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| Racist language is no joke – even in an episode of Fawlty Towers | Racist language is no joke – even in an episode of Fawlty Towers |
| (8 days later) | |
| It's disappointing to read Mark Lawson's call for the reinsertion of the N word and rescreening of Major Gowen's racist tirade in a "cherished" episode of Fawlty Towers (G2, 23 January). Just as the "casual" use of sexist imagery can promote misogyny without intention, racist language retains its ability to offend without the presence of deliberate malice. The question of whether it is appropriate often depends on proportionality, with consideration given to the context of the language used, the advertised subject and audience expectations. For example, a parody of Jimmy Saville in a children's programme might not be offensive to the audience, but it's newly acquired historical context would render its transmission inappropriate. | It's disappointing to read Mark Lawson's call for the reinsertion of the N word and rescreening of Major Gowen's racist tirade in a "cherished" episode of Fawlty Towers (G2, 23 January). Just as the "casual" use of sexist imagery can promote misogyny without intention, racist language retains its ability to offend without the presence of deliberate malice. The question of whether it is appropriate often depends on proportionality, with consideration given to the context of the language used, the advertised subject and audience expectations. For example, a parody of Jimmy Saville in a children's programme might not be offensive to the audience, but it's newly acquired historical context would render its transmission inappropriate. |
| It is the public service broadcasting element that makes comparisons with Tarantino's deliberately incendiary Django Unchained disingenuous. Commercial cinemas do not have the same reach to normalise the usage of odious language. The BBC should be commended for having the good sense to seek the approval of actor John Cleese's office to clean up, instead of censoring, this piece of celluloid history for broadcast during family time. | It is the public service broadcasting element that makes comparisons with Tarantino's deliberately incendiary Django Unchained disingenuous. Commercial cinemas do not have the same reach to normalise the usage of odious language. The BBC should be commended for having the good sense to seek the approval of actor John Cleese's office to clean up, instead of censoring, this piece of celluloid history for broadcast during family time. |
| Lawson's main argument that "such speech was common at the time when the story is set" fails to recognise the offence that such speech caused at the time, and still to this day, as recent football incidents demonstrate. An element of the "joke" is about the casual normalisation of such language. The Major felt comfortable in using it among his peers, just as fans on a Saturday terrace do. | Lawson's main argument that "such speech was common at the time when the story is set" fails to recognise the offence that such speech caused at the time, and still to this day, as recent football incidents demonstrate. An element of the "joke" is about the casual normalisation of such language. The Major felt comfortable in using it among his peers, just as fans on a Saturday terrace do. |
| If there are those who wish to hear the unedited version of the episode then surely they can buy a box set and enjoy racist language in the privacy of their own home, I just don't see why I, my children and their friends have to pay via our licence fee to be subjected to racist anti-African epithets. Responsible broadcasting is not censorship. Toyin Agbetu London | If there are those who wish to hear the unedited version of the episode then surely they can buy a box set and enjoy racist language in the privacy of their own home, I just don't see why I, my children and their friends have to pay via our licence fee to be subjected to racist anti-African epithets. Responsible broadcasting is not censorship. Toyin Agbetu London |
| • The BBC is wrong to airbrush history. The language Gowen used was in keeping with the Major's character and the times. I was brought up by my uncle Jack, who had served in Alexandria during the war and was a genuinely good man. He shocked me when he said dockyard workers were issued with coshes to hit "the wogs", if they gave them trouble. Later in life, when he was hospitalised with cancer and was treated with care, skill, and kindness by a veritable united nations of carers, my uncle Jack was disabused of the racist notions he had been taught. I think the Germans episode of Fawlty Towers should be left uncensored with an explanatory note. Tom Minogue Dunfermline, Fife | • The BBC is wrong to airbrush history. The language Gowen used was in keeping with the Major's character and the times. I was brought up by my uncle Jack, who had served in Alexandria during the war and was a genuinely good man. He shocked me when he said dockyard workers were issued with coshes to hit "the wogs", if they gave them trouble. Later in life, when he was hospitalised with cancer and was treated with care, skill, and kindness by a veritable united nations of carers, my uncle Jack was disabused of the racist notions he had been taught. I think the Germans episode of Fawlty Towers should be left uncensored with an explanatory note. Tom Minogue Dunfermline, Fife |
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