Will Pantos Fall Foul Of The Poltical Correctness Brigade? 3 January 2007
Posted by David in Political Correctness Gone Mad.trackback
Pantos are politically incorrect, according to Mark Pemberton of Nada, a company which produces scripts. He told the Telegraph “some of the titles, like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Robinson Crusoe with an image of cannibals, are becoming more difficult to stage in this age of political correctness.”
What rubbish. Everyone has got to lighten up. Just a few nights ago a programme asked Is Benny Hill Still Funny? The politically correct brigade, including Ben Elton, said it wouldn’t be liked due to it being politically incorrect. Somehow his crass humour isn’t incorrect? The test audience, who had never heard of Hill before, loved it.
“People need to lighten up more,” said one woman. “I wouldn’t find it offensive,” said another.
It’s not my thing, but who are there these PC spoil sports? And why are they so powerful?
Chameleons on Bicycles 
How are pantos politically incorrect? Bizarre, yes. They certainly present cross dressing in a sympathetic light….
Sorry that was probably in very bad taste. Seriously, I saw pantos every year as a kid and I don’t remember them being anything like Bernard Manning. I just remember them as very strange, higly ritualised occasions, what with all the’he’s behind you’ and ‘oh no he isn’t’ routine. They have deep historical roots as well, which is important, they are part of our cultural heritage. Thus whilst I would groan at the prospect from my point of view, I would take my own children. Then I would be able to tell them of the rich history of medieval mumming plays and Harlequin the Clown and the other traditions that have blended to form this curious January pastime.
As for Benny Hill, I never found him any more funny than Tommy Cooper, but that’s not due to the whole PC thing. Since when was the Young Ones PC? I can watch that over and over!
If Dwarfs are offensive, then doesn’t the Lord of the Rings need some comprehensive editing?
Those Orcs are a bit suspect too… I’m sensitive to eczema sufferers…
I agree entirely Joe, they try to call everything politically incorrect. And to be honest, so what if something isn’t PC? If you don’t like it, don’t go. I’m a big believer in voting with feet.
Well, when the entire Catholic faith is told we’re not PC and must change, then you get a bit worried.
Or is that just me?