discrimination discussion
You may have heard about the ABC’s decision to not let a part of The Gruen Transfer go to air last night. Turns out that the ABC let the segment be screened online with a bunch of warnings. Good decision I think. Yes, the ad is very offensive, and should not have been screened on TV, but screening it online has meant that the debate it intended to create can still be had. And it is being had; both online, and in person. It’s created a whole lot of chat around our office this afternoon.
I think there’s two debates to be had here (or I’ve found there’s two debates from conversation with my colleagues this afternoon): Firstly, should the ad have been screened, or was having it as a special webisode a better idea? And secondly, is discrimination against overweight people on the same level as racism etc. I didn’t think the latter was a debate – I agreed with it whole-heartedly – but as it turns out, some people don’t agree.
As I said, personally, I do very much agree with the ad’s point – it is offensive, but with good reason and good motive. But I guess the question has to be asked – is such offense necessary? I also agree that perhaps the shock value is a little too high and that the point it was trying to create may be missed. In the end, the ad as it was made would never be screened on TV anyway. But as a hypothetical ad, it’s done well.
If you want to watch, head to antiprejudicad.net and check it out. Don’t just watch the ad in the first 30 seconds; take the time to listen to the 14 minutes of discussion afterwards – well worth it.
I might add, that I’m confused about how different media outlets work - SMH have published all the quotes from the ad with no censorship, warnings or anything. Whereas the site provides great warning about possible offense before watching the ad. And ABC wouldn’t screen it at all. Can anyone offer some explination?
And lastly, the discussion that followed the ad on The Gruen Transfer did highlight a previous anti-racism ad from the UK that was just plain awesome.
edit: Jenny pointed me to this ad by the UN. Similarly themed as the above.
May 14th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I think the ad works – it worked on me – and maybe it was due to the warnings and so on – but it worked for me.
I actually find the UK ad to be offensive cos it treats the Racist the way the racist would treat the foreigner. It seems to be trying to shame the racist into stopping by public humiliating them. But since we all think that the racist is not a full person I guess that doesn’t matter [an attitude which I don't think helps change the racist - in fact it just confirms their own consideration of someone of a certain race is less than a person - after all if others can belittle them for their ideas why can't they belittle someone cos of their race]
Where as the AU ad makes the point that you may think nothing of fat jokes but they are just as hurtful as the others.
I’m not sure what to do with the fact that these are jokes made everyday all around this racist land. I agree that the racist and shapist person will probably just laugh it off, while the insensitive will stop and think. But the insensitive would miss the point too if it was too subtle.
I found it interesting that the very thing the ad was trying to stop – i.e. not seeing fat jokes as offensive – is the very thing that drove the comments by the two on the panel who were against the ad. To me their comments came from the place that does see the fat joke as being as offensive to the large person as the jewish joke would be to a jewish person. And so using those other joke was beyond the pale while the shape joke was not as bad.
I think it might have worked better if they just didn’t deliver the punch lines. [maybe deliver the fat joke punchline] By having us finish the joke in our heads that makes us much more personally involved and then when the point gets made it connects with us more.
As for why the SMH had no warnings … I think it is cos the ABC is full of politically correct bleeding heart lefty humanists and is going to embarrass the government as well as themselves so trys to be a bit more careful – where as the SMH will appreciate the page hits :)