The issue of whiteness

Hope Bonarcher tackles the assumptions our culture can make based on the colour of a person’s skin 

I recently responded to the Instagram post of a popular, conservative, women’s magazine. It seems Disney’s considering an Indian actress to play the role of Rapunzel. Indian women, internationally renowned for their beauty and luxurious hair, might be a well-considered suggestion for the princess with an unfortunate family origin story and impossibly lengthy mane. As many commenters pointed out, however, the story of Rapunzel most notably emanates from German brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. The new film is to be a live-action version of the animated movie, Tangled, which stars a traditionally blonde-haired Rapunzel (effervescently voiced by Mandy Moore), further suggesting the role would be more accurately cast with a white actress.