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Except he's not. If you bothered to get past the click-bait headlines you would have learned that the Seuss estate has decided to stop publishing 6 of his works. Six. That's less than 10% of his total work.
They're having a brief conversation because they don't want to be the Left's next cancel victim. "How dare they show movie with ugly racist caricatures without a first having a brief conversation on ugly racist caricatures?"
We're not third graders, we know that that film came out 16 years after the horrors of the Pacific War and that it represents lingering racism.
But there are 3rd graders that do exist.
And really, it’s the studios that cancel them. They can choose to stop showing it or put a disclaimer. Studios/companies do whatever they can to maintain a good image with the public. Because otherwise they lose sales.
Why do you think the "Ministry of Truth" needs to put a note about context on entertainment?
BTW - I don't see all the hype around BAT. I didn't think it was very good.
There is no “Ministry of Truth” as you called it. There are only companies making these decisions. Ask the companies who make the decisions why they feel it’s necessary.
As I mentioned, I went and read articles, editorials, and think-pieces from the “left” about classic films that have problematic depictions of people of color or cultural stereotypes that are now considered in poor taste, at the very least. None of these articles advocated removing them from the public domain, or cancelling them in any way, shape, or form. They simply brought up the issue, discussed how these problematic depictions could be addressed now that social and cultural mores have changed, and made some suggestions. None of the suggestions I saw included removing, banning, or censoring these films or other forms of art and media.
So the “Ministry of Truth,” if they do exist, are simply progressive writers and thinkers who are asking for conversations about artistic depictions of non-white characters that are out-of-date. If anyone is calling for these films and media texts to be banned, it is small group of extremists that certainly do not represent this amorphous “left” that seems to be a stand-in for everything that people on the right think is bad.
Except he's not. If you bothered to get past the click-bait headlines you would have learned that the Seuss estate has decided to stop publishing 6 of his works. Six. That's less than 10% of his total work.
That's one of the oddest things about this thing. The right wingers are jumping all over TURNER Classic Movies...
But seem to be strangely silent about the Seuss' family/organization taking this action. Instead, they blame "the libs".
Why do the Seusses get a pass? I mean the old man was a commie lib....just like Ted Turner.
Dane, these disclaimers don't necessarily 'destroy the entertainment'.. but I do think they may prejudice the audience against movies they're preparing to watch. Which is probably the true purpose of these disclaimers.
I disagree with that assessment. There are questionable facets to the movies, and the discussion places them in a context that may shed light on the fact that what was acceptable and common in the 1930s, 50s and 60s isn't today. And I do hope that we agree that racist stereotypes aren't a cool element of humor we need back.
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Contemporary cancel culture wants these films to be eradicated.. so this is a more subtle (entry level) way to discredit them.
If eradication was the goal, they'd not be shown. Or, worse, someone would edit them to remove the unpleasant bit. That would be a frontal assault on the work's integrity.
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If this is truly (& objectively) about shielding audiences from offensive depictions...
It isn't. The movies are being shown, warts and all. It's about the opposite, in fact.
Anyone here know Triumph des Willens, the 1935 Leni Reifenstahl Nazi propaganda film? It's an astounding piece of cinema - true craftsmanship and art, although of course it carries an evil message. It's an admittedly extreme example of how we sometimes need to put art into perspective.
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...why aren't they disclaimer-ing movies that have demeaning stereotypes about Christians or political Conservatives (?) Peace
Debate should be welcomed. But I'm not sure which movies you're thinking of, here.
So the “Ministry of Truth,” if they do exist, are simply progressive writers and thinkers who are asking for conversations about artistic depictions of non-white characters that are out-of-date. If anyone is calling for these films and media texts to be banned, it is small group of extremists that certainly do not represent this amorphous “left” that seems to be a stand-in for everything that people on the right think is bad.
I'd take that one step further: Having the conversation is what can save the movies from consignment to history's dustbin. Better for people to see the racist stereotype, roll their eyes and say "That's what they meant - yeah, that sure didn't age well" than to have them see the racist dipstickery and turn off the movie entirely.
The 'Asian' guy in breakfast at Tiffany's is pretty ridiculous...but the question is why do people let themselves get so offended about something so ridiculous.
How about the movie goonies? There is an Asian kid in that who speaks with a thick sounding Asian accent. Someone must be offended at that. Or now about long duck song, the Asian exchange student in 16 candles. I watch Annie the other night with my kids and Punjab and that Asian butler guy are also what people would call offensive. No Asian people find it funny ?
I am of Irish descent from Boston and I wasn't offended by goodwill hunting. There was lots of stereotyping of Irish, Irish Americans but who cares ?
The 'Asian' guy in breakfast at Tiffany's is pretty ridiculous...but the question is why do people let themselves get so offended about something so ridiculous.
How about the movie goonies? There is an Asian kid in that who speaks with a thick sounding Asian accent. Someone must be offended at that. Or now about long duck song, the Asian exchange student in 16 candles. I watch Annie the other night with my kids and Punjab and that Asian butler guy are also what people would call offensive. No Asian people find it funny ?
I am of Irish descent from Boston and I wasn't offended by goodwill hunting. There was lots of stereotyping of Irish, Irish Americans but who cares ?
How about karate kid? Mr. miyagi.
I mean everyone likes Mr. Miyagi, and I thought the asian kid was pretty cool.
If they had the asian kid with exaggerated buck teeth and throw fortune cookies at bad guys then that would be different.
I'm not sure, maybe you forgot, but Mickey Rooney was ACTING in that movie. SO WHAT, if he played the part of another race. IT'S A MOVIE. HE WAS JUST ACTING.
Because if they wanted the Yunioshi character in the film they could have gotten an ASIAN actor to play it, rather than a white comedian trying to turn an ethnic stereotype into a damn joke. Sessue Hayakawa was still active, he would have been a much better choice. Yunioshi wasn't a caricature in the original novella (which was NOT the fluffy romcom the film turned the story into) , and shouldn't have been played that way in the film.
I watched the film quite recently and it is galling how that blemished piece of acting stands out from the rest of the film. I had to remind myself it was made 60 years ago, when people were far more stupid and ignorant about such things.
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