melissa@mit-trillian.MIT.EDU (Melissa Silvestre) (09/16/86)
Can the Rockettes owners/managers discriminate against black women who apply? This question has been raised. It leads to a similar question which perhaps focuses on the issue better: Can a movie director "discriminate" against a racial group in casting for a part? What if that part clearly calls for a member of a particular race, for instance in the case of a biographical movie? More generally, when may discrimination be allowed for aesthetic/artistic/ realism purposes? My understanding of the nature of the Rockettes is such that I think that having a *matching* lineup is crucial to the aesthetic effect of their performance. or at least crucial in the eyes of the producer/director/ whoever. I think the entertainment/fine arts business is qualitatively different than most other businesses, in that color DOES MATTER! Not for genetic reasons, but for aesthetic, and therein lies, in my mind, the reason why such discrimination is acceptable. Of course, then one might get stuck by the law office that considers it more aesthetically pleasing to be greeted by a white receptionist every morning..... -- Melissa Silvestre (melissa@athena.mit.edu)