a thought about "Offensive?" material

[Necromancer07707]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 2:53am

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?

[Pinguin]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 4:56am

There are quite a few moments in Hot Mikado that upset me; I'm barely asian but there were a couple moments where I was shocked that they were making fun of japanese culture...I couldn't believe that people got away with it, but most people didn't seem to notice.

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 9:53am

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

[Necromancer07707]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 12:41pm

But consider how rarely the Appalachian culture is portrayed in any light other than this "comedy." Beverly Hillbillies, Li'l Abner, the list goes on and on. I think people are becoming ignorant of the rich history of this culture.

On quite the other hand, yes, people should be able to laugh at themselves. But the way I see it is this: If you are gay and your best friend called you "fag" as a joke it might be funny the first few times. But after he keeps it up, it really starts to lose its humor.

Nowadays everyone knows about the number of cars in the lawn or how slow the culture technologically progresses, but who knows what the UMW is or has actually experienced the ghost towns?

[riv]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 12:50pm

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

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 12:53pm

Nmartin, I couldn't agree more. :)

[Pinguin]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 3:16pm

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.

Posted: 6/26/05 at 3:29pm

Not only is Lil Abner 50 yeras old, but the "Hillbillies" are the HEROES who defeat the politicians, the scientists, the army...It's part of the JOKE that people see these "simple hillfolk" as stupid and then get beat by them.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 3:53pm

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.

[Necromancer07707]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 4:25pm

Beverly Hillbillies was going to be brought back just a few years ago, an Abner is still a favorite of amateur groups.