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You might or might not have heard about the
controversy regarding the casting of Gérard Depardieu as Alexandre Dumas (père), he of the Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Christo. The crucial point being that Dumas was the grandson of an Haitian slave, self identified as "un nègre", and Depardieu, of course, is white. Now, the article I linked quotes the director stating defensively: "“It would have been an historic error to have chosen a mixed-blood actor ... He had blue eyes like Depardieu.”
Well. Thankfully, Alexandre Dumas lived well into the age of photography. In lieu of a post to which I, as a person of white privilege, do not feel qualified, I offer a pic spam showing the elder Dumas as depicted by various 19th century cameras. And one portrait by painting. I think it makes my point far better than anything else could.
( Mesdames et Messieurs, Alexandre Dumas )
controversy regarding the casting of Gérard Depardieu as Alexandre Dumas (père), he of the Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Christo. The crucial point being that Dumas was the grandson of an Haitian slave, self identified as "un nègre", and Depardieu, of course, is white. Now, the article I linked quotes the director stating defensively: "“It would have been an historic error to have chosen a mixed-blood actor ... He had blue eyes like Depardieu.”
Well. Thankfully, Alexandre Dumas lived well into the age of photography. In lieu of a post to which I, as a person of white privilege, do not feel qualified, I offer a pic spam showing the elder Dumas as depicted by various 19th century cameras. And one portrait by painting. I think it makes my point far better than anything else could.
( Mesdames et Messieurs, Alexandre Dumas )
