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karenpplee
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2003 4:52 pm Post subject: Banzai!!!!! |
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From the Evening Standard, 22/07/2003:
Cult British TV show Banzai has been criticised by Asian groups in America who claim it is racist.
The programme, which is broadcast in the US by Fox, features stunts and gags and allows viewers to vote on the outcome of games.
But the Media Action Network in America is outraged by characters named Mr Banzai and Cheeky Chappy which it is said are "the most offensive, negative Asian stereotypes".
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Personally I don’t find it offensive in any way, in fact I pretty much enjoy the programme. It sometimes annoys me how we can get so pc and oversensitive to the most trivial of things, akin to the ‘Don’t mention the war’ attitude of Basil Fawlty. Sit back and look at the bigger picture, there are greater things to get worked up about!
I certainly don’t want us to get into the over-pc attitude there is in the US. A friend of mine – British Born Indian lives in New York and offended an ‘Asian’ friend once by using the word ‘Oriental’. For God’ Sake! It’s just a word and not even an offensive one at that, even I would use the word oriental to describe myself!
So just take it for what it is, a bit of fluffy entertainment which is not meant to depict Orientals – whoops! sorry – Asians (if you’re American) in a bad light. It’s not meant to be taken seriously and therefore shouldn’t be. |
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sp
Joined: 27 Feb 2003
Posts: 218
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| Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2003 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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| I wasn't sure about Banzai when it first started but what I've realized is that in the show, the people who are made to look truly stupid are not the Asian/Oriental cast, it's the z-list celebs that they use in their bets. The joke is really on them. |
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eye_candy1870
Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 86
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| Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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karen,
if you knew where the word 'oriental' came from you would understand why the more enlightened asian would find that offensive.
if 'oriental' is ONLY a word, would you go to a black man and call him 'coloured' or a 'negro' or 'boy'? if the answer is yes, go to brixton tommorow and say that and see if he thinks thats only a word. you silly little thing.yes, thats EXACTLY what whites call blacks (now known as african americans) not too long ago AND it was perfectly acceptable.
UK is probably a couple of decades behind america and pretty soon 'orientals' in uk will be refered to as 'asians' or 'south east asians'. |
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sp
Joined: 27 Feb 2003
Posts: 218
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| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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| sp wrote: | | I wasn't sure about Banzai when it first started but what I've realized is that in the show, the people who are made to look truly stupid are not the Asian/Oriental cast, it's the z-list celebs that they use in their bets. The joke is really on them. |
After the issue of stereotyping was raised in 'The Missing Chink' I'm starting to find this show uncomfortable to watch. Those stupid accents do seem to be verging on racism, even though its true that the people who are being made to look silly in the shows are the celebs. Its not helped when you watch the credits and there is not a single Chinese or Asian name there.
Starting to become anti-Banzai here.... |
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LaoFuZhi
Joined: 09 Jan 2004
Posts: 31
Location: Scotland
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| Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:51 am Post subject: |
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Hmm Steve.......
Well you know who I am and I know who you are... and having done all the sword crossing we need to there's little need for it now? Yes? I hope so! Spot of bridge building????? I'm up for it of you are!
Banzai! HAving seen some of the guys in Fi's dad's shops loose a week's wages over the contents of a packet of crisps there's a wee bit of me can see and appreciate where the humour comes from...... On one level's it's funny! BUT
On the other hand there's a bit of me that's utterly pissed off......
The programme re-enforces a lot of stereotypes. So the NEXT time I'm sitting in a pub or a restaurant with one of my foster sisters I'm STILL listening to half-baked comments from utter assholes on BOTH sides who don't know me. don't know her and have NO clue as to the relationship.....
It's like SO offensive..... my SISTERS and people are dis-ing us because of the difference in skin colour!!!!!!!!!!!
It's bizarre to some I know. but my sisters (genetics apart) are every part my sisters! and having sisters of your own I'm sure you can share my anger when people dis-respect them.
Likewise if i happen to have a a girlfriend of S.E.A. origins or descent. (i.e the lovely Dr T) If I walk into a Chinese restaurant (whether said lady is Chinese or otherwise) I'm going to get all sorts of pish directed at me in a language it's ASSUMED I don't understand.... If we go into a pub i'm gonna get some wan*er asking me where I "got my girfriend" ..... As in do Argos do them in a size 14.....
'kiun hell! where DO these people get off???????
Right now I'm fuming because Tennant (beer people) have started running the "Thai" "Rab and Rory" adverts again on STV. If I EVER meet the asshole who wrote the script for this piece of pish I SWEAR this sorry excuse for a human being will NEVER EVER walk again! I am SO f'kin angry and offended this pish EVER got made. They had it off air for about 18 months. and it's back!
The next ba' bag that hollers "take a drink big man" across a bar to me will suffer a similar fate........ I swear I'm just gonna lose it!!!
What's the answer??? Should Banzai be banned??? Or should we just gird our loins and wait for the great unwashed to grow up?????
Me? I'm spoiling for a fight! <ggg> ;-)
Banzai? It's a laugh. But I don't think the time's right...... Ask me again in a decade! |
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sp
Joined: 27 Feb 2003
Posts: 218
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| Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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| LaoFuZhi wrote: | | Well you know who I am and I know who you are... and having done all the sword crossing we need to there's little need for it now? Yes? I hope so! Spot of bridge building????? |
Just so there isn't any confusion: No, I'm not interested in bridge buliding in this case.
__
Back to the topic of this discussion, BANZAI. We know the argument that it's the guests who are made to look stupid, so therefore it's okay. That's what I used to think too.
But watching the show recently I have to admit that the oriental/Asian characters look pretty stupid too -- just as, if not more stupid than the guests. I wonder if these guests would be willing to participate in the games if the presenters were Asian, but were 'normal' and spoke properly, without the funny voices and without the karate moves? I don't think they would because that would *really* make them look stupid.
We should not forget that appearing on the show doesn't do these z-list celebs any harm. It means exposure and there is a certain cool factor to saying you've been on Banzai, as opposed to being on some crappy daytime quiz show.
So I wonder if the idea of doing something silly on Banzai is easier, because there are those 'stupid Chinese guys' looking even more foolish, standing next to you? I admit the voiceover is sometimes sarcastic, but it's still scripted by non-Chinese people and the performers are basically being told what to do, what to say, and how to say it. |
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LaoFuZhi
Joined: 09 Jan 2004
Posts: 31
Location: Scotland
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| Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 12:59 am Post subject: |
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Just so there isn't any confusion: No, I'm not interested in bridge buliding in this case.
Unfortunate that what I had hoped was a misjudgement should be so readily confirmed. The offer was made..... |
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