Entertainment desk
< January 9	<< Dec \| January \| Feb >>	January 11 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Entertainment Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

January 10

Racism and Yuriko / Deathstrike?

Have there every been allegations of racist stereotypes in the character Yuriko Oyama / Deathstrike from X-Men, particularly in her film incarnation in X2? I say this because the character, and the actress portraying her, are of East Asian descent, and she has adamantium "claws" that extend from her fingers like elongated fingernails. Western stereotypes of Chinese have historically included long, menacing, dragon-like fingernails. --达伟 (talk) 04:02, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Why stop there? Why pick on just her? Sunfire was Asian and his powers and name came from the association between Japan and the Sun. Then there's Luke Cage who is black. So naturally where did the creators peg his birthplace? Harlem. Adding to that, both he and Bishop were often drawn as bald men furthering the stereotype of big bald black men. And then there's Warpath who is an American Indian. What else would an American expect from someone named Warpath? Same thing with Thunderbird. Yet another American Indian. Basically, what I'm getting at is that American comics (I can't speak for those from other countries since I haven't read manga or any European comics) are rife with stereotypes. Dismas|^(talk) 05:27, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not aware of any complaints, but as Dismas said above, comics (in previous decades, at least) were full of stereotypes. An Irish guy? Banshee. An American Indian? Thunderbird, then Warpath. If you look at DC's Global Guardians, they were all hastily-thrown together stereotypes. Dayewalker (talk) 05:58, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

One more thing. I'm having trouble thinking of even one genius who isn't white. So far, I've got Professor X, Beast (he was white before the blue fur grew), Reed Richards, ~~Forge~~, Batman, Iron Man, Moira MacTaggert, Magneto (who in the movie continuity helped build Cerebra), and Mister Sinister who when not drawn as silver and metallic is drawn as white. Dismas|^(talk) 06:02, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I can come up with Bill Foster (who was always portrayed as a bargain-basement Hank Pym), the Black Panther, the new Mr. Terrific, and Joshua Clay from the Doom Patrol. That's all I've got for now. Dayewalker (talk) 06:14, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

There's also Amadeus Cho (Korean) and Forge (Cheyenne, though for some reason he's on your "white" list). Matt Deres (talk) 15:08, 10 January 2010 (UTC) Whoops, didn't see your strike-through there. Matt Deres (talk) 15:11, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Is comic book Magneto Jewish? I guess that's something (although he is a bad guy so maybe not). Adam Bishop (talk) 20:36, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, and Doctor Doom is a "Gypsy" (so far as I've ever seen, he's never referred to himself as Roma). Both Doctor Doom and Magneto would certainly qualify as comic-book scientific geniuses, but whether they qualify as "white" or "non-white" is obviously a bit of a debatable point. In some comics, it's slightly implied that Xavier is also Jewish, though I don't ever recall him self-identifying as such. Matt Deres (talk) 21:54, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Racism means the message of the movie stating that someone is inferior or superior only because of being part of a certain ethnic group. Just by having someone of a certain ethnicity in a movie, even if a bit stereotypical, why should it be racism? If, for example, an Irish guy would not have red hair and speak with, well, Irish accent, how would you know he's Irish? --131.188.3.20 (talk) 21:30, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I think the thing is we need to separate attributes, stereotypes, and racism. If we created a Chinese character who spoke Chinese and we polled Chinese people to create someone who looks live an "average" Chinese, then penning or filming that character wouldn't be racism and probably wouldn't be stereotypical. Ditto for an Irish person. The line between stereotype and racism is less clear cut. I would argue--for the same reason I raised the question about Yuriko/Deathstrike in the first place, is that a stereotype typically takes attributes who are in fact common among a certain group and exaggerates them in a distorted fashion or exploits these attributes outside general norms, or takes an image of that group which members of other groups hold but are not necessarily true, and use that image to represent a group....Just my two kopecks. --达伟 (talk) 01:11, 11 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

PlayStation 2 newest model and its cost in Japan

According to PlayStation 2 article, Sony has announced that starting April 1, 2009 the PS2 would be retailing at the new price of $99.99. Maybe it is even cheaper at the moment, I think. But in my country, the PS2 model 90006 (modded) is newest and retails at around $145, so that I wanna buy one from Japan for a latest model, a guaranteed quality product (Chinese goods is everywhere in my country) and a right cost (my cousin is going to Japan next week for work). Does anyone know what the newest model of PS2 is? And how much does it cost in Japan (at this time of course)? If you don't live in Japan, you can also tell me 'bout your regional cost for a reference. Any helpful info is always welcome! Livy the pixie (talk) 10:45, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Are you sure PS2s in Japan are not made in China or are otherwise better quality? Personally I doubt that's the case. It's possible PS2s in Vietnam (if I'm correct that's where your from) may have nearly always been modified or exclude original accessories, you may tend to get older models and the cost may be cheaper in Japan, but I'm not convinced the consoles themselves, when unmodified are any different from the ones sold in Japan at some stage. Also since I presume you're not planning to modify your PS2, you may want to make sure you are in the same PS2 region as Japan. I believe you may be, but I'm not sure Nil Einne (talk) 15:43, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Right I'm from Vietnam, and PS2s in my country are always modded, not "nealy" as you guest. It seems to be impossible to find an unmodded console except for PS3 (and maybe PSP Go as well), which is currently unmodable. I can get an second hand older model, but it costs around $80, while an all new PS2 costs only $100 according to the PS2 article. And there's no telling how long the 2nd hand PS2 is used, and when it stop working and need to be repaired. I'm sure the cost in Japan is much lower, 'cause of transport fee and tax. Besides, in many online shops at my country, most of PS2s retail at $145 except for some which are marked as "company goods" (means this one is from the original company) and have a cost of $173! I assume that those $145 PS2s is from China or something likes that. Chinese goods is cheap indeed, but quick to corrupt/broke as well -- I'm sick of them. I intend to have my cousin get one from Japan, then I'll mod it later. Modchips are available in shops, everywhere, just pay $10 -> $15 and they'll do all for you in a blink of an eye. Livy the pixie (talk) 18:04, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I got the answer in Japanese Wikipedia reference desk. It cost 16,000 yen ($173, and not modded yet), even more expensive than in my country. Perhaps I should correct the PS2 article, the $99.99 price mention abobe is a hoax. -- Livy the pixie (talk) 16:12, 11 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

You might also have problems using a Japanese import PS2. The TV systems are different (Vietnam uses PAL and Japan uses NTSC) and games are coded for only one TV standard - ie. you will only be able to use games bought from countries that use NTSC. Also the mains electricity supply is different (Vietnam uses 220V, 50Hz and Japan uses 110V, 60Hz), so you'll need a conversion transformer. Astronaut (talk) 02:23, 12 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I know. The main difference beetween PAL and NTSC is that PAL television broadcasts contain 625 lines of resolution compared to NTSC's 525. But I hear that we're able to play both PAL and NTSC version of the game with a modded PS2. There may be a screen-resized problem when NTSC games are played on PAL televisions, right? -- Livy the pixie (talk) 09:12, 12 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I think it depends on the mod. I had one of those awkward to use boot disks for my American (NTSC) PS2. I used it to play imports and I had no problem with British (PAL) disks. APL (talk) 19:19, 13 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

More

I am trying to find the film More by Barbet Schroeder, I would like to watch this online, or downloand it, but preferably online, the movie is twinned with the Pink Floyd album: Music from the Film More, much like their album: Obscurred by Clouds which accompanied the movie The Valley by BArbet Schroeder, this I have seen thanks to Google but have been unable to find More, any help would be appreciated. Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.172.58.82 (talk) 13:08, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Playstation 3 Network? compared to Xbox 360 Live.

why not as many ppl playing on ps3 network than xbox 360 live? i have an ps3 and i never get to play anyone online, hardly anyone that is. BoardsofCanadaDawnChorus (talk) 18:27, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry, I have no reference for this — but as a reminder, the population of online players varies a lot depending on what game you are trying to find a match for. To get a straight-up comparison you'd want to compare the same title on both platforms. Comet Tuttle (talk) 06:16, 11 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Use for the Words Worth Password

In the end of this game, it is provided a password, I could see this on DOS (PC98) and Win95 versions, but I don't see the same when I played Windows Xp, the images of DOS and Win95 passwords were:

Words Worth DOS version

Words Worth Win95 version

Both endings were "Harem Ending", well, those passwords I obtained them in the first time of playing, and I don't play again, but when I play Words Worth for Windows Xp, I make the decision of loss some scenes and make one different, this scenes were:

1 Second Meet of Stallion with Silvanna in one of the rooms of the dungeon upstairs, after prisoners of Tribe of Ligh escapes and after Astro "tried to help" Maria and Silvanna.

2 In the forest when "Man without name" encounter a fairy in a "complicated" situation, i choose Don't Help Her (the others encounters I choose Help Her, on Win95 version).

3 Scene of William and Mew at the lake seen by Pollux.

When I get the same ending for Words Worth Xp, I don't see any password, then I though it was an error or something, and I reinstalled the game on the same folder, I played again choosing the same options like in the Win95 version, getting all the scenes (except for the others endings of course) and I still don't get the password, I was thinking the WWXp version was the same like Win95, i do this to know if the three games have passwords and then I could play the game again more enthusiastic for discover what kind of thing changes in the game after beating it once and getting the password, I remember during the game to give a password that Pollux doesn't known and I was hoped that this password might be the answer, but I don't understand, maybe something i did wrong.

Thanks in advance.Kaytusven (talk) 21:06, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Ball dancing?

What is the name for this? Dismas|^(talk) 21:35, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

See Rhythmic gymnastics. As far as I know, the individual events are usually referred to simply by the name of the apparatuses involved—"ball", "hoop", "clubs", etc. Deor (talk) 21:46, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! Dismas|^(talk) 05:12, 11 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Not just clubs, but Indian clubs. 67.51.38.51 (talk) 16:36, 12 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Searching for a name of a movie

I hope someone here will have a better memory than myself. There was a comedy movie, I think Italian, which involved the main character (and his family, I think) traveling through history and impersonating several historical characters or at least being part of certain famous events. I've seen it a long time ago, and just remember two scenes: in one "prehistoric" scene the titular character mistakes the leg of a dinosaur for a tree when trying to urinate behind it, and another of a battle between soccer fans, an English and Italian bus fighting like two sailing ships, with luggage compartment doors opening and cannons emerging, boarding parties swinging through on ropes, etc. The movie is not that new, I think it's at least a few decades old. The actor is quite short and a bit overweight, but it can be that I'm don't remember this correctly. --131.188.3.20 (talk) 21:52, 10 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

That does sound familiar. It reminds me of Python's the Meaning of Life, but I do not think that is it. Sorry I can't think of it either. The Russian Christopher Lilly 05:01, 11 January 2010 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Christopher1968 (talk • contribs)

No, it was not Monty Python. It was almost certainly Italian. --131.188.3.21 (talk) 06:34, 11 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Another scene jumps to my mind: the titular character, as a medieval beggar, is sitting in an inn. An arrow hits the desk (or wall, don't remember), and Robin Hood enters. He gives the beggar a sack of gold, saying something like "I'm Robin Hood, I take from the rich and give to the poor!". The beggar returns home, shows the money to his wife, and she happily exclaims: "We're rich!". At this point an arrow flies in, followed by Robin Hood, who takes the gold away, saying just the same thing as earlier.

Does this ring a bell to anyone? --131.188.3.20 (talk) 22:41, 11 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Not Time Bandits? This was almost a Monty Python film, being directed by Terry Gilliam and co-written by Gilliam and Michael Palin. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 08:44, 12 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

No NOT Time Bandits - there Robin Hood watches as one of his men punches each pauper before giving them alms. "Is that really necessary?" asks Robin. "Yes" says the thug. Anyway, Time Bandits was a Brit Flick; we're looking for an Italian film. Alansplodge (talk) 09:16, 12 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah I know it was a Brit flick but the OP only said the one s/he was looking for was "almost certainly Italian". People's memories can be unreliable, so in the absence of anything more concrete a bit of speculation can't do any harm. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 11:34, 12 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I think I've found it: it's from a series called Fantozzi, the movie itself is Superfantozzi. The imdb description and a few images and excerpts found on Google and Youtube confirms it. Was not easy to find, it seems it is not that well-known in the English-speaking world. Thanks for trying to help. :) --131.188.3.21 (talk) 16:03, 12 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]