Eternals: Tackling Deviants and Diversity
There is always talk about the importance of diversity in the media, but what is actually being done about it? In Eternals, the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), screenplay writers Chloe Zhao, Patrick Burleigh, Kaz Firpo, and Ryan Firpo utilize their captivating superhero platform to address one of Hollywood’s hottest topics: diversity and representation.
The cast of Eternals features a diverse cast of actors and actresses with leads such as Gemma Chan, Lauren Ridloff, Kumail Nanjiani, Richard Madden, Brian Tyree Henry, and Salma Hayek. Though the premise follows the story of immortal superheroes protecting the planet from alien life forms called Deviants, the story also brings to light the importance of having a diverse cast on the big screen. And, the film does so without actually saying anything about diversity.
How is this possible?
Research in media studies points character identification as the leading mechanism bringing this film success. Identification is an emotional and cognitive process that takes place when viewers imagine themselves as a particular character they are viewing. Tal-Or and Cohen from University of Haifa state the process “involves feeling empathy and affinity towards that character and adopting the character’s goals and point of view within the narrative.” While audience members can’t really relate to fighting Deviants with laser vision and mind control, seeing characters who represent various ethnic backgrounds and are members of the deaf and LGBTQ+ communities are greatly intriguing and are aspects that many can identify with. Ridloff, playing the first deaf superhero in the MCU, stated in an interview with Good Morning America that she hopes to resonate with audience members “whether they’re deaf, hard of hearing, Black, Mexican, women, whatever it might be...We're so diverse, and I think that a lot of people will feel seen.”
Ridloff interview: https://youtu.be/-sJakIkY0k4
Okay, but why should I care if my audience ‘identifies’ with my characters or not?
Character identification is actually shown to influence audience engagement as a whole. As the term implies, engagement is defined as the experience of being deeply immersed in a story and creating a connection to the plot and characters. Essentially, it is how captivated audience members become. Previous studies have indicated that audience members who had previous experiences that were relevant to the themes featured in the story (i.e., had homosexual friends or family), were more engaged with the storyline and consequently enjoyed the program more. In other words, showing audiences to see characters who look and act like them increases how captivated they will be by the content they are watching, and in turn how much they like the program.
That’s cool. But how does this actually impact ME and MY work as a filmmaker?
Research by UCLA indicates that for six of the top ten films released in theaters during 2020, minorities accounted for most of the ticket sales during opening weekend. Additionally, for nearly all the films released in 2020, those directed by individuals who identified as an ethnic minority also incorporated the highest level of cast diversity. Films that had at least 21% minority cast members received the highest viewing ratings among all racial groups. These statistics further indicate the importance of diversity in the media, not only to highlight varying representation, but also because it is beneficial for Hollywood filmmakers and producers as the demand for this type of content is rising. This 2021 blockbuster in particular was able to capture $71 million in ticket sales opening weekend.
This push for diversity is seen among the actors in Hollywood as well. In an interview with Digital Spy, Chan stated that she hopes the industry will “get to a point where having a diverse cast like this is just par for the course and not a big deal." Speaking on stereotypes in the industry, Nanjiani said to People: “In working with [director Chloé Zhao], we were like, let's take every single thing that I haven't gotten to do and make a character who's the exact opposite of the way a lot of American pop culture see people from Pakistan or the Middle East." Research indicates the elicitation of self-transcendent emotions (i.e., awe, inspiration, perseverance, hope) throughout films can affect viewers' stereotypical attitudes and behaviors. Eternals is not only shot in an array of beautiful locations which represent places around the world, but also taps into the complicated love stories of several lead characters, giving the film high potential to tap into the self-transcendent emotions of their viewers.
So, if you are headed out to the theaters this holiday season, we highly recommend taking the family out to see Eternals as it may help you see the hero in you.