Woke

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As a fan excited about the latest development, I’m thrilled to share that the new Disney+ animated series, titled “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” offers a fresh take on the iconic wallcrawler. It blends aspects of the Tom Holland portrayal, classic Stan Lee and Steve Ditko comics, and the “Ultimate Spider-Man” series from the 2000s. The familiar voice of Hudson Thames, who previously brought Peter Parker to life in “What If…?”, returns as the webhead in this new series. Initial reactions have been predominantly positive, hinting at a refreshing take on the material. However, Thames’s comments might sway some fans, while others may now be open to giving the series a chance, despite initial reservations based on certain concerns.

During an interview with Collider, voice actor Hudson Thames discussed the forthcoming series. In his statement, Thames shared what he found appealing about the show, which could surprise some fans. It seems that Marvel might want to consider providing their actors with PR training courses, as Thames echoed a contentious viewpoint, expressing concerns that the series could be too progressive (or “woke“). Thames stated:

“While speaking with Collider, voice actor Hudson Thames shared his thoughts on the upcoming series. In his statement, he expressed what he appreciated about the show, which may catch some fans off guard. It appears that Marvel might want to consider offering PR training courses for their actors, as Thames reiterated a debatable viewpoint, expressing concerns that the series could be too politically progressive (or “woke”). Thames commented:

Initially, I anticipated finding it irritating and dull. However, I was pleasantly surprised as it turned out to be far from those expectations. In fact, it was superbly written, almost as if the scenes were real. Being the eldest of five brothers, I could relate to their experiences and high school life, and I appreciated how accurately it portrayed these aspects.

Collider, a related platform to MovieWeb, aptly noted that the term “Woke” is frequently employed as a coded expression for racism and sexism within entertainment fan communities. This label has been attached to numerous productions such as The Acolyte, The Marvels, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the remake of The Little Mermaid, and many others. Frequently, these projects are dismissed even before a single scene has been shown. Thames’s comments are ironic given that some online viewers have already branded Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man as “woke” due to the portrayal of both Norman and Harry Osborn as Black men, with actor Colman Domingo experiencing his fair share of racist criticism. This raises the question of what “woke” truly signifies for Thames or anyone else. If the actor can assert that the series isn’t woke, then some viewers already consider it to be so.

“Woke” is a Meaningless Label and Bad Criticism

Hudson Thames’s statement appears disheartening, revealing how empty the label ‘woke’ can be as a criticism. His subsequent comment that it wasn’t ‘woke’ because “[it’s great, it’s so well-written]” often falls into the common logical fallacy. This fallacy suggests that something cannot be well-crafted if it tackles themes such as politics, identity, or presents a non-Caucasian male protagonist. For instance, the 2016 version of Ghostbusters was branded ‘woke‘ due to its all-female cast, despite no significant political or social message within the film’s narrative. This criticism is unfounded, as the original 1984 version, featuring an all-male cast, did not face such criticism. It seems that the term ‘woke’ is essentially a blanket term that people use to criticize any media they dislike or perceive as challenging their own viewpoint, thereby labeling it as inferior.

The comment is disappointing, especially coming from an actor portraying Spider-Man, a character intended to symbolize all people. The statement gives off the impression that this Spider-Man only caters to young white men, which contradicts the fact that there are ample resources and Spider-Man narratives available for diverse audiences. Stan Lee, one of the co-creators of Spider-Man, once said, “‘What I like about the costume is that anybody reading Spider-Man in any part of the world can imagine that they are under the costume.’ This inclusive nature has led to the creation of characters like Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen, enriching Spider-Man’s universe. The MCU’s Spider-Man, Insomniac’s Spider-Man games, and even Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man have made significant efforts to reflect New York City’s rich cultural diversity, one of the most multicultural cities globally. Marvel Comics’ philosophy has always been “the world outside your window,” a concept that would be considered ‘woke’ by some today.

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2025-01-28 22:03