I agree that Hollywood is lazily pandering, but also think that it may be done cynically for marketing purposes; reactionaries on one side will vigorously attack these movies for the reasons you describe, while the other side, seeing criticism as -ist, or -phobic, will consider support of the film as a "virtue" and ironically, a form of resistance.
However, Hollywood is also forcefully imposing identity politics on the arts through its awards process (which studios are going to make movies that won't be considered because the imposed quotas) and in the explicit aims of some of the decision makers (see the Disney videos where there's talk of a "gay agenda" in their content or a push to have 50% LGBT characters; there's also the growing number of kids shows where these politics are emphasised).
It's not about the story, it's about forming ideas and forcing a worldview. Where this used to be understood as a byproduct of media and something to be skeptical of, it's now being deliberately pursued as a desirable policy.
Lastly, the author wonders about Latino underrepresentation. I think it has to do with too many Latinos presenting as white, a problem of "colorism". During the Floyd unrest, you had casting calls for "brown-skinned" Latinos (Miguel from Cobra Kai Tweeting this).
In response to all of this nonsense, Hollywood will find an audience that increasingly turns away (e.g. the death of movie stars). "If you stop paying attention to the monsters, they'll lose their powers."
The Little Mermaid and the question of racially-conscious casting
This was a good article.
I agree that Hollywood is lazily pandering, but also think that it may be done cynically for marketing purposes; reactionaries on one side will vigorously attack these movies for the reasons you describe, while the other side, seeing criticism as -ist, or -phobic, will consider support of the film as a "virtue" and ironically, a form of resistance.
However, Hollywood is also forcefully imposing identity politics on the arts through its awards process (which studios are going to make movies that won't be considered because the imposed quotas) and in the explicit aims of some of the decision makers (see the Disney videos where there's talk of a "gay agenda" in their content or a push to have 50% LGBT characters; there's also the growing number of kids shows where these politics are emphasised).
It's not about the story, it's about forming ideas and forcing a worldview. Where this used to be understood as a byproduct of media and something to be skeptical of, it's now being deliberately pursued as a desirable policy.
Lastly, the author wonders about Latino underrepresentation. I think it has to do with too many Latinos presenting as white, a problem of "colorism". During the Floyd unrest, you had casting calls for "brown-skinned" Latinos (Miguel from Cobra Kai Tweeting this).
In response to all of this nonsense, Hollywood will find an audience that increasingly turns away (e.g. the death of movie stars). "If you stop paying attention to the monsters, they'll lose their powers."