The BBC Defends "Dr. Who" Against Racism Claims - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 05-30-2013, 02:11 PM

BBC Defends "Doctor Who" Against Racism Claims
5/30/2013
by THR Staff

The BBC has defended popular sci-fi series "Doctor Who" against racism claims.

An upcoming book that presents a collection of academic essays on the show describes it as "thunderously racist" and guilty of treating non-white characters as "second-class," according to Radio Times magazine.

Several of the contributors to the book, entitled Doctor Who and Race, which is set to be published in July, point to the failure to cast a black or Asian actor as the lead character in the show, it said.

Others point to an inappropriately "slapstick" take on Hitler in a 2011 episode, the use of white actors in ethnic roles in the show's early days, such as in the 1977 adventure 'The Talons of Weng-Chiang', and the use of the word "savages" to describe members of primitive cultures, Radio Times said.

One American writer, Amit Gupta, even highlighted that the show's fifth Doctor, played by Peter Davison in the early 1980s, was obsessed with the sport of cricket, which the writer argues harks back to the "racial and class nostalgia" of the British Empire.

Australian academic Lindy Orthia, who compiled the anthology, concludes: "The biggest elephant in the room is the problem privately nursed by many fans of loving a TV show when it is thunderingly racist."

The BBC defended "Doctor Who", pointing to what it called a "strong track record of diverse casting among both regular and guest cast." The broadcaster particularly mentioned Freema Agyeman's arrival as the Time Lord's first black companion in 2007 and Noel Clarke's role as Mickey Smith, who appeared on and off over the course of five years.

"Doctor Who" later this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...-racism-560630

loaferman · 05-30-2013, 03:02 PM

I realize that calling everything "racist" is the trendy thing to do - to the point it has lost all meaning. But to say that "Doctor Who" is, may be the most ridiculous example ever. I've watched since Tom Baker reruns in 1980 and have seen 90% of the episodes and the show is if anything left-leaning. There were whole subplots in the 1980's opposing racism such as "Remembrance of the Daleks". What do they want the show to turn into "Eastenders"?

05-30-2013, 02:11 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,112	The BBC Defends "Dr. Who" Against Racism Claims *BBC Defends "Doctor Who" Against Racism Claims* 5/30/2013 by THR Staff The BBC has defended popular sci-fi series "Doctor Who" against racism claims. An upcoming book that presents a collection of academic essays on the show describes it as "thunderously racist" and guilty of treating non-white characters as "second-class," according to Radio Times magazine. Several of the contributors to the book, entitled Doctor Who and Race, which is set to be published in July, point to the failure to cast a black or Asian actor as the lead character in the show, it said. Others point to an inappropriately "slapstick" take on Hitler in a 2011 episode, the use of white actors in ethnic roles in the show's early days, such as in the 1977 adventure 'The Talons of Weng-Chiang', and the use of the word "savages" to describe members of primitive cultures, Radio Times said. One American writer, Amit Gupta, even highlighted that the show's fifth Doctor, played by Peter Davison in the early 1980s, was obsessed with the sport of cricket, which the writer argues harks back to the "racial and class nostalgia" of the British Empire. Australian academic Lindy Orthia, who compiled the anthology, concludes: "The biggest elephant in the room is the problem privately nursed by many fans of loving a TV show when it is thunderingly racist." The BBC defended "Doctor Who", pointing to what it called a "strong track record of diverse casting among both regular and guest cast." The broadcaster particularly mentioned Freema Agyeman's arrival as the Time Lord's first black companion in 2007 and Noel Clarke's role as Mickey Smith, who appeared on and off over the course of five years. "Doctor Who" later this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...-racism-560630

05-30-2013, 03:02 PM	#2
loaferman Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 23, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 642	I realize that calling everything "racist" is the trendy thing to do - to the point it has lost all meaning. But to say that "Doctor Who" is, may be the most ridiculous example ever. I've watched since Tom Baker reruns in 1980 and have seen 90% of the episodes and the show is if anything left-leaning. There were whole subplots in the 1980's opposing racism such as "Remembrance of the Daleks". What do they want the show to turn into "Eastenders"?
	__________________ “It was ‘Will and Grace,’ it was the social media. Literally. That’s what changed peoples’ attitudes. That’s why I was so certain that the vast majority of people would embrace and rapidly embrace” gay marriage, Biden said. “Think behind of all that, I bet you 85 percent of those changes, whether it’s in Hollywood or social media are a consequence of Jewish leaders in the industry. The influence is immense, the influence is immense." -Vice President Joe Biden May 2013