1936-08-08 - Sunday Go To Meetin' Time
Another WB Classic. "one of the most offensive cartoons ever made," according to the classic cartoons blog. Enjoy!
http://classiccartoons.blogspot.com/2006/01/sunday-go-to-meetin-time.html
http://classiccartoons.blogspot.com/2006/01/sunday-go-to-meetin-time.html
posted by on the d/l at
5:15 PM
8 Comments:
So what's the point in publishing offensive racial video?
The point is to not let companies like the WB off the hook. We should remind people that not that long ago they were releasing garbage like this and perhaps they will look more closely at the things they watch now.
Why? Should Warner Brothers be punished for producing a film that reflected the social mores of the time?
It's not about blaming WB. Although some of the things they released are shameful. It's about examining our own values so we might actually make a little progress. For example after studying examples of a previous wars propaganda and racism we might catch it earlier in our own time and stop it.
But in times of war - doesn't racism and propaganda serve a purpose?
I remember seeing all the old cartoon showing Hitler as a screaming nut, baby or an bumbling fool. I remember seeing the shows with the Japanese being shown as sneaky, secretive and evil. Do those images remain today?
I don't think so.
I don't think you need to demonize your enemies to fight them, and while those stereotypes seemed to have died down, they colored our image of those countries for decades after the war ended. Portraying your enemies in that way makes it much easier to treat them in ways you never would otherwise, and those actions could have consequences that are quite dire. Lastly is that what we want our country to be like. It's mean and it's ugly and I just don't think it's good for us.
I have to disagree. With the war on terror, I agree, we can't paint all Muslims as the enemy.
But if the Iraq or Iranians or whoever are truly the enemy, we need to loose all humanity for them and hit them until the lay down their arms.
If you are fighting someone you can not have any love. It's kill or be killed.
I must once again disagree. By viewing your enemies as just something to be killed you give yourself the license to do anything you want to them, and examples of what can happen then are very easy to find. The way you portray those who are different from yourself is an indication of how you will treat them. If you've read Heart of Darkness, Lord of the Flies, or seen the pictures from Abu Ghraib you now where that leads.
Post a Comment
<< Home