Wokeism Again - Part 2

[andy-hughes]

Last night I got around tyo watching the second half of Dirty Harry.

As I predicted, the piece of dialogue where the psycho referred to the man he paid to beat him somewhat unkindly, referring to his ethnicity and parentage, was cut, but the graphic beating scene was left intact.

It's odd that the history re-writers appear to find a serious extremely violent beating on film as acceptable, but racial epithets are deemed inappropriate and censored out.

I expected as much, and was not surprised.

[Mozz71]

I had to look up the lyrics to Love Resurrection Andy. Oooh, they are a bit naughty aren't they? Naughty girl, our Alf.

[jno]

Gromit, literature isn't sacrosanct everywhere

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/sep/28/classics-books-most-often-challenged-and-banned-in-us-banned-books-week-to-kill-a-mockingbird

[William51]

I know what you mean,it is a sign of the times. What angers me is when announcers or a notice warn viewers of a violent film or offensive language. Isnt that what films are for, and why do we need to be mollycoddled with warnings?.

[Mozz71]

Sorry William, I don't see the issue with that. If you're the sort of person who doesn't like that kind of thing, that warning can stop you from watching something you're not going to enjoy. Better that than censoring a movie to make it "TV friendly".

[royfromaus]

Without reading through all the posts...do you think the N-word should have been left in, andy?

[andy-hughes]

Yes Roy I do. The character, apart from being a psycho is also a proud racist and homophobe, and the line is instrumental in establishing his character in the film.

[royfromaus]

I see...so remove the n-word from some films but not others?

[david small]

Try removing the N word from Tarantino’s The hateful Eight. There would be no film left. He mocks those that cringe at words.

[andy-hughes]

Roy - that's not what I said.

My OP makes specific reference to this one film.

Removing the word from some other films but not all is a different discussion.

[naomi24]

//Removing the word from some other films but not all is a different discussion. //

I don't think it is. You can't have it both ways.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - as you are endlessly fond of telling me - you can think what you like, your thoughts are of no interest to me.

Except I would not be so arrogant and rude, so to address your point -

I don't think anyone making a film designed to appeal to mainstream audiences would use the 'n' word lightly.

Therefore I would be in favour, as I am with all culture being viewed in the context of its time, not to pretend that the word was not used, and frequently, in past times.

To me, hearing a word in context, and appreciating cultural and social history and evolution, will always win over some perverse desire to pretend that our history is something only ever to be ashamed of, coupled with a vigorous campaign to act as if it never actually happened.

[naomi24]

//Naomi - as you are endlessly fond of telling me - you can think what you like, your thoughts are of no interest to me.

Except I would not be so arrogant and rude, //

Ooer! Incredible what a couple of lines relevant to the discussion can elicit.

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // Ooer! Incredible what a couple of lines relevant to the discussion can elicit. //

Any view on my reply to your post?

[SurreyGuy]

I DETEST the warnings that we are given before programmes/news items.

The most stupid one I've heard so far was just before a broadcast of an MMA tournament. Viewers were warned that "the following programme contains scenes of fighting and violence"!! PATHETIC!

[andy-hughes]

SurreyGuy - // I DETEST the warnings that we are given before programmes/news items.

The most stupid one I've heard so far was just before a broadcast of an MMA tournament. Viewers were warned that "the following programme contains scenes of fighting and violence"!! PATHETIC! //

I have no problem with them at all.

All ages and sensibilities watch television, and I would much prefer that someone who is not paying attention gets a fair warning, rather than be upset or offended by something they would not have chosen to watch, had they known about its content in advance.

As my OP points out, my beef is with the air-brushing of language and visuals to bring a piece of art from nearly fifty years ago into line with modern cencorial thinking.

An advance warning should take care of that as well, and people can enjoy a film as it was meant to be enjoyed.

Not so that it conforms with the views of hyper-sensitive attention-seeking arbiters of history, who feel that their self-appointed need to patrol culture on behalf of everyone else, allows them to pretend that historial language and situations actually never happened, instead of letting them be viewed in correct historical context.

[Deskdiary]

I've just heard Fairytale of New York, and Heart have replaced faggot with haggard.

[andy-hughes]

Figures.

Again, the context and veracity of a piece of art is skewed to appease people who have taken it upon themselves to decide what might offend complete strangers, and then shield them from it.

It was unacceptable when Mary Whitehouse was doing it, and it's unacceptable now.

[youngmafbog]

I'd strongly suggest the easily offended dont play Mafia III.

They would have a heart attack.

For me though its was quite an eye opener. You play the Black man in the New Orleans area in the 60's. The Police and others do use languate and actions as they would have.

[jno]

Deskdiary, there are adjusted and original versions of the song around. Just download the one you want and play it for your own entertainment. If some outlets won't play the one you want, try another one.

[sanmac]

You might be interested in this: https://canoe.com/