Wasn't blackface deemed racist?

[pontifex]

So what's up with TV shows using it?

Jenna on 30 Rock last night was wearing it and Mac and some kid Charlie was "mentoring" in a recent episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia were using it too.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Uh, do you know what a joke is?

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Im not racist, I watch color television.

 

[preslove]

Haven't seen the episode, yet, but I assume that its use demonstrated Jenna's cluelessness about race. The racism of blackface was thus a part of the joke.

Mad men recently used blackface to demonstrate casual racism, as well.

 

[Printer Bandit]

blackface like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjEb1873SFA

 

[zinfamous]

the racist form of blackface popular in vaudeville wasn't simply about painting one's face black, but nearly 90% of the time, it was part of a caricature of the Black person--the "Sambo" character, which is incredibly racist. You need the fat, exposed lips, the "yessuh!" dialogue, the portrayal of abject poverty and simple, humble ignorance, etc...

without evoking the sambo caricature, I don't think painting one's face black to become a black character is racist.

see: Tropic Thunder.

 

[CZroe]

It was racist when it was used when they'd rather pay a white man to portray a black man, as they wanted one portrayed (usually an offensive clown-like stereotype), than actually pay a black man to be in the production.

 

[alkemyst]

OP you should write a letter.

 

[darkswordsman17]

the racist form of blackface popular in vaudeville wasn't simply about painting one's face black, but nearly 90% of the time, it was part of a caricature of the Black person--the "Sambo" character, which is incredibly racist. You need the fat, exposed lips, the "yessuh!" dialogue, the portrayal of abject poverty and simple, humble ignorance, etc...

without evoking the sambo caricature, I don't think painting one's face black to become a black character is racist.

see: Tropic Thunder.

I think its racist regardless, but that is the joke. They have an ignorant character do it and offend the other characters. They're making fun of how blatantly racist it is. In the Always Sunny episode the characters even directly discuss the racism.

 

[zinfamous]

I think its racist regardless, but that is the joke. They have an ignorant character do it and offend the other characters. They're making fun of how blatantly racist it is. In the Always Sunny episode the characters even directly discuss the racism.

are you referring to Tropic Thunder? I seem to remember that, now. My memory of that flick is foggy, as I was distracted by how bad it was. :\

 

[thraashman]

are you referring to Tropic Thunder? I seem to remember that, now. My memory of that flick is foggy, as I was distracted by how bad it was. :\

You are literally the only person I've ever heard call that movie bad. Everyone I know who saw it loved it. I think it's hilarious.

 

[pontifex]

You are literally the only person I've ever heard call that movie bad. Everyone I know who saw it loved it. I think it's hilarious.

Add another person to the list. Tropic Thunder was horrible, but what movie with Ben Stiller isn't?

 

[Fingolfin269]

Add another person to the list. Tropic Thunder was horrible, but what movie with Ben Stiller isn't?

Too easy...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097967/

 

[Anubis]

i guess im the only one that has no idea what the f you are talking about

 

[Homerboy]

Just so I get this straight, the OP is singling THAT episode of Always Sunny out as being "un-PC"? The entire freaking show's premise is to be un-PC.

 

[Udgnim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhQk61zvQ2c

 

[pontifex]

Too easy...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097967/

never even heard of it

 

[Homerboy]

Also I am VERY dismayed nobody has linked or mentioned anything about 1986's smash hit Soul Man.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091991/

 

[zinfamous]

You are literally the only person I've ever heard call that movie bad. Everyone I know who saw it loved it. I think it's hilarious.

it wasn't terribad or anything, but the closest I got to laughing was an uninspired "meh" at one point.

as usual, Tom Cruise was fucking horrible.

 

[zinfamous]

never even heard of it

it's a cheesy 80s-style "Patrick Swayze movie." if you havne't seen a "Patrick Swayze" movie, then you may not be able to appreciate how awesomely bad those are.

as for Stiller, Zoolander was quite awesome. He was good in Something About Mary, Permanent Midnight, his bit parts in Cable Guy, Royal Tennenbaums is one of my favorite flicks out there...

he's done a lot of good stuff. :\

 

[pontifex]

Just so I get this straight, the OP is singling THAT episode of Always Sunny out as being "un-PC"? The entire freaking show's premise is to be un-PC.

no...i'm complaining about it or singling out 1 episode or show. I just thought that it was deemed racist and if in fact it was racist, why were TV shows using it? just a curiosity thing - no panties in wad, like some of yours are after I asked a simple question.

 

[OCGuy]

Who is in charge of deeming things "racist" ?

 

[zinfamous]

Also I am VERY dismayed nobody has linked or mentioned anything about 1986's smash hit Soul Man.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091991/

haha, I had that in my head. Couldn't think of the title, but wanted to mention those 80s "race-bending/gender-bending" flicks.

 

[zinfamous]

Who is in charge of deeming things "racist" ?

spidey

 

[Anubis]

someone explain WTF blackface is to me please