Harry Enfield - Racist? Sexist? Northernist? Page 5

Shouldn't be banned, but it does contain a pretty nasty inference about the "stereotypical" Filipino female. Something doesn't need to be promulgating a racist message to have a racist connotation. "Love Thy Neighbour" is case in point: tried to send up racism, but was generally interpreted as reinforcing inherently racist messages.

Quote: Aaron @ October 9 2008, 8:24 AM BST

I'm a firm believer that every character is a stereotype. No writer can just create one out of thin air, with no stimuli or inspiration in any way from anyone he has ever met or seen. Put a child in isolation from birth, and they might be able to draw an exaggerated stereotype version of themselves in a few years, but it still wouldn't be original, and they wouldn't be able to go any further than that because they have no stimuli to do so.

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That could be a Pilkington quote.

Yes, he has made some very profound observations.

Quote: Aaron @ October 9 2008, 12:48 PM BST

Yes, he has made some very profound observations.

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I love the one about how much better it would be if people were born old and died as babies.

NOt familiar with that one. Sounds rather intriguing!

Anyway, we're going off topic now.

Quote: Tommy Power @ October 9 2008, 12:46 PM BST

Shouldn't be banned, but it does contain a pretty nasty inference about the "stereotypical" Filipino female. Something doesn't need to be promulgating a racist message to have a racist connotation. "Love Thy Neighbour" is case in point: tried to send up racism, but was generally interpreted as reinforcing inherently racist messages.

That could be a Pilkington quote.

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Love thy Neighbor was a genuine attempt to do the right thing.

When It Ain't half hot mum and Carry Ons were still using white actors blacked up.

Love they Neighbor deserves a little more credit for trying to do the right thing, and being a pretty decent soap at the same time.

Quote: sootyj @ October 9 2008, 1:11 PM BST

Love thy Neighbor was a genuine attempt to do the right thing.

When It Ain't half hot mum and Carry Ons were still using white actors blacked up.

Love they Neighbor deserves a little more credit for trying to do the right thing, and being a pretty decent soap at the same time.

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Exactly - LTN wasn't a deliberately racist sitcom, but posterity treats it as such. Personally I can see why the sketch would be considered offensive to Filipinos, even though the writers did not intend offence.

The treatment of the Filipino character can be compared to that of Jonah in SHH. Jonah may be based on a stereotype, but we are able to empathise with him as an individual rather than viewing him as representative of an entire class of people.

Tommy, please don't edit posts like that (top of the page). Post again.

Harry Enfield is a man who does what he can.

Just leave it at that.