a thought about "Offensive?" material

I was reading the "Offensive?" thread and I thought it was rather surprising that I never found the song "If you were Gay" to be offensive despite my sexuality, but when it comes to seeing a show like "Li'l Abner" I'm incredibly offended by the way they present the Appalachian culture. Maybe it's just the influence I've recieved from reading "The Kentucky Cycle." Anyone else find other matierial that isn't blatantly offensive to many but really upsets you?

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A culture that can not laugh at itself has no humor.

Li'l Abner premiered on Broadway in 1956, almost 50 years ago. A different time with different attitudes. Let it go.

By the way, did you object to Al Capp's comic strip? Or haven't you ever read it.

Updated On: 6/26/05 at 12:50 PM

I think there's a major difference between a culture laughing at itself and one culture purposefully belittling another one as some big joke. I don't think you can pawn off every offensive reference in theater as being so trivial.

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This makes me think of the 1965 Othello with Olivier. Now granted, blackface is extremely outdated, but does that make Olivier's performance any less amazing or worth watching?

If a group of KKK members put on a performance of a racist play and everyone in the audience was cheering the racism that would be terrible, but I don't think most people who watch art do it to cheer racism.

There's a way of having a perspective on art that is obviously offensive now, but wasn't thought of that way by the majority in the past. You can actually learn something about the disgustingness of bigotry from watching something that is bigoted. It gains a new dimension. As the old adage goes, those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. However, I can understand how some things would be too painful for some people to watch.

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