|
December 15, 2005
Race matters?
Is there "implicit racism" in King Kong? According to David Edelstein, there is. And here's "the implication": Kong stands for the black man brought in chains from a dark island...I never knew. Seriously, this is the first I've heard about the racism of King Kong. But according to Baldilocks, "only a racist would automatically think of race *whenever* monkeys are mentioned." John Hawkins has more on this old, rather tired strategy of finding hidden racism in the most innocuous (and humorous) discussions of simians. At the risk of asking a serious question, though, if "monkey" is a racist slur, is it fair to ask which race is being targeted? As Larry Elder points out, the term is often used by radical Muslims to describe Jews. Does that mean the racism implicit in "King Kong" might be anti-Jewish? How are we to know? I'm confused. And what about the term "ReCHIMPlican" (and likening Bush to a chimp)? Is that racism too? Frank J. call your office! posted by Eric on 12.15.05 at 12:03 PM
Comments
Some people just need to see racism behind every tree I guess. Even Freud said sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Jon · December 15, 2005 04:32 PM I liked Freud's cigar remark . . . http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/000363.html But Groucho Marx got in big trouble for saying (to a female contestant who'd just told him she had 16 kids), "I like my cigar, but I take it out of my mouth occasionally!" Eric Scheie · December 15, 2005 07:06 PM One website (http://www.cinematical.com/2005/12/15/king-kong-the-inevitable-race-beastiality-questions-begin/) jokingly questions whether the real issue isn't racism, but beastiality. Adam · December 16, 2005 12:53 AM I thought it was BushMchimphitler, my bad. I think that moniker would certainly lead one to believe all of the racist myths. Blowing up levees etc. lance · December 16, 2005 02:43 PM |
|
December 2006
WORLD-WIDE CALENDAR
Search the Site
E-mail
Classics To Go
Archives
December 2006
November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 May 2002 See more archives here Old (Blogspot) archives
Recent Entries
Holiday Blogging
The right to be irrational? I'm cool with the passion fashion Climate change meltdown at the polls? If you're wrong, then so is God? Have a nice day, asshole! Scarlet "R"? Consuming power while empowering consumption Shrinking is growth! My dirty thoughts
Links
Site Credits
|
|
For crying out loud. Why is it always a giant ape! Show some diversity here! What about the 'Tangs, Chimps and Baboons! They could do this part just as well, if not better. Bigotry I tell you.