Has Political Correctness in movies and TV gone too far?

[LynxFX]

I think Watchmen is pretty un-pc. Shoot-em Up had some stuff too that pushed the boundries of what is appropriate. Loved them both.

[Jamespic1118]

Political Correctness has gone WAY to far in real life....but that's a diff topic all together.

I do believe movies have gone PC....Tim Burton apologized for his 2001 movie Planet of the Apes, "Given the controversy surrounding the recent New York Post cartoon, which featured a chimp that many people took to represent President Obama, I now realize that many Americans are likely to find the portrayal of an ape president offensive. Although it is no defense, I would point out that when I made the film few would have imagined that our country would elect a black president so soon afterwards. The scene was not intended to allude in any fashion to a future black president, and I deeply regret any offense I may have caused to African-Americans, and indeed to Americans in general."

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by Jamespic1118

Political Correctness has gone WAY to far in real life....but that's a diff topic all together.

I do believe movies have gone PC....Tim Burton apologized for his 2001 movie Planet of the Apes, "Given the controversy surrounding the recent New York Post cartoon, which featured a chimp that many people took to represent President Obama, I now realize that many Americans are likely to find the portrayal of an ape president offensive. Although it is no defense, I would point out that when I made the film few would have imagined that our country would elect a black president so soon afterwards. The scene was not intended to allude in any fashion to a future black president, and I deeply regret any offense I may have caused to African-Americans, and indeed to Americans in general."

Are you Fin kidding me?

He's apologizing for a movie he made YEARS ago about a PLANET full of Apes that were the creatures ENSLAVING people and he feels the need to apologize about a cartoon that was printed a few weeks ago...?

Logan

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by Jamespic1118

Political Correctness has gone WAY to far in real life....but that's a diff topic all together.

I do believe movies have gone PC....Tim Burton apologized for his 2001 movie Planet of the Apes, "Given the controversy surrounding the recent New York Post cartoon, which featured a chimp that many people took to represent President Obama, I now realize that many Americans are likely to find the portrayal of an ape president offensive. Although it is no defense, I would point out that when I made the film few would have imagined that our country would elect a black president so soon afterwards. The scene was not intended to allude in any fashion to a future black president, and I deeply regret any offense I may have caused to African-Americans, and indeed to Americans in general."

To answer the OP's question, no it hasn't gone too far.picard.gif






I know sarcasm is sometime hard to detect on the internet, so just to be clear:

This post is being sarcastic.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by mikejet

Why is it that movies, especially comedies and comedians, can't push that same envelope anymore?

It's a joke right?

The same envelope being, what, exactly? Are you alluding to race, so called "ethnic humor"?

It appears that we can see no end of watermelon jokes, or any other tasteless and offensive screed, as long as it's described as "just a joke".

I have a hot tip for all movie fans: Not all movie makers have taste, class, or even intelligence. Even worse: Many of them assume the same problem in their audience.

So they go for the easy "joke", aimed straight for the dummies. How far back does this go?

Well, there's blackface singers in the Jolson vein. Then there's that so called "classic", Gone With The Wind, with Butterfly McQueen being oh so funny as a brainless slave. That still tickles the heck out of some folks.

It rolls right on up to today, where some folks just love to hear racial epithets coming from the mouth of a "comedian". As long as it's a joke, it's OK, right? At least, maybe, he was TRYING to be funny, so it's OK?

Then we get the baseline hum of folks who are angry about something - terrorists (all of whom are Islamic, no doubt, carefully forgetting the Unabomber, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, our latest spate of Environmental Angels burning down housing developments, the Anthrax lunatic, and every other non-Islamic terrorist who has attacked the U.S.) not being portrayed as the Number 1 scum of the earth, and clearly Islamic.

Boo hoo.

The whole concept of "political correctness" is inherently political, so your request that this remain non-political is plainly not possible - unless someone ignores the baseline: the term "politically correct" is a right-wing, conservative term. It is rarely mentioned without its companion phrase, the Liberal Media, sometimes conflated to the Liberal-Left Media when real fighting words are needed. It is definitely about politics.

It's always "why are They so sensitive? It's just a joke!"

But some folks, basically, not only don't think it's funny; they clearly see the mean-spirited basis for this Paint It Pink And Plant Flowers Around It game, and they just don't want to play any more.

[thedarkangel1975]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

only modern show i can think of is Sopranos.

i don't think you can count a show that mocks everyone (i.e. mocks "those perceived as disadvantaged" in isolated scenes, but whose overall message is mocking the prviliged/advantaged)

South Park does too. They really push the boundries. Honestly I believe if you can't laugh at yourself then what can't you laugh at? I do believe there is a fine line of laughing at yourself and just being plain cruel. Like what Clooney stated about Heston.
I could see tarantino trying to make a comedy that pushes the boundries too. People are too senistive anymore. Society in whole is extremely EMO. If you make one joke people are suing, writing a book etc. Kevin Smith somewhat pushes the envelope too. Remember Randall is taking Porch Monkey back.

[Blu-Dog]

[QUOTE=Ricshoe;1668827]It is a proven fact that young, male Islamic extremists are at the heart of most terrorism today, but God forbid you portray that in a movie. [\QUOTE]

Did God Forbid the movie, Vantage Point? Or Traitor? Or The Kingdom?

What is it you really want to see?

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by thedarkangel1975

South Park does too. They really push the boundries. Honestly I believe if you can't laugh at yourself then what can't you laugh at?

First question: Who is "yourself"? Somebody who simply looks like you, or has a similar accent, or whose ancestors are from the same country? I'm referring to stereotypes, if you get my drift. A stereotype isn't "me".

Originally Posted by thedarkangel1975

I do believe there is a fine line of laughing at yourself and just being plain cruel. Like what Clooney stated about Heston.

Looks like the fine line is being drawn when a liberal says something stupid and offensive about a conservative. See if you can flip the politics the other way and find another "fine line" example. I hope this isn't difficult for you.

Originally Posted by thedarkangel1975

I could see tarantino trying to make a comedy that pushes the boundries too. People are too senistive anymore. Society in whole is extremely EMO. If you make one joke people are suing, writing a book etc. Kevin Smith somewhat pushes the envelope too. Remember Randall is taking Porch Monkey back.

The First Amendment is terrific. Anyone can say anything they like, and anyone else can object to it. It's the observer that can compare the two points of view, and decide who is right.

I don't see lawsuits around this stuff, and anyone can write a book if they have the money to get it published. Any director with talent, or without it, can make a film that pushes buttons; button-pushing gets attention, and in this vast population, attention means revenue, even if you get only a small portion of it.

So people do things to get attention. Sometimes, they'll do just about anything to get attention. And sometimes, when it goes too far, they get called on it.

[P@t_Mtl]

The most retarded PC thing I have seen in the last 20 years is the edit of the Warner Bros cartoon on TV. That for me is the summit of stupidity. editing the stuff in the Bugs Bunny shorts or the Road Runner. When that started to happen, I sort of figured we were doomed as a specie. Thank you for the DVD releases, uncut and in original format.

I grew up with these cartoons, saw them so many times on Saturday mornings as a kid and it never made me want to do violent things. But one stupid mother cannot raise her kid the right way and the kid decided to try what the Coyote does and run's off a cliff and everyone just goes nuts.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

The mos retarded PC thing I have seen in the last 20 years is the edit of the Warner Bros cartoon on TV. That for me is the summit of stupidity. editing the stuff in the Bugs Bunny shorts or the Road Runner. When that started to happen, I sort of figured we were doomed as a specie. Thank you for the DVD releases, uncut and in original format.

I grew up with these cartoons, saw them so many times on Saturday mornings as a kid and it never made me want to do violent things. But one stupid mother cannot raise her kid the right way and the kid decided to try what the Coyote does and run's off a cliff and everyone just goes nuts.

Agreed.

On the other side of the coin, there's Song Of The South.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

Agreed.

On the other side of the coin, there's Song Of The South.

You think Disney should release it?

[thedarkangel1975]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

First question: Who is "yourself"? Somebody who simply looks like you, or has a similar accent, or whose ancestors are from the same country? I'm referring to stereotypes, if you get my drift. A stereotype isn't "me".



Looks like the fine line is being drawn when a liberal says something stupid and offensive about a conservative. See if you can flip the politics the other way and find another "fine line" example. I hope this isn't difficult for you.



The First Amendment is terrific. Anyone can say anything they like, and anyone else can object to it. It's the observer that can compare the two points of view, and decide who is right.

I don't see lawsuits around this stuff, and anyone can write a book if they have the money to get it published. Any director with talent, or without it, can make a film that pushes buttons; button-pushing gets attention, and in this vast population, attention means revenue, even if you get only a small portion of it.

So people do things to get attention. Sometimes, they'll do just about anything to get attention. And sometimes, when it goes too far, they get called on it.

Let me explain. At yourself means everyone. Any sterotypical things that have been said about your race, creed, or heritage. i am part italian. movies seem to make Italians mobsters, I also have Ukraine and Russian decent in the 80's were were all bad guys. You get my drift.

No it isn't difficult for me to find when a conservative says something stupid. Remember when Dan Quayle stated Murphy Brown was what was wrong with America, single moms. Or how about the quote George Bush made about women and their gynecologists. Actually I can keep writing a fill volumes of "great" things Ex-President Bush said. I gather you didn't realize I was using Clooney as an example, you get my drift.

And yes the first amendment is fantastic, but anytime someone uses that admendent, no matter for what. Some group will try to sue and say, "Hey they can't say that!" I am getting my lawyer, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and demand someone get fired because of a poltical cartoon or statement. You get my drift.

[Pirate King]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

Agreed.

On the other side of the coin, there's Song Of The South.

A perfect example of political correctness. Disney will never release this wonderful charming film because it may "offend someone". Well if that is the case.. what about "Gone with the Wind?" IMHO the answer to the question is "Yes. The movie industry has gone WAY to far with PC"

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

You think Disney should release it?

Yes, straight into a vat of "Dip" (see Who Framed Roger Rabbit for details)

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

Yes, straight into a vat of "Dip" (see Who Framed Roger Rabbit for details)

So your for censorship?

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by thedarkangel1975

Let me explain. At yourself means everyone. Any sterotypical things that have been said about your race, creed, or heritage. i am part italian. movies seem to make Italians mobsters, I also have Ukraine and Russian decent in the 80's were were all bad guys. You get my drift.

I sure do. My ancestors were slaves and Native Americans; my wife's were Sicilians and Poles. Our boys are on the receiving end of all of it. (On a side note, we're from Southern California, and people always assume they're part of their own ethnic group; they've been greeted in Armenian, Arabic, Spanish, Greek and once in Tagalog. Happens all the time at Disneyland).

Originally Posted by thedarkangel1975

No it isn't difficult for me to find when a conservative says something stupid. Remember when Dan Quayle stated Murphy Brown was what was wrong with America, single moms. Or how about the quote George Bush made about women and their gynecologists. Actually I can keep writing a fill volumes of "great" things Ex-President Bush said. I gather you didn't realize I was using Clooney as an example, you get my drift.

Yes, I do, and I apologize for my sarcastic tone.

Originally Posted by thedarkangel1975

And yes the first amendment is fantastic, but anytime someone uses that admendent, no matter for what. Some group will try to sue and say, "Hey they can't say that!" I am getting my lawyer, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and demand someone get fired because of a poltical cartoon or statement. You get my drift.

Man, don't get me started on Sharpton. The problem with that kind of polarizing attention-getter is that a stopped clock is right, twice a day; he loves to point out egregious examples, as fast as he possibly can, which diverts attention from the issue.

He was right about the Post cartoon, but you'd think that he was the only one offended, based on what you see in the news. If he dried up and floated away like an old fart, there are millions of other people who would still be astounded at the stupidity of "humor" of that stripe. I note with interest that the Post eagerly tried to make this about him, and not about Delonas, feeding into stereotypes.

But back to the movies, and your point: When we get the Italian Gangster stereotype, or the Rapper stereotype, or any other stereotype, the baseline is, "let's make jokes or portrayals about what we all know Those People are like," and that's the sum total of the portrayal. Then jam some "jokes" or derisive images in there, stand back, and wonder innocently why it ticks people off.

I guess there's just too many of us out here to see people as individuals.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Pirate King

A perfect example of political correctness. Disney will never release this wonderful charming film because it may "offend someone". Well if that is the case.. what about "Gone with the Wind?" IMHO the answer to the question is "Yes. The movie industry has gone WAY to far with PC"

Wonderful?

Charming?

Gone With The Wind?

My mileage varies. Forgive me for not nodding like a dashboard dummy.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Rob71

So your for censorship?

See my comments on the First Amendment, and see if you need to ask this again.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

See my comments on the First Amendment, and see if you need to ask this again.

You think Disney should release it?

Yes, straight into a vat of "Dip"

Just wondering, since you just advocated the equivalent of book burning.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Rob71

Just wondering, since you just advocated the equivalent of book burning.

Are you sure about that?

Every author has the right to burn his or her own book, my friend. I wouldn't do it for them.

Somebody asked if Disney should release it, and I emphatically agreed, with the destination of my choice. Think it over, I know it's complicated...