New posts

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 382326" data-attributes="member: 23">Yes. I'm strongly against censorship of these programmes and feel there's value in preserving these things not only because they're a kind of art (yes, even cheap and cheerful sitcoms) but more importantly because television and film so often reflects society of the era in which they're made and so act as a kind of time capsule/social document. And I think seeing these things serves as a reminder to us.You're right that British culture of the time was much less inclusive than today in more or less every regard, and that doesn't always sit well, but context is everything and I think it's important to see how things were, warts and all. The worst thing that could happen would be for a younger person to look at an old series edited for 21st Century sensibilities and say "I don't see what was so bad". I do feel that OTB is mostly mild in most regards, considering when it was made, but I also say this as someone who grew up in the era and so knows what to expect. Even so, there have been a good few moments where my partner and I have looked at one another with a weary eyeroll at jokes that simply haven't dated well at all. Even without those, I'd imagine many might still be horrified at the social constructs within the series: Olive at home and let out to work or shop once in a while when Arthur isn't making remarks about her lack of sex appeal; Stan and Jack chasing the clippies round. Possibly the non-reactions of others to this would also be viewed as enablement. Along similar lines, last night I watched a 1985 episode of Brookside in which a peripheral character discussed a regular character with someone and casually described her as a "darkie".  The most surprising thing about it for me was that that there was no further comment about what had been said and no sense of a "statement" from the series (i.e. . It was so matter-of-fact it's hard to gauge the intent, but the feeling I came away from it with was that - beyond simply demonstrating that the person who made the comment was narrow minded - it was the series showing a naturalistic conversation of the time. There's nothing to suggest that it represented the views of any main character, nor the writer, but neither was it challenged as it would almost certainly be today (the character to whom it was said - a housemate and friend of the character under discussion - just laughed it off in a "what are you like?" kind of way which felt quite shocking to watch through 21st Century eyes). It's an uncomfortable moment, but I'm still glad it remained intact as a reminder of what society was like at the time. And (since Brookie was probably the most progressive soap of the time), I like to think that was in large part what was intended with it.Funny and likeable is a perfect summary of them both. Something I've meant to say (but probably forgotten) in recent posts about the series was that I'm pleasantly surprised how much I'm enjoying Blakey. I wasn't hugely looking forward to the character. Stephen Lewis used the same mannerisms and characterisation in Last Of The Summer Wine, and his character Smiler was never a favourite of mine. I knew enough about OTB to realise it was essentially a reprise of what he'd done before and feel he was a bit of a one-trick pony. Still, I've found him perfectly tolerable here, and quite funny at times. In the context of this ensemble he works perfectly. Oh yes. I saw that one when I was looking up to see what else he'd been in. I don't think I remember it, but would certainly watch it given the chance. I noticed he was a regular in Fairly Secret Army as well, which is a series I was aware of but don't remember ever actively watching.</blockquote>

Verification: Who played Sue Ellen in Dallas?