Disney, Adoption and The Avengers...

[AndyBee68]

I took my son to see The Avengers on Saturday. In one key scene, as the Avengers are assembled they review the evil committed by Loki. Thor confronts the rest of the Avengers because Loki is his brother. When the Avengers list the atrocities he has committed, Thor volunteers that “Loki was adopted”. It got quite a laugh from the audience, yet it implies that an adopted sibling is less family than biological children.

Children don’t need to be told they are inferior or defective or less of a family member because they were adopted, especially from someone as trusted as the Walt Disney Company. There are 73.8 million children who are a part of families created through adoption. It’s odd that Disney would choose to send a message that adopted children are less part of a family than biological children, but in my opinion, that’s exactly what happens in The Avengers.

The movie was excellent and I don’t regret taking my son to see it. I just thought we had moved beyond these stereotypes about adoption.

This is my point of view as the father of adopted children.

Did this scene bother anyone else?

Not all adoptees are orphans. In fact 99% have loving parents/family who through circumstances have lost their children. To cus someone with the phrase " he's adopted" when they are doing something wrong is as hurtful & hateful as homophobia or racial slur. It is disrespectful to their parents (both sets) and leaves the person believing they are inferior.

 

[Planogirl]

Amazing how many newbies keep popping up on this thread. Interesting...

My view is that no one is guaranteed a completely insult-free life. I truly feel bad for anyone who hates the line but I believe that it won't be changed and truthfully it shouldn't be if the moviemakers want to keep it. The freedom for them to make the movie they want is important too.

 

[Adoption Father]

Not all adoptees are orphans. In fact 99% have loving parents/family who through circumstances have lost their children. To cus someone with the phrase " he's adopted" when they are doing something wrong is as hurtful & hateful as homophobia or racial slur. It is disrespectful to their parents (both sets) and leaves the person believing they are inferior.

I agree that the comment was insulting, out of touch, crass, cruel, and that Disney and the director Joss Whedon should be ashamed of themselves. They should apologize, over and over.

 

[Planogirl]

Dear Epcot Girl, why did the movie director have to insult all adopted children and their families by minimizing their status? Why would one assume that "lesser attributes" are automatically assigned to an adopted child? Rather than a half hearted attempt to distance himself, it looks more like a half ____ attempt at cruel and crass humor at the expense of children whose status is not of their own making. Can it get any lower than that?

Whoever you are, did you read any of this thread/ Or did you just come here to nitpick comments made by people involved in this discussion?

 

[Adoption Father]

Amazing how many newbies keep popping up on this thread. Interesting...

My view is that no one is guaranteed a completely insult-free life. I truly feel bad for anyone who hates the line but I believe that it won't be changed and truthfully it shouldn't be if the moviemakers want to keep it. The freedom for them to make the movie they want is important too.

Dear Plano, why should children be insulted whose status is not of their own making? Disney should not be excused because they have the freedom to say anything. They have diminished themselves.

 

[kwelch10377]

Dear Epcot Girl, why did the movie director have to insult all adopted children and their families by minimizing their status? Why would one assume that "lesser attributes" are automatically assigned to an adopted child? Rather than a half hearted attempt to distance himself, it looks more like a half ____ attempt at cruel and crass humor at the expense of children whose status is not of their own making. Can it get any lower than that?

Clearly not all adopted children were offended since the poster you quoted is adopted and not offended.

Amazing how many newbies keep popping up on this thread. Interesting...

My view is that no one is guaranteed a completely insult-free life. I truly feel bad for anyone who hates the line but I believe that it won't be changed and truthfully it shouldn't be if the moviemakers want to keep it. The freedom for them to make the movie they want is important too.

I totally agree....

 

[Adoption Father]

Grasping at straws.

The discussion between the characters was about how dangerous the ASGARDIANS as a whole are, as evidenced by the atrocities of Loki. To which Thor defends the honor of the rest of Asgard by joking "he's adopted" meaning, Asgardians are not evil violent people.

You know that evil people can be adopted too right?

You miss the point that the joke is not funny in that it degrades children because they are adopted. Why are they any less of a person? How can anyone laugh at something like that? Not grasping at straws here, just trying to point out crass and insensitive movie comments.

 

[Adoption Father]

This.
It's one line in a movie.

It may be one line but it is at the heart of an outdated and perverse view of adopted children.

 

[Adoption Father]

I haven't seen the movie yet (I have seen Thor though), but from how my husband and kids explained it, I think people are laughing at Thor, and the quick turnaround he made of throwing his brother under the bus - it was out of character and therefore funny. They are not laughing at Loki, whose adoption is not played as funny at all. And Thor's true feelings about Loki are shown through 2 movies.

If they were blood related I guess the line could easily have been something like "Well he takes after the other side of the family" or something and the point would still be the joke is about THOR not Loki.

But, the movie director chose not to say that he takes after the other side of the family. He chose to make a nasty and cruel comment that implied awful behaviors are done by adopted children. They should be ashamed.

 

[Jennasis]

The reason the thread is flush with new first time posters is because it shows up on a google search of the buzz words of the controversy...IMO of course.

I suggest someone close the door...even my jazz hands can't stop this train wreck.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

The reason the thread is flush with new first time posters is because it shows up on a google search of the buzz words of the controversy...IMO of course.

I suggest someone close the door...even my jazz hands can't stop this train wreck.

Jennasis I completely agree. Please, for the love of Pete, close the door.

 

[Planogirl]

Once again....Loki is NOT human and neither is Thor. They are each different creatures for lack of a better term. The comment can be taken in many ways but the use of it should be looked at in context.

I do agree that the comment wasn't necessary but I also believe that some people are taking a very narrow view and those people are on both sides of the discussion.

 

[Planogirl]

Jennasis I completely agree. Please, for the love of Pete, close the door.

I'm exiting the door. So many unknown people keep appearing and I'm afraid that it will soon become a mob scene.

Ugh.

 

[plutotek]

You miss the point that the joke is not funny in that it degrades children because they are adopted. Why are they any less of a person? How can anyone laugh at something like that? Not grasping at straws here, just trying to point out crass and insensitive movie comments.

Actually, you missed the point as demonstrated by you taking a short line of dialogue out of context and twisting it into something it wasn't. You may want to review the history of the characters in both comic book lore and Norse mythology, then you might understand it better.

 

[DesertAngel28]

As someone who was adopted and is also a redhead I find this crap ridiculous! I don't know how many times I've cracked up at "I'll beat you like a redheaded step child!" I've also said "Thankfully I'm adopted" when my sisters had done something I wanted no connection to lol Stop being such oversensitive crybabies and get a life! Suck it up Buttercup and grow a pair!

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Oh, I believe there hasn't been a single, solitary point missed here.

 

[metalis4ever]

Actually, you missed the point as demonstrated by you taking a short line of dialogue out of context and twisting it into something it wasn't. You may want to review the history of the characters in both comic book lore and Norse mythology, then you might understand it better.

 

[skater]

You know, when I get tired of a thread, I just stop going to it. That is a possibility for those who think it should be closed.

Like I've said before - everybody is different. Some will be hurt and some won't. Adoption comes in many forms. I have a child who was adopted at an early age. He's a little more sensitive for lots of reasons.

Those of you who have decided that someone shouldn't be offended - that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. We have a family member who likes to decide when someone's allowed to be upset - it doesn't really change anything. When we were very young, DH and I had a disastrous vacation - mostly because of serious tooth pain, two root canals, and some other crazy circumstances. A family member told us to get over it and be happy that we were on vacation in the first place. Well, it really didn't change how we felt, and we knew that if he was in a similar situation, he would have been just as unhappy as we were. The money we spent (very precious when first married), the disappointment we felt, the severe pain and nausea I had to deal with far from home (not to mention trying to find a Dentist) - somebody deciding that we shouldn't be upset was not only pointless, but also a little hurtful.

I have no problem with the posters who have expressed surprised at someone being upset. I have no problem with people who have stated that they are involved with adoption and it didn't bother them at all. I don't even have a problem with posters who state that writing to a movie studio won't make a difference (I think you're dead on right about that). What has bugged me are the people who have decided that its silly or even pathetic to be upset. When was the last time someone telling you that you shouldn't be upset made a positive difference in your life?

 

[ThatOneGuy92]

Talk about overprotective parents. I seriously doubt your kids did not laugh at the line. It wasn't just the joke, but the deliverance and timing that was perfect. Plus yea know, adopted people can be evil and Thor stated a factual truth. Loki is adopted and he did kill 80 people.

 

[AnnFan]

Either people are looking for any reason to be offended, or they are misinterpreting what is being said. When Thor makes the comment about Loki being adopted, it is not to say that Loki did all those bad things BECAUSE he is adopted. He made the commend about Loki being adopted to distance himself from Loki's evil nature and point out they are not related by blood (and are therefore not similar). I had a friend who always commented on how crazy his family was and would always say "I'm adopted" (even though he wasn't). Are those of us who are not adopted supposed to feel insulted because what my friend meant was that because his family is not adopted they are crazy, and because he is adopted, he is normal? No. Again, the adoption comment is just supposed to suggest they are not alike -- not that one is better or worse BECAUSE he was adopted or not adopted.