IT MIGHT.
What are you watching on TV? Page 1,851
Quote: T.W. @ October 1 2013, 5:09 PM BSTLee, I will try to get the words "rubber duck" on the programme in your honour...
Champions Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeage!
Quote: garyd @ October 1 2013, 2:06 PM BSTMerlin was shite due to the pc-ness (Gwen!)
I'm assuming that's in reference to the actress being black? You're not one of those people who complain about black people in Shakespeare plays that aren't Othello, are you?
I actually always liked the Gwen character because she didn't just sit on her arse waiting to be rescued, and I really liked the inclusion of black actors in the show. It wasn't a gritty, realistic mediaeval drama, it was a light-hearted family show and black children should be able to see heroes who look like them. That is very important, and any opportunity to make that happen should be seized upon.
Whoopi Goldberg said that when she first saw Nichelle Nichols on Star Trek she ran through the house telling everyone there was a black woman on TV, and she wasn't a maid! And from that point on she knew she could be whatever she wanted to be.
People who complain about political correctness are invariably in the inherently privileged group, and while it might be annoying to have to consciously assess our choice of words, or casting, or advertising promos etc. it is such a tiny concession to make to enable someone else to feel the way that we get to feel all the time.
Sorry for going off on one...
Totally agree.
King Arthur lived, if at all, in the fifth century or early sixth century, in the post Roman world; the Roman Empire had been highly multicultural, and people of many races had settled in Britain.
Merlin however is pure fantasy, so I do not much care if they cast a Venusian. I had more of a problem with black abbesses and barons in Robin Hood, which although nonsense, had a firmly historical setting. That felt a bit like clumsily rewriting history to meet a socical agenda (albeit a worthy one). No problem with David Harewood as Tuck, the best actor in the cast, but a cursory explanation of how a black monk ended up in twelth century England should not have been beyond the wit of the scriptwriters.
On Shakespeare, no problem with black actors in the theatre - theatre is about the suspension of disbelief, but film is such a literal medium. Using black actors in the comedies works well enough, but I personally find it jarring in the history plays.
Quote: Harridan @ October 1 2013, 8:56 PM BSTI'm assuming that's in reference to the actress being black? You're not one of those people who complain about black people in Shakespeare plays that aren't Othello, are you?
I actually always liked the Gwen character because she didn't just sit on her arse waiting to be rescued, and I really liked the inclusion of black actors in the show. It wasn't a gritty, realistic mediaeval drama, it was a light-hearted family show and black children should be able to see heroes who look like them. That is very important, and any opportunity to make that happen should be seized upon.
Whoopi Goldberg said that when she first saw Nichelle Nichols on Star Trek she ran through the house telling everyone there was a black woman on TV, and she wasn't a maid! And from that point on she knew she could be whatever she wanted to be.
People who complain about political correctness are invariably in the inherently privileged group, and while it might be annoying to have to consciously assess our choice of words, or casting, or advertising promos etc. it is such a tiny concession to make to enable someone else to feel the way that we get to feel all the time.
Sorry for going off on one...
You got me thinking of this little section from the last Sandman book.
http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-the-sandman2/chapanal004.html
As it is Britain had been at war in Palestine for years before and during the 12th century, with no doubt prisoners, brides and all sorts shifting back from there with returning troops.
But as Harridan eloquently points out that's hardly the point. Robin Hood is a bit of silly fun, Dr Who with bows and arrows, it's not a historical documentary. And even then he's a legendary figure not a lost king of England.
When people say blacks, women whatever can't be part of our national story. It's like little boys saying girls can't play in their tree houses because they haven't got willies.
I thought Morgana was the weakest member of the Merlin cast. I enjoyed it most early on, and the show was much more fun when Anthony Head was still there, he was such an ambiguous character. After he'd gone, it was pretty much good versus evil; at least for the few episodes I half-watched.
Quote: Tim Azure @ October 2 2013, 8:18 AM BSTMaybe they could have up with a good backstory on why a black person was at Camelot-they weren't that common in about the 12th Century...
As Camelot never really existed, and certainly not in the 12th century, I don't think it's that much of a problem 
But actually, there were plenty of black people in mediaeval Europe. There was a lot of trade with North Africa, and the Moors had control of most of Spain and Sicily for centuries. A mixed race servant would not have been improbable.
I agree that Morgana was a very weak character (and actress) and it became very tedious when she became a panto villain who never stayed dead no matter how many ceilings collapsed on her.
Quote: sootyj @ October 2 2013, 8:39 AM BSTAs it is Britain had been at war in Palestine for years before and during the 12th century, with no doubt prisoners, brides and all sorts shifting back from there with returning troops.
Possibly to a limited extent, but some of the odd ideas about black people in medieaval literature suggest a lack of familiarity. (I am thinking for instance of the Sir Firefaz, piebald son of a Chrisitan and a blackamoor). The medieval English were in any case inveterate racists: the Jews were driven out of England in the thirteenth century (and not allowed back until the Commonwealth) and the first response to any civil disorder was to massacre all the foreigners. (And of course the lawyers.)
God, Morgana was such a boring character.
Quote: sootyj @ October 2 2013, 8:39 AM BSTWhen people say blacks, women whatever can't be part of our national story. It's like little boys saying girls can't play in their tree houses because they haven't got willies.
Very true!
Would people make a fuss if a blonde actor played a part whose hair should be brown? Who bloody cares.
The last Harry Potter film. The kiddy winks are all on school holidays at the moment, so think that's why they put it on the middle week.
Clearly none of us grown ups who have work in the morning want to watch it. HMMPH
Quote: zooo @ October 2 2013, 12:21 PM BSTWould people make a fuss if a blonde actor played a part whose hair should be brown? Who bloody cares.
Actually Legolas' hair colour in The Lord of the Rings really annoyed me. He is a Sindarin elf - he should be brunette!
Ha, really? I assumed all elves were blonde from watching that film. (Well, watching half of it, I may have snoozed through a bit.)
Quote: reds @ October 2 2013, 12:32 PM BSTThe last Harry Potter film. The kiddy winks are all on school holidays at the moment, so think that's why they put it on the middle week.
Clearly none of us grown ups who have work in the morning want to watch it. HMMPH
Aw, I fancy a Harry Potter marathon soon.
Quote: zooo @ October 2 2013, 12:35 PM BSTHa, really? I assumed all elves were blonde from watching that film. (Well, watching half of it, I may have snoozed through a bit.)
Aw, I fancy a Harry Potter marathon soon.
Yep. I keep meaning to re read all the books again.