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I would take more notice if white people in soaps weren't caricatures.
Not all factory women are boozing, bare knuckled boxers as shown in Coronation Street.
And surely most Londoners of any nationality own a washing machine?
Kromovaracun Thurs 17/07/08 11:24
Popular British TV shows such as the Vicar of Dibley have been criticised for being 'two white'
*Snicker*
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That aside, stereotyping takes place all the time on television. I'd say it's more out of simple convenience than anything else - unless you're doing something more intelligent or complex (which, let's face it, hardly any TV shows do), you need to have certain elements of stereotyping purely so that your audience can 'recognise' the character.
You don't only need to look to ethnic minorities for it - look at the televisual representation of any group - men, women, rich, poor, homosexuals etc.
Ethel Thurs 17/07/08 11:25
Yes, Coronation Street Sean is a typical stereotype of a gay man.
cheries Thurs 17/07/08 12:20
"Popular British TV shows such as the Vicar of Dibley have been criticised for being 'two white' "
According to the Mail, there are only "two white" protagonists in the Vicar of Dibley. I don't see that as disproportionate representation.
anotheoldgit Thurs 17/07/08 12:31
Question Author
Well spotted.
Booldawg Thurs 17/07/08 12:45
Popular british show Crimewatch has been criticised for being too 'Black and Asian'.
anotheoldgit Thurs 17/07/08 12:59
Question Author
Brilliant.
cheries Thurs 17/07/08 13:10
That's hilarious Booldawg!
vehelpfulguy Thurs 17/07/08 14:08
>Popular british show Crimewatch has been criticised for being too 'Black and Asian'.
I have always thought Crimewatch was a great recruiting program for the BNP. 5% of the population, 50% of the crimes.
And we now get reports of a huge criminal gang of illegal immigrants in southall.
What a great mistake we made with our immigration "policy" in the last 30 years !
andy-hughes Thurs 17/07/08 14:10
I do think the argument is being made using bad examples.
Dev in Corrie is not an Asian shopkeeper, he is a businessman and entrepreneur who owns five shops - or did until they burned down.
The Vicar of Dibley is set in a rural English village, and is therefore entirely accurate in portrayal of a white population.
American shows like 'Hill Street Blues' portrayed ethnic minorities as central characters, including their own racial attitudes and personal failings, back in the late '70's.
The BBC's bias is that everyone is white and middle-class - hence the endless 'Surbiton' "commedies" with people like Judy Dench and Robert Lindsay in, and don;t let's start on the latest Nicholas Lyndhurst aboniation - I've laughed more with my fingers trapped in a car door!
You can't expect a society-based balance in a soap opera, or a comedy - they are charactures by definition, and always will be.
If you want to look at a characture for real, check out Sir trevor on the news - gawd strewth, he sounds like Malcom Muggeridge on a bad day!
Booldawg Thurs 17/07/08 14:34
TBH the Vicar of Dibley stereotypes people in rural settings as either corrupt pompous nimbys or in-bred halfwits. I dont see why non-white communities would want to play a part in that anyway.
Gromit Thurs 17/07/08 14:54
This report was commissioned by Channel Four to deflect some of the flak it was receiving after the Big Brother racism claims.
It did its job then, and now it has arrived. Does it tell us anything we didn't know already? - No.
Everyone knows that minorities are not properly represented, and that is because television by its very nature is populist. When they create a place such as Dibley, Weatherfield or Walford it is a fantasy, not real life. Every character is a stereotype.
The study, from the reports (I have not read it, and I assume AOG hasn't either) seems anitdotal rather than any real figures. There appears to be an implied accusation that quizzes are rigged so that Black and Asian viewers cannot answer them. I rather doubt that, and no figures or examples have been produced to substantiate it.
It looks like a money-for-old-rope report, the fee from Channel Four going into the coffers and that is that.
BTW “Hideously white” was an observation by Greg Dyke when he arrived at the BBC and found it full of Oxbridge types. Mr Phillips was merely saying British Television still is.
Should we bring back the B&W Minstrel Show?
- No, it always was very, very naff.
Steve.5 Thurs 17/07/08 15:10
What the f--- do they expect its British TV, crap I grant you, but still British.
These groups who are paranoid about them being portrayed as yobe etc are just to sensitive.
If they dont like what they see switch to another channel or swith off & do something less mind numbing.
Gromit Thurs 17/07/08 15:26
whiffey
Contrary to what many perceive, there are 7.9% non whites in the UK, not 50%.
sp1814 Thurs 17/07/08 15:36
Hoorah!
I wondered when we'd have the next black bashing day. It's been weeks!
Am I too late to join in? 'Fraid I've been too busy today burgling, selling drugs and...umm...oh yeah - having illegitimate kids.
Haven't even had time to stop and dust my knick knacks (my house backs onto a cake factory, so I never stop).
anotheoldgit Thurs 17/07/08 15:51
Question Author
If the ethnic minorities want more balanced programming, they first must expect at some time to be sterotyped and ridiculed etc, without offence being shown, or playing the race card.
Let's not go down the way of those patronising American films, which mostly always feature the obligatory Black who holds the top position i.e. police chief or military top brass, and the equally obligatory White female who is nearly always the top detective or platoon commander.
Quinlad Thurs 17/07/08 15:56
Well said, AOG.
Can you imagine a black man or a woman vying for something like a presidential nomination! It's fantasy!
WaldoMcFroog Thurs 17/07/08 16:18
I was going to suggest Git-features be seconded to the BBC to address this issue, but rather than result in a sensible, responsible and balanced broadcasting policy that everyone would be happy with, I realised that his postings on this site would mean that every single programme on the telly would be obsessively banging on about non-white people...
Quinlad Thurs 17/07/08 16:24
Not fair, Waldo. There'd be comedy as well.
I look forward to the Christmas special of Last Of The Summer Wine, in which the lovable old Yorkshiremen round up an Asian and kick him down a hill.
brionon Thurs 17/07/08 16:52
Booldawg
Thurs 17/07/08
12:45 Popular british show Crimewatch has been criticised for being too 'Black and Asian'.
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