comes.

Sorry I've had a few drinks. I'd be interested to know what appeals to you about that message.

Hoppinggreen · 01/01/2021 11:39

Maybe I’m old and boring but when I was watching Soul I was thinking
“FFS, if you were that good you would have made it already, take the secure job and play the piano as a hobby” if his wife was on here I would have had some very strong advice for her!