Changing Attitudes

[Humph Warden Bennett]

Last night I watched a 1949 Ealing Comedy "Run for your money". Its was prefaced by a solemn warning "The following contains historical stereotypes which some may find offensive".

Expecting horrible jokes at the expense of women, sexual, and racial minorities, I found instead a gentle comedy about two Welsh miners visiting London, and Middlesex, for the first time. Jokes included two Welshman trying to find a train seat in a full compartment offering "I'll give you a tenner" receiving the response "We don't need tenors in here, we need a bass", and an station announcer asking "Will Mr Jones from south Wales please go to Platform 1?" and the camera showing scores of Mr Joneses running across the concourse.

Is this really the kind of old fashioned humour which should attract the modern version of a public health warning?

[Nearly Sane]

To be honest I find that sort of warning patronising and pointless. That isn't to say there are not genuine issues raised by stuff but it needs to be discussed without the worry that showing Triumph of the Will is not an avowed support of the Nazis.

There was recently an odd Twitter zephyr by people watching Friends when Netflix loaded all episodes and finding some of the attitudes 'questionable'. This was then portrayed as a generation of snowflakes in crisis by some who wanted to exaggerate to try and say any questioning was wrong.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

To be honest I find that sort of warning patronising and pointless. That isn't to say there are not genuine issues raised by stuff but it needs to be discussed without the worry that showing Triumph of the Will is not an avowed support of the Nazis.

There was recently an odd Twitter zephyr by people watching Friends when Netflix loaded all episodes and finding some of the attitudes 'questionable'. This was then portrayed as a generation of snowflakes in crisis by some who wanted to exaggerate to try and say any questioning was wrong.

I would think that "Snoopy verses the Red Baron" would today be found as offensive, interesting that those living in 1968, some of whom would have served in The Great War, did not seem to complain. "Three Wheels on My Wagon" would probably inspire protest marches if released today.

[Nearly Sane]

I would think that "Snoopy verses the Red Baron" would today be found as offensive, interesting that those living in 1968, some of whom would have served in The Great War, did not seem to complain. "Three Wheels on My Wagon" would probably inspire protest marches if released today.

indeed but nor is it saying that The Black and White Minstrels were it to be produced today wouldn't be arsery of the highest order.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

indeed but nor is it saying that The Black and White Minstrels were it to be produced today wouldn't be arsery of the highest order.

The Black and White Minstrels produced a "Gilbert and Sullivan Evening" which many would find offensive, not the least G & S fans.

I did once know a former minstrel, he was a member of Orpington Light Rep Society at the same time as I. He had a very good voice in a very limited range, he was classic second tenor range of D3 to A4, outside that he was of no use.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

The Black and White Minstrels produced a "Gilbert and Sullivan Evening" which many would find offensive, not the least G & S fans.

If Gilbert, known for his use of profanities, had seen this, his response would be unprintable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6G9-b5IyFY

[Humph Warden Bennett]

If Gilbert, known for his use of profanities, had seen this, his response would be unprintable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6G9-b5IyFY

FTR I played the part of Antonio Annibale in a production of The Gondoliers, and I threw in the G4 at the end of the song too, it's not in the score, but hey it was my last solo note so I gave it a go.

[jeremyp]

I have decided to read all of the Agatha Christie books in order. I'm up to "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" which was written in 1929.

Two or three of the earlier books contain language that made me wince a little bit. The protagonist in "The Secret of Chimneys" for example consistently refers to Italians as "dagos". And, of course, one of Christie's best books (which I haven't got to yet) has had its title changed twice.

[Rhiannon]

Christie had a reputation for casual antisemitism too, although that could be a product of the times she lived in.

http://wordcount-richmonde.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/so-was-agatha-christie-anti-semitic.html?m=1

[Nearly Sane]

Ten Little Niggers/Indians has always been And Then There Were None in the U.S.