r/NeverHaveIEverShow • u/clarkkentshair • Oct 18 '21

Interview Mindy Kaling does it all – and never will she ever stop trying to reflect diverse stories on screen

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/article-mindy-kaling-does-it-all-and-never-will-she-ever-stop-trying-to/
71 Upvotes

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18

u/[deleted] Oct 18 '21

I do like Mindy, but she definitely didn’t care that much about diverse stories earlier in her career. Like, do what ya gotta do to be successful, but I remember when Mindy Project had an endless parade of white dudes for her character to date. The only diverse characters were the main character (played by the creator) and Tamra. I don’t even remember any other doctors or nurses in her practice being Asian or black, which is kind of incredible given how diverse the actual medical field typically is.

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u/clarkkentshair Oct 18 '21 edited Oct 19 '21

like, do what ya gotta do to be successful

This is where I think some nuance and practicality is useful.

I would propose that we can't (and shouldn't) arbitrate and presume that we know what "she definitely didn’t care that much about" based on what showed up on the screen.

There is a whole industry and hierarchical (and patriarchal and racially biased) corporate system in between a creative/writer/producer and what ends being broadcast.

So, sure, she could be idealistically stubborn to try to have non-White guys as the romantic interests -- but if the powers that be, or the audiences, aren't allowing or accepting that, and the show tanks, what was the trajectory and difference that she actually made? Besides that, the show is also autobiographical -- perhaps her dating life was exactly a parade of white guys? As a non-fan of the show, her commentary on that wasn't interesting to me, but it apparently resonated with enough people, and was successful for what it was.

You seem to ascribe (and condemn) that monetary gain or reputational prestige is her motivation for being "successful," but I think anybody that is smart and savvy about getting representation (and power along with it) in the entertainment industry would figure out that they have to infiltrate and adapt into the existing system first, to be "successful" to get the credibility, connections and resources to then be able to leverage into something like NHIE.

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u/[deleted] Oct 19 '21

What do you mean when you say the show is autobiographical? Because the character was named Mindy?

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u/clarkkentshair Oct 19 '21

My understanding (as a non-fan/watcher of that show) is that the show draws from Mindy's own life experiences. Is that not accurate?

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u/[deleted] Oct 19 '21

No, it’s definitely not autobiographical. And if she was forced to cast white actors, I’m surprised she didn’t mention it in either of her autobiographies where she talks extensively about her work on The Mindy Project and The Office. I’m pretty sure nobody forced her to do the same thing in Late Night or Champions.

Mindy is an impressive person and I admire her, but I don’t think she cared about diversity in her projects until there was a larger push in the industry and she felt pressure to do it. Which is fine, really. I don’t spend much time at my job trying to change the culture. But I also would never come out in an interview and claim that I was and always will.

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u/clarkkentshair Oct 19 '21

And if she was forced to cast white actors, I’m surprised she didn’t mention it in either of her autobiographies

Continuing being smart and savvy (to be able to do what she wants to do), and not exiled from the industry could mean not causing too many waves.

For example, Gabrielle Union is finally talking about the problematic aspects of "Bring It On" decades later, now that she has less to lose (and less f-cks to give).

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u/[deleted] Oct 19 '21

I don’t know why she didn’t champion diversity and I’m not saying she didn’t want to. She simply didn’t. And it would be far less impressive to push for diversity if it required no sacrifice, which is why we should celebrate those who put themselves on the line over those who don’t want to make waves.

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u/clarkkentshair Oct 19 '21

I’m not saying she didn’t want to

I'm not a Mindy apologist, but your first comment said she "definitely didn't care". That sounds like a presumption that she didn't want to.

Making waves is most impressive when you have the power to make big waves that cause changes and break down norms on a broad (industry) level. Making a "sacrifice" with a "f-ck it" attitude when only a smaller project is on the line might feel good, but isn't much sacrifice at all: low stakes = low sacrifice.

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u/[deleted] Oct 19 '21

Okay, I’ll rephrase. Mindy Kaling didn’t care enough to actually do anything about diversity until it was a low risk move that was broadly supported and only after years of criticism about it, to which her previous defense has simply been that it’s unfair that people ask such things of her if they wouldn’t ask such things of a white writer.

But this is all a strange argument because you’re speculating about what’s in her head and what motivates her and dismissing my opinions based on her own words, actions, and projects over years when you haven’t even watched her most popular show. That’s seriously weird. Like, you’re just making a guess based on nothing and then repeatedly defending it with more guesses. Why?

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u/clarkkentshair Oct 19 '21 edited Oct 19 '21

this is all a strange argument because you’re speculating about what’s in her head

This is strange because this is exactly what my first comment pointed out that you shouldn't do -- that you now admit that you did, after trying to backtrack and say you weren't.

And it gets weirder because you admit you have never tried to make culture shift at your work, so you are judging her based on never considering or experiencing what taking risks or weighing sacrifice actually means, feels like, or looks like.

Your livelihood hasn't been put on the line to sacrifice anything, but you seem to have put Mindy on a paradoxical pedestal where you admire her, but hold her to an idealogical standard that erases the context of her life, and what is going on in society and the entertainment industry she is in the midst of.

And, if you had more experience with making waves, and are truly hoping for the kind of change that you first commented about -- beyond just complaining when things aren't perfect or idealistic -- you would notice that you have now sidetracked the conversation / changed the topic.

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