History Main / BrownFace

* Jewish Eli Wallach plays Tuco, "the ugly" Mexican bandit in ''TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly''

Although FakeNationality practices have become increasingly unpopular, Brownface is still occasionally seen in modern productions. Lately, Hollywood prefers casting actors who ''look'' enough like Native Americans without using makeup when actual Native American actors aren't used.

* {{Spaghetti Western}}s typically cast Italians as both Mexicans and Native Americans, since they were filmed in Italy.

** Benson's character is also #2 on this list of [[http://www.themoviegourmet.com/?page_id=115 10 Least Convincing Mexicans]].

Well, you've got your {{blackface}}, and for Asians, your {{yellowface}}. Notice something missing?

For American Indians and Latin@s, we have 'brownface' - Expect actors to shave their bodies and put on bronze.

In recent years, this hasn't become unacceptable the way blackface and yellowface have, but [[Literature/{{Twilight}} many white actors claim native ancestry]]. Or [[BrotherhoodOfTheWolf they'll just use another minority]]. Sometimes, they even simply RaceLift the character to another ethnicity.

'''Associated tropes''':
* TheLancer: The Indian's standard role in TheWestern when he isn't the bad guy.
* MagicalNativeAmerican
* {{Mooks}}: In fact, the tactics used by Indians in Westerns resembles ''{{Tempest}}''.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Of course.
* RaceLift: The common media alternative.

* The crying Indian from the Earth Day ad? Some Italian guy. (He denied it for years.)
* Ashton Kutcher played an Indian (South Asian, not Native American) in an advert in 2012. This caused some furor.

* Notably averted in ''DancesWithWolves''; Costner's wife is played by a white woman because in the story, she ''is'' white.
* ''BrotherhoodOfTheWolf''.
* ''TheLastAirbender'', along with {{yellowface}} for Aang.
* Played straight with Jacob Black in the ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' movies, averted with most other [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent lycanthropic shapeshifters]].

* Completely averted in ''TheLoneRanger'', in which the Native American Tonto was played by an actual Native American. However, the upcoming [[{{Film/The Lone Ranger}} movie version]] seems to be going that way as JohnnyDepp has been cast to play Tonto.

* ''Franchise/StarTrek'' uses this a lot, especially with early Klingons.

* Legend has it that many of the cast of ''{{Baywatch}}'' literally had their bodies painted brown in order to appear more tan.

* Jackson Rathbone caused a bit of a stir when he said he'd have to get a tan to play Sokka, the Inuit-inspired character for ''[[TheLastAirbender]]''. He ended up sticking with his regular skin tone.

* ''StarTrek'' uses this a lot, especially with early Klingons.

* ''StarTrek'' uses this a lot.

* TheLancer: The Indian's standard role in TheWestern.

* Completely averted in ''TheLoneRanger'', in which the Native American Tonto was played by an actual Native American. However, the upcoming ''[[{{Film/The Lone Ranger}} movie version]]'' seems to be going that way as JohnnyDepp has been cast to play Tonto.

* Completely averted in ''TheLoneRanger'', in which the Native American Tonto was played by an actual Native American. However, the movie ''{{Film/The Lone Ranger}}'' seems to be going that way as JohnnyDepp has been cast to play Tonto.

* Completely averted in ''TheLoneRanger''. Oddly, the movie ''{{Tonto}}'' seems to be going that way.

In recent years, [[DoubleStandard this hasn't become unacceptable the way blackface and yellowface have]], but [[Literature/{{Twilight}} many white actors claim native ancestry]]. Or [[BrotherhoodOfTheWolf they'll just use another minority]]. Sometimes, they even simply RaceLift the character to another ethnicity.

For American Indians and Latin@s, we have 'brown face' - Expect actors to shave their bodies and put on bronze.

* The crying Indian from the Earth Day ad? Some Italian guy.

Brownface is somewhat more justifiable than blackface because of the fact that there are fewer American Indians. Expect actors to shave their bodies and put on bronze.

* Completely averted in ''TheLoneRanger''. Oddly, the new movie ''{{Tonto}}'' seems to be going that way.

Brownface is somewhat more justifiable than blackface because of the fact that there are fewer American Indians. Expect actors to shave their bodies and put on bronze.

!!Examples:

* HumansAreWhite: Try getting a role if you're an Indian, if the story isn't set before 1900.

* LeastCommonSkinTone: Try getting a role if you're an Indian, if the story isn't set before 1900.

Associated tropes:

[[AC:Film]]

* ''BrotherhoodOfTheWolf''
* ''TheLastAirbender'', the movie, along with {{yellowface}} for Aang.

* Completely averted in ''TheLoneRanger''. Oddly, the new movie ''{{Tonto}}'' seems to be going that way.

!!Tropes associated with brownface:

!!Brownface in fiction:

[[AC:Advertising]]

* The crying Indian from the Earth Day ad? Bingo.

* ''TheLastAirbender'', the movie, along with {{yellowface}] for Aang.

In recent years, [[DoubleStandard this hasn't become unacceptable the way blackface and yellowface have]], but [[{{Twilight}} many white actors claim native ancestry]]. Or [[BrotherhoodOfTheWolf they'll just use another minority]]. Sometimes, they even simply RaceLift the character to another ethnicity.

* Played straight with Jacob Black in the ''{{Twilight}}'' movies, averted with most other [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent lycanthropic shapeshifters]].