Disney ’s latest photographic film Moana is a celebration of Polynesian culture that , by all coming into court , is aiming to be aware and diverse . unhappily , it does n’t look like the Halloween costume section got the memoranda .
Disney has released itslineof clothing , toys , and accessories for Moana , and the company decided to make Maui ’s costume full - on “ brownface . ” The full - trunk children ’s suit is designed to await just like the Polynesian demigod , voiced by Dwayne Johnson , including tattoos , grass skirt , and , yes , brown hide .
The costume looks great on the young manlike model because he has a exchangeable complexion , but you ca n’t escape the fact that a white boy or lady friend is decease to be in brownface . Just because you do n’t darken the face itself does n’t mean it ’s not offensive and wrong . Speaking of which , what about the face ? If the kid darkens their cutis at all , to better match the costume , we could see an “ Obama ” browned fount - paint situation , which only makes a bad situation bad .
That does n’t think of child should n’t dress as characters that are different ethnicity , but typically change your skin color to do so is considered inappropriate . Some have pointed out that the costume can be watch as something more for children of color , which is understandable , but there ’s also the issue of ethnic identity . Some have criticize the costume for turn centuries of their Pacific Islander culture into “ just a sketch . ”
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It ’s not just the costume . While most of the distaff clothing option plainly involve Moana ’s stylish tank top and skirt , some of the boy ’ and human beings ’s clothing ( liket - shirtsandpajamas ) simulate Maui ’s chocolate-brown skin and tattoos .
People of color have been fighting for white-hot people to stop appropriating and stereotyping their cultures with blackface , brownface , or yellowface costume . It ’s about time companies like Disney actually listen and stop name turnout that hybridise the business line from cosplay to The Jazz Singer .
That ’s not to say Disney should n’t make a Maui costume at all , but it could be more respectful to make a costume overlayer that put the tattoos on the child ’s own peel colour , and they wear a t - shirt and leggings to twin . However , that would not call the larger cultural appropriation issue that ’s been bring up by some critic .
Moana arrives in theaters November 23 .
[ Disney Store ]
Update : Added response regarding cultural representation , and clarification on representation in costume .
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