Spielberg's DreamWorks Animates Prejudice in Kids Movie

[Lord_of_the_Dense]

Shark Tale Uses Defamatory Ethnic Stereotyping to Characterize Villains

Columbus Citizens Foundation President Lawrence Auriana Brands Spielberg Hypocrite for Violating Filmmaker's Professed Moral Code

NEW YORK, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Lawrence Auriana, President of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, today condemned DreamWorks SKG's newest film, Shark Tale for its unprecedented use of ethnic stereotypes to characterize villains in a recent children's movie. The movie received its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2004.

"It is startling that this entertainment should come from DreamWorks, one of whose principals, Steven Spielberg, has been an outspoken opponent of stereotyping and discrimination," said Auriana.

In a New York Times article published on March 9, 2004, Spielberg was quoted, "We are in a race against time for the conscious mind of young people" and need to teach them "the dangers of stereotyping, the dangers of discrimination, the dangers of racial and religious hatred and vengeful rage."

Read entire story here (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040914/nytu162_1.html).

[Carrie]

I have not seen this one yet. I want to, but I have not yet, I will tho! mark my words, I will....and when I do....I will not be a bit worried about what race the villians are! people really need to stop looking for reasons to bitch!

[Lord_of_the_Dense]

Statement About DreamWorks SKG and DreamWorks Animation's Shark Tale by Columbus Citizens Foundation President Lawrence Auriana: Response to DreamWorks Comments

NEW YORK, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Shark Tale, DreamWorks SKG and DreamWorks Animation's most recent movie is an animated family film that uses stereotyping to characterize and identify villains.

Stereotyping is an ugly, discredited practice that has no place in a movie marketed to children.

In comments to the Associated Press made on September 14, 2004, in response to a statement by the Columbus Citizens Foundation, a DreamWorks spokesman maintained that the movie is a comedy and that its villains become "heroes":

Read entire statement here (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040915/nyw166_1.html).