I see the BBC has banned Fawlty Towers "Don't mention the war" episode.
Its called satire.
Satire....the use of humour, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose and criticise people's stupidity or vices particulary in the context of contempary politics or other topical issues.
It is ridiculous. Humour is now out. Old films banned. Trying to rewrite history.
There were horrendous things done in times gone, but they were different times and one cannot judge what was done in the past by today's standards.
What we can do is learn from that history and try to ensure that those things do not happen again.
By trying to wipe out that history we are condemned to repeat it.
More to do with some comments re the West Indian cricket team.
The "major" is a bigot, a racist and a perve. Whilst his character's behaviour is not explicitly denounced in the various scripts, it is nevertheless obvious that it is being ridiculed. In any case, he appears to be verging on senility. I do remember cringing at one of his comments, though.
I wonder if there have been any complaints about Basil's treatment of Manuel ("he's from Barcelona"). Will that be the trigger that kills off the series?
Does anyone still get a laugh out of Benny Hill? I bought a "Best of" compilation and only managed a laugh at one of the skits, and that involved two young children, no adults. I guess we're not so easily titillated these days. Perhaps innuendo is dead.
Does anyone remember Jungle Jim? I wonder how the big white bwana would go down today.
I tried to watch Gone With The Wind for the first time a couple of years ago, but I couldn't stomach the idea of anyone being a "servant", whether white or black, paid or otherwise.
I guess I don't really need a censor. My own moral compass is adequate for me.
Edit:
Not too long ago "The Simpsons" came under fire for its racial stereotyping. Specifically, one Indian commentator took offence at the portrayal of Apu. The result was that Hank Azaria decided to stop voicing the character. ISTM that every character in the series is a stereotype of some kind. To me, that's its appeal. If there is anything that is questionable about the series, it is its light hearted treatment of bullying, especially in light of youth suicides.
One other touchy subject is black comedy. It treads a very fine line between humour and bad taste, but I enjoy it because it keeps me on the right side of sanity -- but just barely.
-- Edited by dorian on Saturday 13th of June 2020 07:14:37 AM
__________________
"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."
We have the series of Fawlty Towers on Dvd and I have a laugh every time I see Basil goose stepping across the restaurant in the "German" episode. As usual everything has to be taken beyond the limits of common sense, (which is not all that common anymore) heaven knows what they would d if they had to sit through a couple of episodes of Love thy Neighbour. I have no truck with racism of any kind but can anyone really think that when they made these shows they were being racist???
__________________
Those who wish to reap the blessings of freedom must, as men, endure the fatigue of defending it.
And what about Hogans Heros? Or Till death us do part? Will Grandville ever get his face back into nurse Gladys's ample breasts again?
It's ok though for the ABC to have a comedy show where someone can be told to f...... off.
I see the BBC has banned Fawlty Towers "Don't mention the war" episode.
Its called satire.
Satire....the use of humour, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose and criticise people's stupidity or vices particulary in the context of contempary politics or other topical issues.
Exactly what John Cleese set out to do.
Give me a break!
Collo.
I read John Cleese demanded it be re-instated which I believe it has been, common sense is a rare commodity these days.
And yes there are white racists , but if you really want to see overt racism , go visit China , or the middle east or pretty near anywhere in Asia or god forbid ,Africa .
And in any of those places the racism is almost all encompassing with whatever breed of human is locally dominant , lording it over and brutalising minorities .
The truth be told , in 2020 the least racist racial group on the planet is the poor old Anglo Saxon ,who seem to be the only people being held to account and ridiculously the biggest hypocrites of the lot are the idiot white whining left leaners who history tells us will be the most savagely brutal oppressors of the lot if they prevail .
*****not my words but I fully endorse them*****
Last night I watched a program on Fox "the death of the Aussie Larrikin" good aussie humor has been murdered because of idiot white left leaning loosers, have we lost the abilitly to laugh at ourselves and to separate humor from racism. I suppose every female is offended if they are refered to a Sheila's but us males are not concerned being called Bloke's
-- Edited by Gundog on Wednesday 17th of June 2020 01:00:37 PM
I am old enough to remember when I used to enjoy a lot of the shows on ABC radio and television.
Now it just revolves around the hand wringing of the Disciples of The Assembly of the Perpetually Offended.
It has a budget of over 1 billion dollars and employs in excess of 4,500 people.
Imagine if it was no longer Govt funded and had to rely upon subscriptions from those who wanted to watch.
Well Craig, I guess it is not politically correct to disagree with the people who spend their lives being offended on behalf of other people even if those other people aren't aware that they have been offended.
It is "their ABC" after all!
Must be getting close when an extremeley well known indigenous person can knock another person off the railway platform, admit it and no charges laid yet
Must be getting close when an extremeley well known indigenous person can knock another person off the railway platform, admit it and no charges laid yet
Hi Craig1
I read, (a newspaper article), many years ago now
That Ernie Dingo, the Aboriginal man of the railway platform saga
Was in a window seat, at a small rural town cafe, with a white friend, when a young Aboriginal, (outside), started cursing the white man
Ernie went outside, and chastised the curser
Perhaps he just does not like people, white or black, cursing him
