Song of the South?

Dwarful

Dwarful

Well-Known Member
well, I remember seeing SoS as a child. But the thing I don't get is why are the censoring the film? Do they honestly think that we are unable to think for ourselves?
I was on vacation last fall and we went into a bookstore and on the shelf they were selling new copies of reproduced books...one of them being a book called "Little Black Sambo"
now I picked up that book and read a section of it to my dd...they had no idea about racial issues...my oldest daughter was 6 at the time and was totally jealous that she couldn't be like the little boy who turned the tiger into a pool of butter for the pancakes his mother was making. Some things become more of an issue when we make them an issue, other things really are issues.

About 2 years ago in St.Louis a KKK group adopted a portion of the US highway ( I think it was I-70) anyway, there was all sorts of ISSUES with this, people were MAD to say the least. The government said that if they let the NAACP they had to let the KKK have the same option. Those signs were stolen as fast as they were put up, people picketed, caused traffic problems, extra expenses for police to prevent riots or other problems. that was an issue! A real issue, because to me the two groups cannot be compared in any way shape or form.

It is a film, nothing more or nothing less. If you don't want to see it fine, don't watch it, don't buy it, don't support it. ok I am off my rant.
 
all41

all41

New Member
When I took my kids on Splash Mountain last November, they asked me who all those characters were. After returning home, I dug up a poor copy of Song of the South I’d downloaded from the internet. Even with the Japanese subtitles and poor picture quality, they really liked it. Now they understood the ride and the characters. Its unfortunate Disney bows to PC pressure.

On another board I frequent, they started to scream about Speedy Gonzales being banned from Cartoon Network. After generating some press, Cartoon Network started showing some Speedy shorts. Pressure can work but its not easy to get the suits to show any courage.
 
MKCustodial

MKCustodial

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by all41
When I took my kids on Splash Mountain last November, they asked me who all those characters were. After returning home, I dug up a poor copy of Song of the South I’d downloaded from the internet. Even with the Japanese subtitles and poor picture quality, they really liked it. Now they understood the ride and the characters. Its unfortunate Disney bows to PC pressure.

On another board I frequent, they started to scream about Speedy Gonzales being banned from Cartoon Network. After generating some press, Cartoon Network started showing some Speedy shorts. Pressure can work but its not easy to get the suits to show any courage.
Click to expand...

I remember that issue with Speedy. I guess Maria is the only one around here who can honestly say: is Speedy really offensive to Mexicans?
 
WDWspider

WDWspider

New Member
Originally posted by MKCustodial
I remember that issue with Speedy. I guess Maria is the only one around here who can honestly say: is Speedy really offensive to Mexicans?
Click to expand...

I find it incredible ridiculous if he is. It should be a respect issue if anything. In no way do I see Speedy as a satire of a culture. He may not be an accurate represenation, but honestly he envokes a sense of curiousity for kids to learn about Mexico, and as someone said about SotS being just a Movie... well Speedy is just a cartoon. We get too wrapped up in the world of fiction sometimes. Bottom line is that a movie or cartoon doesn't have to be accurate or true to be entertaining. We need to get our priorities straight and focus on real issues and not imaginary ones. Freedom of Speech should be more than enough to allow Disney to sell the film. People can boycott it if they want, but to deny people from buying is a shame indeed.
 
Pumbas Nakasak

Pumbas Nakasak

Heading for the great escape.
Well im writing to Disney now expressing my concern over the stereo typing of Scots as tartan (plaid) wearing tight fists, as portrayed by that offensive character Scrooge McDuck. This image was created by those nasty neighbours of ours the English during Victorian times and movies like those made by the Disney company allow this myth to continue.

And those of you with an interest in history may be interested to know that the highland clearances happened before the on set of slavery. Slavery is currently a big issue in the former Yugoslavia, perhaps people should be aware that skin colour is not the only factor when it comes to oppression. and re release of 5the film may open a constructive dialog.
 
CamCodey

CamCodey

New Member
On a trip to WDW in 8/92 we stayed at the Wilderness Campground (in a tent!) LOL As you may know Chip 'n Dale host a nightly campfire, sing-along & movie. The night we went we saw SONG OF THE SOUTH!! Every time we visit now I call to see which movies are playing there. I don't know if they still do currently, but I am still hoping that my children will get to see it.
 
B

Becky

Active Member
Originally posted by Bagheera
Excerpts from an article at blackcommentator.com (http://www.blackcommentator.com/tar_baby.html):

Tar Babies are racist inventions, conjured up for the purpose of dehumanizing African Africans.

Webster’s second definition of Tar Baby is, “something from which it is nearly impossible to extricate oneself.”

---

From the Rhetoric of Race Dictionary Project (http://kpearson.faculty.tcnj.edu/Dictionary/tar_baby.htm):

one which is only aggravated by attempts to solve it(colloq.);
#
a derog. term for a Black (U.S.) or a Maori (N.Z.).
#
something from which it is nearly impossible to extricate oneself.
#
n. a "sticky problem" (20th century use).
#
A Black person (used in the U.S., 1940s).
#
A derogatory term for a Maori (used in N.Z., 1950s).
#
A Negro baby. Cf. Tar pot (sense 1) (U.S. colloquial, mid 1800s-present).

tar pot- a Negro child or baby. (U.S., 1900s).

---
Click to expand...

Hum, can't seem to find Tar Baby in Webster. Of course I do find the word tar and the word baby. I guess I could do what "The Black Commentator" did and put them together to make up my own word. Or I could do a project that would prove whatever point I wanted to prove.

MKC, check out Bagheera's referenced works. You gave in to quick.
 
SirNim

SirNim

Well-Known Member
An update - perhaps some of you know this, perhaps some don't.

Walt Disney's Song of the South, in PAL format, is no longer being produced in Europe. Disney has ceased all production of Song of the South...

Here is a quote from an online distributor (http://www.songofthesouth.co.uk) that is selling off the last of stock of this movie... (for $230 US):

"Sadly, as of December 20, 2001, Disney has pulled Song of the South completely, so quantities are extremely limited, and demand has risen considerably."...

...accounting for the price hike (I bought mine off the same website two years ago for $60 US!)


So.....

Who knows what the future holds for the classic Song of the South...:(

:)
 
B

Becky

Active Member
Originally posted by SirNimajneb
An update - perhaps some of you know this, perhaps some don't.

Walt Disney's Song of the South, in PAL format, is no longer being produced in Europe. Disney has ceased all production of Song of the South...

Here is a quote from an online distributor (http://www.songofthesouth.co.uk) that is selling off the last of stock of this movie... (for $230 US):

"Sadly, as of December 20, 2001, Disney has pulled Song of the South completely, so quantities are extremely limited, and demand has risen considerably."...

...accounting for the price hike (I bought mine off the same website two years ago for $60 US!) end quote


You confirmed what scotttn posted on page one, that 2001 was it for SotS in Europe.

My copy was a gift about 4-5 years ago. I believe the price was about $70-$80 for the PAL with the converted VHS thrown in for "free". That included shipping. They sent three tapes including the PAL. I think they had to send the PAL to make the sale legal.
Click to expand...
 
SirNim

SirNim

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by Becky
Sorry. I ment that you provided confirmation not that you missed a post.
Click to expand...
I guess you're right then!
*not sheepish anymore*

Although I did miss the post!:lol: :D :)

:animwink: ;)
 
F

FairytaleMagic

New Member
I remember watching SOTS back in the early 80's when I was a child. I can't quite remember the movie but I remembered I liked it. But, now that I think about it, my mom wasn't too happy (to say the least) with parts of the movie. I didn't understand it back then but I do now. Now, I'm curious to see it again. Anyway, tar baby is a racial slur. It means a black person that you just can't get rid of. Me nor anyone else would want to be referred to as a tar baby. The people who are complaining about it's just a movie can't forget that today's youth seem to absorb more and more things that they see on T.V. and videos. Would you really want your kids to absorb or later use slurs? Even if it's just play? I'm not against re-releasing the movie. But, I think the movie needs some major explanation (i.e. background on social history at the time) to go along with it.
 
Pumbas Nakasak

Pumbas Nakasak

Heading for the great escape.
Originally posted by FairytaleFreak
The people who are complaining about it's just a movie can't forget that today's youth seem to absorb more and more things that they see on T.V. and videos. Would you really want your kids to absorb or later use slurs?
Click to expand...

Are you saying that today’s youth are too stupid to make such an assessment about the film or are you saying that they are readily influenced by TV images ( an ad-mans dream) and tend to act on anything seen.

In the UK we have a character called Sooty, a glove puppet, if you search the dictionary im sure you will find that this to is a racial slur, however to my knowledge there has never been a campaign to remove this little bear from our TV screens. Perhaps its all about sensitivity levels?

Is Tom and Jerry still screened?
 
SirNim

SirNim

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by happy snapper
Are you saying that today’s youth are too stupid to make such an assessment about the film or are you saying that they are readily influenced by TV images ( an ad-mans dream) and tend to act on anything seen.

In the UK we have a character called Sooty, a glove puppet, if you search the dictionary im sure you will find that this to is a racial slur, however to my knowledge there has never been a campaign to remove this little bear from our TV screens. Perhaps its all about sensitivity levels?

Is Tom and Jerry still screened?
Click to expand...
LOL

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 

Attachments

  • sooty.jpg
    sooty.jpg
    2.5 KB · Views: 108
SirNim

SirNim

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by happy snapper
That image glorifies physical violence against middle age bald men. And heightens the belief that all glove puppets have violent tendencies.
Click to expand...
I... could... not... re-zeest!
:lol: :lol:
 
Bagheera

Bagheera

New Member
Originally posted by Becky
Hum, can't seem to find Tar Baby in Webster. Of course I do find the word tar and the word baby. I guess I could do what "The Black Commentator" did and put them together to make up my own word. Or I could do a project that would prove whatever point I wanted to prove.

MKC, check out Bagheera's referenced works. You gave in to quick.
Click to expand...

Those were the only valid references that I could find in a Google search, but they more or less confirmed what I already knew.

That said, I love this movie, and I actually had someone that worked for me bring a PAL copy back from a trip to Ireland with her, and had it dubbed to NTSC so that I could see it again. I showed it to my 4YO son, because I knew that he would enjoy the underlying messages.

I did have to explain a little about the slavery aspect, since he wondered about that, but I just told him that it was something that people did a long time ago, and that it was something that was wrong, even though not everybody at the time realized it.

He liked how everybody got along, and the part that he asked the most questions about was "Why were Ginny's brothers mean to her?"

He did take away that not fighting someone and outsmarting them instead could be a preferably choice.

It didn't stand up quite as well as I remembered it, and some of the ending was more than a bit schmaltzy, but it's still a heck of a lot better than a lot of the crap they're putting out today.
 
F

FairytaleMagic

New Member
Originally posted by happy snapper
In the UK we have a character called Sooty, a glove puppet, if you search the dictionary im sure you will find that this to is a racial slur, however to my knowledge there has never been a campaign to remove this little bear from our TV screens. Perhaps its all about sensitivity levels?

Is Tom and Jerry still screened?
Click to expand...

The UK and the US are two different countries with two different cultures. You can't really compare apples and oranges. Can you honestly expect a two year old to make an assessment of a movie(other than "I like it; it was funny") ? Do you think two year olds are old enough to magically know what slavery is and that it is wrong without a parent telling them? I don't know about what's going on in the UK but statistics in the U.S. have shown that kids don't know a lot of info. about American history.
Kids are influenced by the media. Why do you think little girls are wearing skimpy clothes (Britney Spears, Christina Agulera?), kids get hurt imitating stunts from that show Dumb***, and kids repeat what they hear. Kids once repeated what their parents said but these days there are parents who use the TV as a babysitter. So, the kids repeat or imitate whatever they see from the "babysitter" (TV).

What do you mean by Is Tom and Jerry still screened? I haven't watched Tom and Jerry in about 16 years so i have no clue about your reference.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom