I would have no problem with Chromatic Casting for the Arthur story because it's history-as-myth, and myths deal with universal archetypes. Which, by definition, can be any colour. Even Jesus-as-myth (as opposed to Jesus-as-history) has been represented as Black, Hispanic, and Native.
(Oh, man, how much do I love applying Religious Studies to pop culture? {-----this much!----} Because what is Rels if not the study of pre-mass-media pop culture? Well, a lot of things, actually, but work with me here.)
That's also why Shakespeare works so well in different settings, and it's almost become a trope to play with the setting. (Romeo and Juliette as 1920s gangsters! Macbeth as Chilean Dictator!) He deals with universals. If a story, such as Emma, becomes Clueless, the aspect of the story that they are focussing on is the universal. A period piece that explicitly emphasizes the specific aspect of the story could not have a Black Emma.
no subject
(Oh, man, how much do I love applying Religious Studies to pop culture? {-----this much!----} Because what is Rels if not the study of pre-mass-media pop culture? Well, a lot of things, actually, but work with me here.)
That's also why Shakespeare works so well in different settings, and it's almost become a trope to play with the setting. (Romeo and Juliette as 1920s gangsters! Macbeth as Chilean Dictator!) He deals with universals. If a story, such as Emma, becomes Clueless, the aspect of the story that they are focussing on is the universal. A period piece that explicitly emphasizes the specific aspect of the story could not have a Black Emma.