Put a Rang on it.
May 6, 2015 12:14 PM Subscribe
I too loved Alien Nation.
posted by GuyZero at 12:24 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by GuyZero at 12:24 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ugh. Redheads are already vastly over represented in media (particularly children's literature and films, but elsewhere as well) given that they are much less than 10% of the population anywhere, we really don't need any more glorification of a physical trait that is nothing more than genetics.
posted by epanalepsis at 12:29 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by epanalepsis at 12:29 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Prangce looks suspiciously like Carrot Top.
posted by grumpybear69 at 12:29 PM on May 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by grumpybear69 at 12:29 PM on May 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
Anna Wintour should go for it.
posted by mochapickle at 12:32 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by mochapickle at 12:32 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ugh it's like 2 AM at the Dublin gay bar all over again
posted by The Whelk at 12:36 PM on May 6, 2015 [17 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 12:36 PM on May 6, 2015 [17 favorites]
Ugh. Redheads are already vastly over represented in media (particularly children's literature and films, but elsewhere as well) given that they are much less than 10% of the population anywhere, we really don't need any more glorification of a physical trait that is nothing more than genetics.
OTOH, the fact that there is still anti-redhead prejudice in some countries (England being one) means that, to the contrary, we could perhaps do with more positive images of red-haired people (and by that, meaning non-exoticised ones).
(Also: “Ugh”‽ Really?)
posted by acb at 12:38 PM on May 6, 2015 [19 favorites]
OTOH, the fact that there is still anti-redhead prejudice in some countries (England being one) means that, to the contrary, we could perhaps do with more positive images of red-haired people (and by that, meaning non-exoticised ones).
(Also: “Ugh”‽ Really?)
posted by acb at 12:38 PM on May 6, 2015 [19 favorites]
Every last one of them is an improvement (except for maybe the one where the lady is holding up a ray: hey, put that back in the ocean, lady!).
posted by wenestvedt at 12:43 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by wenestvedt at 12:43 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ugh. Redheads are already vastly over represented in media
So are blondes and people with blue eyes!
Brown hair brown eyes represent!
posted by Justinian at 12:50 PM on May 6, 2015 [8 favorites]
So are blondes and people with blue eyes!
Brown hair brown eyes represent!
posted by Justinian at 12:50 PM on May 6, 2015 [8 favorites]
we really don't need any more glorification of a physical trait that is nothing more than genetics
I could stand to hear more.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:57 PM on May 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
I could stand to hear more.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:57 PM on May 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
OTOH, the fact that there is still anti-redhead prejudice in some countries (England being one) means that, to the contrary, we could perhaps do with more positive images of red-haired people (and by that, meaning non-exoticised ones).
(Also: “Ugh”‽ Really?)
posted by acb at 5:38 PM on May 6
The thing is, there are no non-exoticised "positive images," at least none that I've ever seen. Every image is just part of a bigger fetishization of The Other, which isn't really helping the lives of those who got some random recessive gene markers and can't help how they're perceived. If you can figure out how to present positive images that aren't playing into that, please do.
Perhaps my ugh was out of line but I speak from experience here, and this kind of thing (the FPP included) is what leads parents to feel they need to prepare and protect their children from both negative and "positive" social effects of this genetic variation.
posted by epanalepsis at 1:01 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
(Also: “Ugh”‽ Really?)
posted by acb at 5:38 PM on May 6
The thing is, there are no non-exoticised "positive images," at least none that I've ever seen. Every image is just part of a bigger fetishization of The Other, which isn't really helping the lives of those who got some random recessive gene markers and can't help how they're perceived. If you can figure out how to present positive images that aren't playing into that, please do.
Perhaps my ugh was out of line but I speak from experience here, and this kind of thing (the FPP included) is what leads parents to feel they need to prepare and protect their children from both negative and "positive" social effects of this genetic variation.
posted by epanalepsis at 1:01 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm no photoshop expert but something like this?
posted by Lorin at 1:05 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Lorin at 1:05 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also I'm so glad I don't live somewhere the word ranga is a thing.
posted by Lorin at 1:06 PM on May 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Lorin at 1:06 PM on May 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
Redheads, I'm fine with. Orangeheads, apparently not so much.
Or maybe it's just the freckles.
Do all orangeheads have tons of freckles, or is that just in Photoshop world?
posted by MtDewd at 1:16 PM on May 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
Or maybe it's just the freckles.
Do all orangeheads have tons of freckles, or is that just in Photoshop world?
posted by MtDewd at 1:16 PM on May 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
it's always been so weird to me how popular culture seems to love redheaded women and loathe redheaded men - i've wondered if it's something about how we see those traits as masculinized or feminized. but what do i know, i'm a queer gal who loves freckles so i've always been attracted to the redheads no matter their genital configurations.
posted by nadawi at 1:22 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by nadawi at 1:22 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
What if everyone famous was ginger?
Digital grading for movie backgrounds would skew even bluer?
posted by carsonb at 1:23 PM on May 6, 2015 [6 favorites]
Digital grading for movie backgrounds would skew even bluer?
posted by carsonb at 1:23 PM on May 6, 2015 [6 favorites]
I was a redhead but it's all silver gray now. The people I work with have a hard time believing that I had red hair, even though I still have the freckles. I miss my red hair, even though it got my ass kicked innumerable times when I was a kid.
epanalepsis: "Ugh..."
The Whelk: "Ugh..."
WTF, people? Do you do this every time you read about someone who looks different from you?
posted by double block and bleed at 1:31 PM on May 6, 2015 [9 favorites]
epanalepsis: "Ugh..."
The Whelk: "Ugh..."
WTF, people? Do you do this every time you read about someone who looks different from you?
posted by double block and bleed at 1:31 PM on May 6, 2015 [9 favorites]
double block and bleed, I'm a redhead. I'm ugh-ing our cultural response to redheads, based on a lifetime of dealing with other people's misconceptions.
posted by epanalepsis at 1:49 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by epanalepsis at 1:49 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Do all orangeheads have tons of freckles, or is that just in Photoshop world?
posted by MtDewd at 6:16 PM on May 6
Eh, I have a low-to-moderate number of freckles, I think that's just one of those cultural misconceptions. Along with the blue eyes (a lot of redheads have brown eyes).
posted by epanalepsis at 1:54 PM on May 6, 2015
posted by MtDewd at 6:16 PM on May 6
Eh, I have a low-to-moderate number of freckles, I think that's just one of those cultural misconceptions. Along with the blue eyes (a lot of redheads have brown eyes).
posted by epanalepsis at 1:54 PM on May 6, 2015
Ginger Rogers would become Everybody Rogers.
posted by I-baLL at 1:55 PM on May 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by I-baLL at 1:55 PM on May 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
I hate to have to say this, because it's a classic "get off my lawn" response, but I really don't know who a lot of those famous people are, red-headed or not.
posted by yhbc at 2:09 PM on May 6, 2015
posted by yhbc at 2:09 PM on May 6, 2015
I always read people talking like anyone gives two shits one way or the other beyond personal aesthetic preference whether someone's a "ginger" or not, but have yet to witness or hear of an actual example that's not basically the faux-racism joke that I have a vague idea Southpark started.
posted by cmoj at 2:21 PM on May 6, 2015
posted by cmoj at 2:21 PM on May 6, 2015
given that they are much less than 10% of the population anywhere
I have it on good authority that the Midwest (or maybe just St. Louis county?) is freaking FULL of redheads. I mean, they are straight up everywhere.
posted by likeatoaster at 2:21 PM on May 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
I have it on good authority that the Midwest (or maybe just St. Louis county?) is freaking FULL of redheads. I mean, they are straight up everywhere.
posted by likeatoaster at 2:21 PM on May 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
I definitely had a "I used to be with it but then they changed what it was" moment looking at these. I have no idea who many of them are either.
And seconding the Midwest thing. There seem to be many in the Twin Cities, but maybe I'm just noticing them more. Also my wife and most of her family are redheads so that may skew things a bit for me.
Whether I recognize the people or not there is something creepy about most of these pictures, but some of them look like they must have been equally creepy in their original form.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 2:26 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
And seconding the Midwest thing. There seem to be many in the Twin Cities, but maybe I'm just noticing them more. Also my wife and most of her family are redheads so that may skew things a bit for me.
Whether I recognize the people or not there is something creepy about most of these pictures, but some of them look like they must have been equally creepy in their original form.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 2:26 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
but have yet to witness or hear of an actual example that's not basically the faux-racism joke that I have a vague idea Southpark started.
That's what I mean. Look at the linked post and try to explain why, exactly, it's funny--and see how that sounds when you write it out.
posted by epanalepsis at 2:31 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
That's what I mean. Look at the linked post and try to explain why, exactly, it's funny--and see how that sounds when you write it out.
posted by epanalepsis at 2:31 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
That's what I mean. Look at the linked post and try to explain why, exactly, it's funny--and see how that sounds when you write it out.
I don't get it. It's not funny. Is it even meant to be? If it is, isn't the answer just, "because these people are not actually redheads?" I don't think I know how to perform your exercise.
posted by cmoj at 2:41 PM on May 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
I don't get it. It's not funny. Is it even meant to be? If it is, isn't the answer just, "because these people are not actually redheads?" I don't think I know how to perform your exercise.
posted by cmoj at 2:41 PM on May 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
What is this thing?!!???
I just wrote a long comment and ended up deleting it.
Replace this with "What if everyone famous was Japanese?" would it be funny? To whom?
The obvious: Replace this with "What if everyone famous was Black?" would it be funny. To whom? Why?
posted by mumimor at 2:49 PM on May 6, 2015
I just wrote a long comment and ended up deleting it.
Replace this with "What if everyone famous was Japanese?" would it be funny? To whom?
The obvious: Replace this with "What if everyone famous was Black?" would it be funny. To whom? Why?
posted by mumimor at 2:49 PM on May 6, 2015
something creepy about most of these pictures
Mostly it's because they're really, really badly done.
posted by glasseyes at 2:49 PM on May 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
Mostly it's because they're really, really badly done.
posted by glasseyes at 2:49 PM on May 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
I like red hair. Everyone thinks my kid's red hair is beautiful. Those pictures are gross, though. They seem to have been made by someone who agrees with that whole anti-ginger thing we hear about from the UK.
posted by artistic verisimilitude at 2:55 PM on May 6, 2015
posted by artistic verisimilitude at 2:55 PM on May 6, 2015
Isn't anti-ginger just anti-Irish?
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:59 PM on May 6, 2015
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:59 PM on May 6, 2015
Isn't anti-ginger just anti-Irish?
It could be. It could also be a holdover from the days of Viking invasions (many of the Vikings had red hair, and any children with red hair would immediately be suspected of having been sired by one). Or both.
posted by acb at 3:04 PM on May 6, 2015
It could be. It could also be a holdover from the days of Viking invasions (many of the Vikings had red hair, and any children with red hair would immediately be suspected of having been sired by one). Or both.
posted by acb at 3:04 PM on May 6, 2015
I've a boy and a wife with red hair and I've not heard the term "ranga" before - what is that supposed to mean?
posted by Stark at 3:22 PM on May 6, 2015
posted by Stark at 3:22 PM on May 6, 2015
There's also the african evangelical christian church thing that redheads are actual, non-metaphorical demons (I had some guy on a bus standing over me and yelling "Red demon! Satan!" at me last week for the whole journey. It was not fun).
posted by tinkletown at 3:22 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by tinkletown at 3:22 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
what is that supposed to mean?
Slang for redhead, derived from orangutan. I think it's Australian in origin. I'm honestly not clear on how insulting its meant to be. Personally I just find it to be stupid.
posted by Lorin at 3:29 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Slang for redhead, derived from orangutan. I think it's Australian in origin. I'm honestly not clear on how insulting its meant to be. Personally I just find it to be stupid.
posted by Lorin at 3:29 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ugh. Redheads are already vastly over represented in media (particularly children's literature and films, but elsewhere as well) given that they are much less than 10% of the population anywhere, we really don't need any more glorification of a physical trait that is nothing more than genetics.
Ireland and Scotland both have around 10-12% redheads and both have a certain weird internalised self-hate, possibly picked up from England, anti-redhead thing going on.
When I was in school in Ireland red hair was definitely the biggest inherited (ie not an interest in science or comics etc) thing that bullies zoomed in on, moreso than a kid being fat, short, nonwhite, whatever.
Even among adults there's this idea that red hair is supposed to be some kind of dealbreaker in terms of attractiveness, and that a woman can be good looking if she has red hair but no prominent freckles, but a red headed guy is automatically ugly.
We want to be sophisticated, tanned continentals, but our red hair and skin like a plucked chicken is an incurable reminder of our eternal inferiority.
posted by kersplunk at 3:38 PM on May 6, 2015
Ireland and Scotland both have around 10-12% redheads and both have a certain weird internalised self-hate, possibly picked up from England, anti-redhead thing going on.
When I was in school in Ireland red hair was definitely the biggest inherited (ie not an interest in science or comics etc) thing that bullies zoomed in on, moreso than a kid being fat, short, nonwhite, whatever.
Even among adults there's this idea that red hair is supposed to be some kind of dealbreaker in terms of attractiveness, and that a woman can be good looking if she has red hair but no prominent freckles, but a red headed guy is automatically ugly.
We want to be sophisticated, tanned continentals, but our red hair and skin like a plucked chicken is an incurable reminder of our eternal inferiority.
posted by kersplunk at 3:38 PM on May 6, 2015
tumblr does this sort of thing a lot.
i once found a tumblr of photoshopping pictures of famous people serving their own decapitated heads to the viewer via silver platter.
it was extremely well done. and awful. couldn't stop scrolling.
tl:dr i hate tumblr
posted by M Edward at 4:13 PM on May 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
i once found a tumblr of photoshopping pictures of famous people serving their own decapitated heads to the viewer via silver platter.
it was extremely well done. and awful. couldn't stop scrolling.
tl:dr i hate tumblr
posted by M Edward at 4:13 PM on May 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
The hair was generally well done (still, some of the older persons needed to show some grey), but the aggressive addition of freckles pushed many of the pictures past my comfort zone. Almost to a different-racial equivalent of Blackface... Orangeface?
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:10 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:10 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
but a red headed guy is automatically ugly
Huh. In my (queer/male-identified) circles, redheads are exceedingly popular.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 5:30 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Huh. In my (queer/male-identified) circles, redheads are exceedingly popular.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 5:30 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
tumblr does this sort of thing a lot.
tl:dr i hate tumblr
Some tumblr users do this a lot, because the platform is easy for narrow-focus picture-based blogs. I follow a lot of people on tumblr (via RSS, which I am so relieved it still supports) and yet I successfully avoid most of the awfulness. So tumblr is one of the few 'social platforms' I DON'T hate.
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:03 PM on May 6, 2015
tl:dr i hate tumblr
Some tumblr users do this a lot, because the platform is easy for narrow-focus picture-based blogs. I follow a lot of people on tumblr (via RSS, which I am so relieved it still supports) and yet I successfully avoid most of the awfulness. So tumblr is one of the few 'social platforms' I DON'T hate.
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:03 PM on May 6, 2015
I don't understand all the hand-wringing in this thread. Seems like a standard ridiculous, meaningless internet photoshoop to me. They shooped red hair (AND WAY TOO MANY FRECKLES WHAT IS THAT) on famous people, poorly. The famous people look silly. Add some stupid, all caps Internet slang, repeat the joke many times. It doesn't say anything positive or negative about either famous people or actual red-haired folks. It's just a visual gag.
Standard Internet nonsense, nothing to see here.
posted by unknownmosquito at 8:45 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Standard Internet nonsense, nothing to see here.
posted by unknownmosquito at 8:45 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Slang for redhead, derived from orangutan. I think it's Australian in origin. I'm honestly not clear on how insulting its meant to be. Personally I just find it to be stupid
Not insulting at all, it's very Australian to call each other "stupid" names as a sign of affection.
posted by Wantok at 11:06 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Not insulting at all, it's very Australian to call each other "stupid" names as a sign of affection.
posted by Wantok at 11:06 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
This reminded me of this Buzzfeed post adding hair to famously bald guys. Except the bald one made me realise that (to my eyes at least) all those guys looked noticeably older with hair.
posted by shelleycat at 11:07 PM on May 6, 2015
posted by shelleycat at 11:07 PM on May 6, 2015
Can someone explain why all the names had "Rang" in them? Is this some American slang for a ginger?
posted by salmacis at 12:28 AM on May 7, 2015
posted by salmacis at 12:28 AM on May 7, 2015
No. I assume its short for "orangutan". Not offensive at all, nope.
posted by Justinian at 12:34 AM on May 7, 2015
posted by Justinian at 12:34 AM on May 7, 2015
among adults there's this idea that red hair is supposed to be some kind of dealbreaker in terms of attractiveness, and that a woman can be good looking if she has red hair but no prominent freckles, but a red headed guy is automatically ugly.
Anecdata, but after my redheaded son was born more than one person said to me, "oh, he's so cute, but it's too bad he's a ginger!"
posted by lollymccatburglar at 1:48 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Anecdata, but after my redheaded son was born more than one person said to me, "oh, he's so cute, but it's too bad he's a ginger!"
posted by lollymccatburglar at 1:48 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Not insulting at all, it's very Australian to call each other "stupid" names as a sign of affection. - Wantok
I assume you are referring to the scrabble for culture that the nascent country has been going through as expressed through language use. I still think a lot of the time nicknames are used to re enforce power dynamics.
Ginners (as they are sometimes called in the UK) are most likely persecuted because they are a minority, rather than any dubious claims about Viking hereditary. I thought it might be something to do with the fact that most of the royals have been immigrants and therefore persecuting the red haired indigenous population would be a good way of demonstrating their strength and putting paid to any claims of prior ownership. But there is no evidence for that either, it looks like a straightforward othering of a minority population.
posted by asok at 3:07 AM on May 7, 2015
I assume you are referring to the scrabble for culture that the nascent country has been going through as expressed through language use. I still think a lot of the time nicknames are used to re enforce power dynamics.
Ginners (as they are sometimes called in the UK) are most likely persecuted because they are a minority, rather than any dubious claims about Viking hereditary. I thought it might be something to do with the fact that most of the royals have been immigrants and therefore persecuting the red haired indigenous population would be a good way of demonstrating their strength and putting paid to any claims of prior ownership. But there is no evidence for that either, it looks like a straightforward othering of a minority population.
posted by asok at 3:07 AM on May 7, 2015
The celebs you've never heard of are Aussie TV hosts, politicians, and actors. There is a big class thing here about red hair.
posted by gingerest at 5:00 AM on May 7, 2015
posted by gingerest at 5:00 AM on May 7, 2015
Ginners (as they are sometimes called in the UK) are most likely persecuted because they are a minority, rather than any dubious claims about Viking hereditary.
It's even worse.
Ginger isn't even a race, which makes it more difficult to call out this shit. "You are anti-ginger!" just doesn't have the same ring to it as "You racist!"
It's basically being persecuted by your own kind without being able to do anything about it.
Yep, it can be difficult to grow up ginger.
posted by sour cream at 6:45 AM on May 7, 2015
It's even worse.
Ginger isn't even a race, which makes it more difficult to call out this shit. "You are anti-ginger!" just doesn't have the same ring to it as "You racist!"
It's basically being persecuted by your own kind without being able to do anything about it.
Yep, it can be difficult to grow up ginger.
posted by sour cream at 6:45 AM on May 7, 2015
Red on the head, Fire in the bed......
(I'm a red head)
posted by JenThePro at 7:46 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
(I'm a red head)
posted by JenThePro at 7:46 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Someone who puts the thought in my head of "Whoa, Seth Rogen is really HOT all of a sudden" must, with the greatest of regrets, die. POINT ME TO THE ORIGINATOR
posted by The Zeroth Law at 6:01 PM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by The Zeroth Law at 6:01 PM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
kersplunk: "Even among adults there's this idea that red hair is supposed to be some kind of dealbreaker in terms of attractiveness, and that a woman can be good looking if she has red hair but no prominent freckles, but a red headed guy is automatically ugly."
I hope nobody tells my wife and mother of our three children about this. I had red hair when we met and still have approximately 1.6 million freckles. I'd hate for her to find out that she's been doing it wrong for over 20 years. I guess I should have been wearing a shopping bag over my head all this time.
When I was in school in Ireland red hair was definitely the biggest inherited (ie not an interest in science or comics etc) thing that bullies zoomed in on, moreso than a kid being fat, short, nonwhite, whatever.
This was (and probably still is) true in the U.S. as well. I might as well have walked around with a bullseye painted on my back.
JenThePro: "Red on the head, Fire in the bed......"
Too fucking right, but my young bullies' rhymes for me were more along the lines of "Red on the head like the dick on a dog!"
Kids can be so mean. Adults suck sometimes, too.
posted by double block and bleed at 9:42 PM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
I hope nobody tells my wife and mother of our three children about this. I had red hair when we met and still have approximately 1.6 million freckles. I'd hate for her to find out that she's been doing it wrong for over 20 years. I guess I should have been wearing a shopping bag over my head all this time.
When I was in school in Ireland red hair was definitely the biggest inherited (ie not an interest in science or comics etc) thing that bullies zoomed in on, moreso than a kid being fat, short, nonwhite, whatever.
This was (and probably still is) true in the U.S. as well. I might as well have walked around with a bullseye painted on my back.
JenThePro: "Red on the head, Fire in the bed......"
Too fucking right, but my young bullies' rhymes for me were more along the lines of "Red on the head like the dick on a dog!"
Kids can be so mean. Adults suck sometimes, too.
posted by double block and bleed at 9:42 PM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
« Older George Lucas x Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes | The auteur of Black Widow is Scarlett Johansson Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by ZaneJ. at 12:17 PM on May 6, 2015 [14 favorites]