April 22, 2004
Lessons learned from American TV
I have satellite TV, and can therefore watch LOTS of low-brow American entertainment on TV. I like The Practice, and Boston Public, both of which my friend Peter ridicules for being unrealistic. Well, I'm going to show you how these shows sometimes are realistic.
1)On Boston Public, there was a photography contest, and one student took nude pictures of the neighbourhood kids he babysat. The pictures were charming and innocent, but when a teacher saw them, she spoke to the headmaster/principal, who called in the local authorities and the police. The mother of the children came to thank the children for saving them from this 'beast'. As you know, if you read the British press, there have been 2 instances recently where pressure has been put on art galleries to ban exhibitions which show naked children. In one instance, the gallery stood up for the artist and told the police to get lost, in the other case, the gallery caved in to pressure. Boston Public is perhaps not SO unrealistic...
2)Boston Public again. A white teacher played by Michael Rappaport talks about the origins and uses of the word nigger in his class (apparently this word was, for a long time, not an insulting term). The black principal, enraged, threatens to fire him, stating that he does not have the right to use this word because he is white. A huge debate ensues, which results in the principal, who is black, teaching the class himself. If a black man teaches this material, and uses this word, it is apparently OK.
Ron Atkinson (centre) with football legend John Barnes. Do his parents live in a tree as well, Ron?
Fast forward to the real world, where legendary British football manager and pundit Ron Atkinson is fired by the TV company ITV for remarks he made off air. Apparently Big Ron, who has been known to put his foot in his mouth, said that the Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly was well-known as 'a lazy nigger'. These remarks were not heard in Europe, but in the Middle East, the live coverage was still continuing, and some viewers complained. In the 1990 World Cup, England luckily beat Cameroon after the Cameroon defenders gave away 2 penalties in the last 15 minutes or so. Atkinson said that one of the defenders had 'no brain'. When the other commentator jokingly suggested that the said defender's Mum probably would not like to hear that, Atkinson (off-air, but again, on air in some countries) replied 'well, if she is watching TV up a tree in Africa'.
A couple of things seem clear. Firstly, Atkinson is either a racist, or someone who sees no problem using racial stereotypes. Secondly, unlike the teacher in the drama show, Big Ron (or Big Wrong, as the tabloids screamed today), was not attempting to educate people and get them thinking about the way different races address each other. He is, basically, a fool, and a rather simple one at that. So why the mention of Boston Public...? Well, the debate I read about this issue on a British webpage focused on the use of the word, more than the meaning behind it. Some people even tried to defend Ron by using the etymology argument (it didn't used to be an insult, black people use this word amongst themselves etc...).
I think it is a sad day for English football. Atkinson has brought great pleasure to me and many others with his witterings, but there is no way he should be allowed to continue broadcasting if he is as bigoted as he appears to be.
UPDATE
I listened to Big Ron on the radio this morning - he said that his remark was "unintentional". I think what he meant was that saying it while still on air was unintentional. He lost his job writing for the Guardian as well.
One argument being used in his favour is that he regularly used balck players in his teams when he was coaching. Mmmm. Bit like a record shop owner, circa 1982 or 1983 saying that because he stocks Michael Jackson records, he is not racist. For years, many of the top players in the English game have been black, so I am not sure that this argument holds water...
*I have chosen to write the word nigger here on my page. I could have written n***er, or 'the derogatory n-word used about black people', but since I feel that the power is not in the word itself, but in the feelings and thoughts (often hatred) of those using it, I have chosen to use the 'full' word. If any of my regular readers has a problem with this, please tell me, and I will consider re-writing it.
Gary, good post. And, believe me when I say, "I'm not in the slightest bit put off by your use of the word "nigger". Then again, I'm not bothered hearing people say "stupid yanks" and what have you. Maybe it is a blessing of sorts living most of my adult life here on this rock otherwise known as Japan!
I never really cared for Boston Republic though. We watch shows such as "Malcom in the Middle", "Mad TV", and channels such as Animal Planet. Simple, "no-brainer" stuff. :-)
Posted by: Cornelius at April 23, 2004 02:15 AMGary wrote: ''...but since I feel that the power is not in the word itself, but in the feelings and thoughts (often hatred) of those using it...''
Great comment! That's the difference.
As a half ''nigger'', I can say you caught the idea.
When my dad or my white friends call me ''neguinha''(in english it's something like ''little nigger girl'') it's not offensive, because I know their feelings about me. It's a word I often use to call my white and japanese friends too, because I love this girls as my sisters. But when someone that I never saw before in my life call me ''neguinha'', I kick his/her ass! So you're right when you say that the power is in the feelings and thoughts of those using this word.
However I don't think you need re-writing your post! Your regular readers (as me!) are not offended, because we know you don't have any racist feeling, so don't worry!
Good post, white trash.
Posted by: Dirk at April 23, 2004 10:16 AM"white trash" - ME!!!! Just because I like WWF wrestling, Eminem, Britney Spears' dancing, watch sports and COPS on TV, and drink beer, does that mean I am white trash?
Posted by: Gary at April 23, 2004 10:51 AMill have you know gary is from solid lower middle class stock!
dave
Posted by: dave long at April 24, 2004 08:35 PMGary,
Related to the acceptable/non-acceptable use of the N-word (sorry cannot bring myself to say it no matter how much rap I hear) and our relative splendid isolation here in Japan, you may find the following clip interesting. Or not. Play it with speakers.
http://superhonda.com/video/tokyo_breakfast_dsl.wmv
A friend in the U.S. sent it to me, suggesting that it is actually from Japanese TV. Despite all the kanji/katakana in the credits I have my doubts.
Also, on a recent trip to London, I certainly saw one of the most tasteless "comedy" shows I have ever seen. Something about a very rude hair dressor, but the name remains a repressed memory.