challenge


                    
                    
                

                

                

            

        
    







            

            
            

                

                    
                

                

                    

                        


	

	
    
        

            

                
                    
                    
                    
                    

    

        Are
        

            
            Are
        

    

    

         
Are

    



                
                    
                    
                    
                    

    

        Mannequin Challeng
        

            
            Mannequin Challeng
        

    

    

         
Mannequin Challeng

    



                
                    
                    
                    
                    

    

        Mannequin Challenges
        

            
            Mannequin Challenges
        

    

    

         
Mannequin Challenges

    



                
                    
                    
                    
                    

    

        Best Mannequin Challenge
        

            
            Best Mannequin Challenge
        

    

    

         
Best Mannequin Challenge

    



                
                    
                    
                    
                    

    

        Boxers
        

            
            Boxers
        

    

    

         
Boxers

    



                
                    
                    
                    
                    

    

        Wait For It Wait For It
        

            
            Wait For It Wait For It
        

    

    

         
Wait For It Wait For It

    



                
                    
                    
                    
                    

    

         else
        

            
             else
        

    

    

         
 else

    



                
                    
                    
                    
                    

    

        Mannequin Challenge
        

            
            Mannequin Challenge
        

    

    

         
Mannequin Challenge

    



                
                    
                    
                    
                    

    

        acception
        

            
            acception
        

    

    

         
acception

    



                
                    
                    
                    
                    

    

        acids
        

            
            acids
        

    

    

         
acids

    



                
            

        

    
    

        🔥 | Latest
    

    
    

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: thesassybunnies:
Push-up challenge 🐰💕 
(Source)

    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: thesassybunnies:
Push-up challenge 🐰💕 
(Source)

                
                

                
            

            
            
thesassybunnies:
Push-up challenge 🐰💕 
(Source)


            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                






            

        

        
        

            

                






            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: chibird:

Share with someone who is doing their best. ✨ This ghostie is very amazed and proud.

Chibird store | Positive Pin Club | Webtoon 


    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: chibird:

Share with someone who is doing their best. ✨ This ghostie is very amazed and proud.

Chibird store | Positive Pin Club | Webtoon 


                
            

            
            
chibird:

Share with someone who is doing their best. ✨ This ghostie is very amazed and proud.

Chibird store | Positive Pin Club | Webto...

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: Challenge accepted !
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: Challenge accepted !
                
            

            
            
Challenge accepted !

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: detrinity:
Gansey for Ethan Becker’s ref challenge on my ig
Instagram: @ deetrinity

    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: detrinity:
Gansey for Ethan Becker’s ref challenge on my ig
Instagram: @ deetrinity

                
            

            
            
detrinity:
Gansey for Ethan Becker’s ref challenge on my ig
Instagram: @ deetrinity


            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: BreadPanes 26: “Trump Pod Challenge”
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: BreadPanes 26: “Trump Pod Challenge”
                
            

            
            
BreadPanes 26: “Trump Pod Challenge”

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: daddyschlongleg:

i took up an oc challenge where ppl suggest outfits for my oc and this is the first one… lines r killin me bro
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: daddyschlongleg:

i took up an oc challenge where ppl suggest outfits for my oc and this is the first one… lines r killin me bro
                
            

            
            
daddyschlongleg:

i took up an oc challenge where ppl suggest outfits for my oc and this is the first one… lines r killin me bro

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                






            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: Don’t challenge the Irish
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: Don’t challenge the Irish
                
            

            
            
Don’t challenge the Irish

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: chibird:

Be kind to any resting bees you find. ♡ They will appreciate it very much and bless you later.


Chibird Store | Positive Pin Club | Webtoon 



    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: chibird:

Be kind to any resting bees you find. ♡ They will appreciate it very much and bless you later.


Chibird Store | Positive Pin Club | Webtoon 



                
            

            
            
chibird:

Be kind to any resting bees you find. ♡ They will appreciate it very much and bless you later.


Chibird Store | Positive Pin C...

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                






            

        

        
        

            

                






            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: No challenge.
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: No challenge.
                
            

            
            
No challenge.

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: I call this the break quarantine challenge
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: I call this the break quarantine challenge
                
            

            
            
I call this the break quarantine challenge

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: inkodoodles:Su-san doesn’t seem to want him loses weight.APH 1hr drawing challengeTheme: Going on a dietCharacters: Finland & Sweden
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: inkodoodles:Su-san doesn’t seem to want him loses weight.APH 1hr drawing challengeTheme: Going on a dietCharacters: Finland & Sweden
                
            

            
            
inkodoodles:Su-san doesn’t seem to want him loses weight.APH 1hr drawing challengeTheme: Going on a dietCharacters: Finland & Sweden

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: art-creature:

7 & 8 for 100 heads challenge / my instagram
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: art-creature:

7 & 8 for 100 heads challenge / my instagram
                
            

            
            
art-creature:

7 & 8 for 100 heads challenge / my instagram

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: simple-persica:

So this has been in my drafts for a while. it was part of a 30-day challenge I started, forgot about, then couldn’t find the original prompt. Day one was favorite character
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: simple-persica:

So this has been in my drafts for a while. it was part of a 30-day challenge I started, forgot about, then couldn’t find the original prompt. Day one was favorite character
                
            

            
            
simple-persica:

So this has been in my drafts for a while. it was part of a 30-day challenge I started, forgot about, then couldn’t find...

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                






            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: twentyratsinatrenchcoat:
waywardmasquerade:


jabletown:

manicpixiedreamalien:

did-you-kno:

Scottish sculptor Rob Mulholland 
creates creepy mirrored sculptures 
out of acrylic glass that makes 
them blend into their surroundings 
until your perspective shifts and 
they suddenly catch your eye.  Source Source 2

imagine getting lost in the woods and coming across these
on a scale of 1-10 how ready for death would you be

i didn’t know chaotic evil looked like someone’s dad from north dakota

Some one needs to stat these mirror beings ASAP



Mirrorfolk
Medium construct, lawful evil
AC: 15
HP: 100 (8d10+20)
Speed: 30ft
STR: 14 (+2)                  WIS: 16 (+3)
CON: 10 (+0)                  INT: 16 (+3)
DEX: 18 (+4)                CHA: 20 (+5)
Skills: Perception (+5), Deception (+9)
Senses: Truesight, low-light vision, passive perception 13
Languages: Common
Challenge: 5 (1,800 XP)
Immunities: Mind-affecting spells, poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, and necromancy effects
Proficiencies: No armor; simple weapons
Natural Camoflauge: A mirrorfolk can blend in easily to any environment by reflecting the world around them. In order to notice a mirrorfolk using it’s camoflauge, players must pass a check with a DC 18.
Reflection: Three times a day, a mirrorfolk may reflect a spell cast at it by passing a dexterity check (DC 16). This acts as though the mirrorfolk had cast the spell with the original caster as the target, or as though it had been directly reflected from a mirror (ex. A fireball caught by a mirrorfolk directly reflects the cone of effect).
The Eye of the Beholder: A mirrorfolk may cast Charm Person, Hypnotic Pattern, Suggestion, Crown of Madness, or Enemies Abound up to four time per day at their base level. The four times are total, not for each spell. It may cast Minor Illusion or Prestidigitation at will. However, any illusion created by these spells (including Hypnotic Pattern) uses its own surfaces.
The Scott’s Pet: Mirrorfolk act as guards to a human mage named Mulholland the Sculptor. Their primary goal of creation is to divert attention from Mulholland, and do so either through illusion or through turning party members against each other. They will also act as living shields if need be. However, mirrorfolk are considered awaken constructs, and their loyalty comes strictly from Mulholland’s kindness towards them.

    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: twentyratsinatrenchcoat:
waywardmasquerade:


jabletown:

manicpixiedreamalien:

did-you-kno:

Scottish sculptor Rob Mulholland 
creates creepy mirrored sculptures 
out of acrylic glass that makes 
them blend into their surroundings 
until your perspective shifts and 
they suddenly catch your eye.  Source Source 2

imagine getting lost in the woods and coming across these
on a scale of 1-10 how ready for death would you be

i didn’t know chaotic evil looked like someone’s dad from north dakota

Some one needs to stat these mirror beings ASAP



Mirrorfolk
Medium construct, lawful evil
AC: 15
HP: 100 (8d10+20)
Speed: 30ft
STR: 14 (+2)                  WIS: 16 (+3)
CON: 10 (+0)                  INT: 16 (+3)
DEX: 18 (+4)                CHA: 20 (+5)
Skills: Perception (+5), Deception (+9)
Senses: Truesight, low-light vision, passive perception 13
Languages: Common
Challenge: 5 (1,800 XP)
Immunities: Mind-affecting spells, poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, and necromancy effects
Proficiencies: No armor; simple weapons
Natural Camoflauge: A mirrorfolk can blend in easily to any environment by reflecting the world around them. In order to notice a mirrorfolk using it’s camoflauge, players must pass a check with a DC 18.
Reflection: Three times a day, a mirrorfolk may reflect a spell cast at it by passing a dexterity check (DC 16). This acts as though the mirrorfolk had cast the spell with the original caster as the target, or as though it had been directly reflected from a mirror (ex. A fireball caught by a mirrorfolk directly reflects the cone of effect).
The Eye of the Beholder: A mirrorfolk may cast Charm Person, Hypnotic Pattern, Suggestion, Crown of Madness, or Enemies Abound up to four time per day at their base level. The four times are total, not for each spell. It may cast Minor Illusion or Prestidigitation at will. However, any illusion created by these spells (including Hypnotic Pattern) uses its own surfaces.
The Scott’s Pet: Mirrorfolk act as guards to a human mage named Mulholland the Sculptor. Their primary goal of creation is to divert attention from Mulholland, and do so either through illusion or through turning party members against each other. They will also act as living shields if need be. However, mirrorfolk are considered awaken constructs, and their loyalty comes strictly from Mulholland’s kindness towards them.

                
            

            
            
twentyratsinatrenchcoat:
waywardmasquerade:


jabletown:

manicpixiedreamalien:

did-you-kno:

Scottish sculptor Rob Mulholland 
creates...

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: We challenge you to take just five minutes out of your day to scroll through a little uplifting content! It'll be worth it, we promise. #Memes #Heartwarming #Uplifting #Cute #Animals
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: We challenge you to take just five minutes out of your day to scroll through a little uplifting content! It'll be worth it, we promise. #Memes #Heartwarming #Uplifting #Cute #Animals
                
            

            
            
We challenge you to take just five minutes out of your day to scroll through a little uplifting content! It'll be worth it, we promise. #...

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: patriciooliver:

Retro Anime challenge #34 Ryoga Hibiki / P-chan
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: patriciooliver:

Retro Anime challenge #34 Ryoga Hibiki / P-chan
                
            

            
            
patriciooliver:

Retro Anime challenge #34 Ryoga Hibiki / P-chan

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: jacketyjackjack-fr:

An emoji + flight rising color pallet challenge! Send me a character, and two letter/number combos!!
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: jacketyjackjack-fr:

An emoji + flight rising color pallet challenge! Send me a character, and two letter/number combos!!
                
            

            
            
jacketyjackjack-fr:

An emoji + flight rising color pallet challenge! Send me a character, and two letter/number combos!!

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: chibird:

You can pass the bee heart to someone else! 🐝❤️️ Note, I used the European spelling of “traveller” with two l’s instead of one. : )

Chibird Store | Patreon | Webtoon 


    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: chibird:

You can pass the bee heart to someone else! 🐝❤️️ Note, I used the European spelling of “traveller” with two l’s instead of one. : )

Chibird Store | Patreon | Webtoon 


                
            

            
            
chibird:

You can pass the bee heart to someone else! 🐝❤️️ Note, I used the European spelling of “traveller” with two l’s instead of one....

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                






            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: lem0uro:I was doodling and i suddenly remembered this cake challenge video with tyler oakley and miles jai
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: lem0uro:I was doodling and i suddenly remembered this cake challenge video with tyler oakley and miles jai
                
            

            
            
lem0uro:I was doodling and i suddenly remembered this cake challenge video with tyler oakley and miles jai

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: bogleech:

cazort:

marvelousgameofdisneythrones:

pangur-and-grim:

my favourite part of the Evolutionary Biology courses I took at the University of Toronto was learning that several bird species have 3+ sexes? the ruff bird is a great example - each male variant has a different (and successful!) reproductive strategy, and a different chromosomal sequence.
unlike the ruff bird, human sex falls into a bimodal distribution - this means there are two strong peaks (”typical” male and female morphs), with a whole lot in between.
evolution is nice way of saying “statistics played out longterm among living organisms”, and evolutionarily successful traits….aren’t something to hold up as natural or moral, or representative of an advanced state. it’s literally just fuck tactics that make your group size increase.
(though fucking isn’t always the best route, as asexual reproduction is massively advantageous as a short-term strategy, and certain species dominate the landscape by switching between sexual/asexual depending on environmental conditions)
besides all that, the strength of humankind has always been our ability to work together communally, and that’s straight science. so even if you went down the extremely problematic path of valuing fellow humans based on their potential evolutionary contribution (coughs, eugenics, coughs), there would still be zero scientific basis behind discriminating against trans, non-binary and intersex people. 
tl;dr here’s a challenge to all the bigots out there: please stop using “science” as a defence when the actual science is (overwhelmingly) against you.

Science: pissing off bigots of all kinds since its inception.

I find White-throated sparrows fascinating. They have two color morphs, the bright one:
And the drab one:
The two morphs have very different behavior. The bright ones are more aggressive, setting up territories and defending them, being more aggressive about defending against predators. They sing more often.
The dull ones are quieter and less aggressive. They are more attentive to the nest, and better at feeding nestlings.
The morphs tend to make a good pairing for raising children because they specialize in different roles. The dull-colored birds, being more camouflaged, are safer when sitting on the nest, and are better able to hide. The bright-colored birds, being more visible, are better able to intimidate predators and rivals.
Interestingly though, both color morphs occur in both female and male birds. And birds tend to pair up with both opposite sex and opposite color morph birds. The dimorphism and different roles that, in most birds, are strongly associated with biological sex, in this species has evolved to be abstracted and separated from biological sex.
Some people have described this system as the birds having “four sexes”.



It’s been proposed that some life may have only first split into multiple sexes in order to confuse or slow down parasites so maybe some folks get offended cause deep down they just think roundworms will get them

    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: bogleech:

cazort:

marvelousgameofdisneythrones:

pangur-and-grim:

my favourite part of the Evolutionary Biology courses I took at the University of Toronto was learning that several bird species have 3+ sexes? the ruff bird is a great example - each male variant has a different (and successful!) reproductive strategy, and a different chromosomal sequence.
unlike the ruff bird, human sex falls into a bimodal distribution - this means there are two strong peaks (”typical” male and female morphs), with a whole lot in between.
evolution is nice way of saying “statistics played out longterm among living organisms”, and evolutionarily successful traits….aren’t something to hold up as natural or moral, or representative of an advanced state. it’s literally just fuck tactics that make your group size increase.
(though fucking isn’t always the best route, as asexual reproduction is massively advantageous as a short-term strategy, and certain species dominate the landscape by switching between sexual/asexual depending on environmental conditions)
besides all that, the strength of humankind has always been our ability to work together communally, and that’s straight science. so even if you went down the extremely problematic path of valuing fellow humans based on their potential evolutionary contribution (coughs, eugenics, coughs), there would still be zero scientific basis behind discriminating against trans, non-binary and intersex people. 
tl;dr here’s a challenge to all the bigots out there: please stop using “science” as a defence when the actual science is (overwhelmingly) against you.

Science: pissing off bigots of all kinds since its inception.

I find White-throated sparrows fascinating. They have two color morphs, the bright one:
And the drab one:
The two morphs have very different behavior. The bright ones are more aggressive, setting up territories and defending them, being more aggressive about defending against predators. They sing more often.
The dull ones are quieter and less aggressive. They are more attentive to the nest, and better at feeding nestlings.
The morphs tend to make a good pairing for raising children because they specialize in different roles. The dull-colored birds, being more camouflaged, are safer when sitting on the nest, and are better able to hide. The bright-colored birds, being more visible, are better able to intimidate predators and rivals.
Interestingly though, both color morphs occur in both female and male birds. And birds tend to pair up with both opposite sex and opposite color morph birds. The dimorphism and different roles that, in most birds, are strongly associated with biological sex, in this species has evolved to be abstracted and separated from biological sex.
Some people have described this system as the birds having “four sexes”.



It’s been proposed that some life may have only first split into multiple sexes in order to confuse or slow down parasites so maybe some folks get offended cause deep down they just think roundworms will get them

                
            

            
            
bogleech:

cazort:

marvelousgameofdisneythrones:

pangur-and-grim:

my favourite part of the Evolutionary Biology courses I took at the...

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                






            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: xiss0r:

Made my own color palette challenge!Send me(or the person who rbs this) a character(or characters) and a palette! 
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: xiss0r:

Made my own color palette challenge!Send me(or the person who rbs this) a character(or characters) and a palette! 
                
            

            
            
xiss0r:

Made my own color palette challenge!Send me(or the person who rbs this) a character(or characters) and a palette! 

            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: itsonedollarhexedpuppet:
is-sinnoh-confirmed-yet:

challenge: color these but incorrectly


    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: itsonedollarhexedpuppet:
is-sinnoh-confirmed-yet:

challenge: color these but incorrectly


                
            

            
            
itsonedollarhexedpuppet:
is-sinnoh-confirmed-yet:

challenge: color these but incorrectly



            
            
        

    



            

        

        
        

            

                







    challenge: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Bruce
 Lee Was My Friend, and
 Tarantino's Movie Disrespects
 Him
 8:08 AM PDT 8/16/2019 by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
 Alamy Stock Photo
 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bruce Lee during the filming of 1978's 'Game of Death.'
solacekames:

8:08 AM PDT 8/16/2019 by Kareem Abdul-JabbarThe NBA great and Hollywood Reporter columnist, a friend of the late martial arts star, believes the filmmaker was sloppy, somewhat racist and shirked his responsibility to basic truth in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.’Remember that time Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. kidney-punched a waiter for serving soggy croutons in his tomato soup? How about the time the Dalai Lama got wasted and spray-painted “Karma Is a Beach” on the Tibetan ambassador’s limo? Probably not, since they never happened. But they could happen if a filmmaker decides to write those scenes into his or her movie. And, even though we know the movie is fiction, those scenes will live on in our shared cultural conscience as impressions of those real people, thereby corrupting our memory of them built on their real-life actions.That’s why filmmakers have a responsibility when playing with people’s perceptions of admired historic people to maintain a basic truth about the content of their character. Quentin Tarantino’s portrayal of Bruce Lee in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood does not live up to this standard. Of course, Tarantino has the artistic right to portray Bruce any way he wants. But to do so in such a sloppy and somewhat racist way is a failure both as an artist and as a human being.This controversy has left me torn. Tarantino is one of my favorite filmmakers because he is so bold, uncompromising and unpredictable. There’s a giddy energy in his movies of someone who loves movies and wants you to love them, too. I attend each Tarantino film as if it were an event, knowing that his distillation of the ’60s and ’70s action movies will be much more entertaining than a simple homage. That’s what makes the Bruce Lee scenes so disappointing, not so much on a factual basis, but as a lapse of cultural awareness.Bruce Lee was my friend and teacher. That doesn’t give him a free pass for how he’s portrayed in movies. But it does give me some insight into the man. I first met Bruce when I was a student at UCLA looking to continue my martial arts studies, which I started in New York City. We quickly developed a friendship as well as a student-teacher relationship. He taught me the discipline and spirituality of martial arts, which was greatly responsible for me being able to play competitively in the NBA for 20 years with very few injuries.During our years of friendship, he spoke passionately about how frustrated he was with the stereotypical representation of Asians in film and TV. The only roles were for inscrutable villains or bowing servants. In Have Gun - Will Travel, Paladin’s faithful Chinese servant goes by the insulting name of “Hey Boy” (Kam Tong). He was replaced in season four by a female character referred to as “Hey Girl” (Lisa Lu). Asian men were portrayed as sexless accessories to a scene, while the women were subservient. This was how African-American men and women were generally portrayed until the advent of Sidney Poitier and blaxploitation films. Bruce was dedicated to changing the dismissive image of Asians through his acting, writing and promotion of Jeet Kune Do, his interpretation of martial arts.That’s why it disturbs me that Tarantino chose to portray Bruce in such a one-dimensional way. The John Wayne machismo attitude of Cliff (Brad Pitt), an aging stuntman who defeats the arrogant, uppity Chinese guy harks back to the very stereotypes Bruce was trying to dismantle. Of course the blond, white beefcake American can beat your fancy Asian chopsocky dude because that foreign crap doesn’t fly here.I might even go along with the skewered version of Bruce if that wasn’t the only significant scene with him, if we’d also seen a glimpse of his other traits, of his struggle to be taken seriously in Hollywood. Alas, he was just another Hey Boy prop to the scene. The scene is complicated by being presented as a flashback, but in a way that could suggest the stuntman’s memory is cartoonishly biased in his favor. Equally disturbing is the unresolved shadow that Cliff may have killed his wife with a spear gun because she nagged him. Classic Cliff. Is Cliff more heroic because he also doesn’t put up with outspoken women?I was in public with Bruce several times when some random jerk would loudly challenge Bruce to a fight. He always politely declined and moved on. First rule of Bruce’s fight club was don’t fight — unless there is no other option. He felt no need to prove himself. He knew who he was and that the real fight wasn’t on the mat, it was on the screen in creating opportunities for Asians to be seen as more than grinning stereotypes. Unfortunately, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood prefers the good old ways.
    

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
    

    

        

            
            

                
                challenge: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Bruce
 Lee Was My Friend, and
 Tarantino's Movie Disrespects
 Him
 8:08 AM PDT 8/16/2019 by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
 Alamy Stock Photo
 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bruce Lee during the filming of 1978's 'Game of Death.'
solacekames:

8:08 AM PDT 8/16/2019 by Kareem Abdul-JabbarThe NBA great and Hollywood Reporter columnist, a friend of the late martial arts star, believes the filmmaker was sloppy, somewhat racist and shirked his responsibility to basic truth in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.’Remember that time Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. kidney-punched a waiter for serving soggy croutons in his tomato soup? How about the time the Dalai Lama got wasted and spray-painted “Karma Is a Beach” on the Tibetan ambassador’s limo? Probably not, since they never happened. But they could happen if a filmmaker decides to write those scenes into his or her movie. And, even though we know the movie is fiction, those scenes will live on in our shared cultural conscience as impressions of those real people, thereby corrupting our memory of them built on their real-life actions.That’s why filmmakers have a responsibility when playing with people’s perceptions of admired historic people to maintain a basic truth about the content of their character. Quentin Tarantino’s portrayal of Bruce Lee in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood does not live up to this standard. Of course, Tarantino has the artistic right to portray Bruce any way he wants. But to do so in such a sloppy and somewhat racist way is a failure both as an artist and as a human being.This controversy has left me torn. Tarantino is one of my favorite filmmakers because he is so bold, uncompromising and unpredictable. There’s a giddy energy in his movies of someone who loves movies and wants you to love them, too. I attend each Tarantino film as if it were an event, knowing that his distillation of the ’60s and ’70s action movies will be much more entertaining than a simple homage. That’s what makes the Bruce Lee scenes so disappointing, not so much on a factual basis, but as a lapse of cultural awareness.Bruce Lee was my friend and teacher. That doesn’t give him a free pass for how he’s portrayed in movies. But it does give me some insight into the man. I first met Bruce when I was a student at UCLA looking to continue my martial arts studies, which I started in New York City. We quickly developed a friendship as well as a student-teacher relationship. He taught me the discipline and spirituality of martial arts, which was greatly responsible for me being able to play competitively in the NBA for 20 years with very few injuries.During our years of friendship, he spoke passionately about how frustrated he was with the stereotypical representation of Asians in film and TV. The only roles were for inscrutable villains or bowing servants. In Have Gun - Will Travel, Paladin’s faithful Chinese servant goes by the insulting name of “Hey Boy” (Kam Tong). He was replaced in season four by a female character referred to as “Hey Girl” (Lisa Lu). Asian men were portrayed as sexless accessories to a scene, while the women were subservient. This was how African-American men and women were generally portrayed until the advent of Sidney Poitier and blaxploitation films. Bruce was dedicated to changing the dismissive image of Asians through his acting, writing and promotion of Jeet Kune Do, his interpretation of martial arts.That’s why it disturbs me that Tarantino chose to portray Bruce in such a one-dimensional way. The John Wayne machismo attitude of Cliff (Brad Pitt), an aging stuntman who defeats the arrogant, uppity Chinese guy harks back to the very stereotypes Bruce was trying to dismantle. Of course the blond, white beefcake American can beat your fancy Asian chopsocky dude because that foreign crap doesn’t fly here.I might even go along with the skewered version of Bruce if that wasn’t the only significant scene with him, if we’d also seen a glimpse of his other traits, of his struggle to be taken seriously in Hollywood. Alas, he was just another Hey Boy prop to the scene. The scene is complicated by being presented as a flashback, but in a way that could suggest the stuntman’s memory is cartoonishly biased in his favor. Equally disturbing is the unresolved shadow that Cliff may have killed his wife with a spear gun because she nagged him. Classic Cliff. Is Cliff more heroic because he also doesn’t put up with outspoken women?I was in public with Bruce several times when some random jerk would loudly challenge Bruce to a fight. He always politely declined and moved on. First rule of Bruce’s fight club was don’t fight — unless there is no other option. He felt no need to prove himself. He knew who he was and that the real fight wasn’t on the mat, it was on the screen in creating opportunities for Asians to be seen as more than grinning stereotypes. Unfortunately, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood prefers the good old ways.
                
            

            
            
solacekames:

8:08 AM PDT 8/16/2019 by Kareem Abdul-JabbarThe NBA great and Hollywood Reporter columnist, a friend of the late martial ar...