‘Mary Poppins’ age rating increased in U.K. - language

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ASPartOfMe
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26 Feb 2024, 6:39 pm

The 1964 Disney classic twice uses a word that is a racially insensitive term for the Khoekhoe, an indigenous group in South Africa, the British Board of Film Classification announced

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The age rating for the 1964 “Mary Poppins” has been increased in the U.K. due to “discriminatory language.”

On Friday, the British Board of Film Classification upped the Disney movie’s cinema rating from U, meaning it contained “no material likely to offend or harm,” to PG for “discriminatory language.”

In a statement to Variety, a BBFC spokesperson said that the film “includes two uses of the discriminatory term ‘hottentots.’"

"While ‘Mary Poppins’ has a historical context, the use of discriminatory language is not condemned, and ultimately exceeds our guidelines for acceptable language at U," the spokesperson said. "We therefore classified the film PG for discriminatory language.”

The word is a racially insensitive term for the Khoekhoe, an indigenous group in South Africa. The BBFC further explained that the word is used in the film by Admiral Boom (Reginald Owen), including when referring to the chimney sweeps whose faces are covered in soot.

“We understand from our racism and discrimination research, and recent classification guidelines research, that a key concern for people, parents in particular, is the potential to expose children to discriminatory language or behavior which they may find distressing or repeat without realizing the potential offense,” the BBFC spokesperson continued.

“Some language or behaviors are therefore not permitted at U or PG in any circumstance, or are wholly dependent on context,” they said.

The original “Mary Poppins” starred Julie Andrews as the magical nanny and Dick Van Dyke as her sidekick Bert. The cast also included David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Hermione Baddeley, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber, Elsa Lanchester, Arthur Treacher and Ed Wynn.

The film was an immediate phenomenon upon its release, and has since been adapted into a hit Broadway musical and was given a sequel, “Mary Poppins Returns,” in 2018.


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27 Feb 2024, 3:46 pm

I find it weird that it takes so long for movies to be reviewed and deemed to contain innapropriate content?

Anyone re-watch the 1982 classic Blade Runner, Harrison Ford's character basically takes the female clone (played by Sean Young) without consent and rapes her, the female clone (who has free will) acquiesces to the assault. I watched scene in 1982 with everyone in the cinema as we all said awwwww, how romantic. In 2024 I watch it with horror at the blatent misogyny.



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29 Feb 2024, 1:10 am

It only took 60 years for that to happen.


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cyberdad
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29 Feb 2024, 3:38 am

CockneyRebel wrote:
It only took 60 years for that to happen.


Hmmm and I guess a mere 80 years ago Europe and Japan were a dystopian wastelands, small steps.



ASPartOfMe
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29 Feb 2024, 8:22 am

cyberdad wrote:
I find it weird that it takes so long for movies to be reviewed and deemed to contain innapropriate content?

Anyone re-watch the 1982 classic Blade Runner, Harrison Ford's character basically takes the female clone (played by Sean Young) without consent and rapes her, the female clone (who has free will) acquiesces to the assault. I watched scene in 1982 with everyone in the cinema as we all said awwwww, how romantic. In 2024 I watch it with horror at the blatent misogyny.

Then you think it’s weird that times change.

Around 1982 the “teen comedy” genre which played for laughs spying on and raping girls was at its height of popularity.


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01 Mar 2024, 11:52 am

You've got to love how humans censor or ban things like classic books or movies because they think they "hurt people", but they still have absolutely no plans to ban things like nuclear weapons, bio weapons, or guns. :roll:



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02 Mar 2024, 5:44 pm

ASPartOfMe wrote:
Around 1982 the “teen comedy” genre which played for laughs spying on and raping girls was at its height of popularity.

Oh yes, I remember it well, There was a spate of crass Hollywood comedies in the early 80s that caricatured young females as "dumb bimbos" who were "ripe for the picking".

The British and Australian television in 1979 (during my own coming of age as a young teen) were I think (in retrospect) much much worse. It wasn't just Benny Hill or the Kenny Everett show. The result of the sexual revolution meant that young women in the 1970s with birth control were portrayed as running around "wanting it". I think that type of portrayal fed male misogynistic fantasy which is really common in modern porn.

Modern television/cinema has thus come a long way in mostly removing these stereotypes.



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02 Mar 2024, 8:42 pm

I never knew the "H-word" was offensive.

Now I know.


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ASPartOfMe
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02 Mar 2024, 10:59 pm

Fnord wrote:
I never knew the "H-word" was offensive.

Now I know.

I had never heard of that word until I read the article.


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03 Mar 2024, 2:46 am

ASPartOfMe wrote:
Fnord wrote:
I never knew the "H-word" was offensive.  Now I know.
I had never heard of that word until I read the article.
Well, since it was not what the Khoikhoi called themselves, and there are several theories as to its offensive origins, it makes sense that some people would deem it offensive.

I hope I remember to not use the "H-Word" the next time I'm around any Khoikhoi people.


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03 Mar 2024, 5:29 am

About 25% of the UK's TV adverts should have an 18 on them to be honest.


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03 Mar 2024, 4:13 pm

I never even heard of the "H-word" until now. It sounds more like brand name of a frozen french fried potato-like product.

Of course, people can still say things like "two left feet", and "left-handed compliment" and "right" to mean "correct" without thinking it might be hurtful to left-handers like myself. :roll:



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03 Mar 2024, 6:54 pm

Some politicians should be 18 rated. Have you heard the language Biden uses? And it is not just him! Politicians are supposed to set moral standards so they should not swear.


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03 Mar 2024, 6:56 pm

Mountain Goat wrote:
Some politicians should be 18 rated. Have you heard the language Biden uses?

In order for something to be rated that high, there usually needs to be nudity involved. I’m pretty sure Biden isn’t flashing people.

I don’t think there’s anything morally wrong with swearing unless you’re swearing AT someone or it’s demeaning in some way.

Have you heard the language Trump uses?


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03 Mar 2024, 8:08 pm

TwilightPrincess wrote:
Mountain Goat wrote:
Some politicians should be 18 rated. Have you heard the language Biden uses?

In order for something to be rated that high, there usually needs to be nudity involved. I’m pretty sure Biden isn’t flashing people.

I don’t think there’s anything morally wrong with swearing unless you’re swearing AT someone or it’s demeaning in some way.

Have you heard the language Trump uses?


The words I have heard Biden slip up and use are 100% sexual which one would not want others to hear. I do not know about what he does or does not do. I only kn ow what I heard.
Put it this way.If he was younger and of employable age and he went into the UK and decided to apply for a job representing a retail company or telecommunications work, or another similar public role, he would definately not get the job at the interview stage as the companies reputation would be at risk if they employed him. It may be acceptable for some trades such as the building trade, or the occasional office role for the a local athority position who does not deal directly with the public, but not in the private sector public roles where company reputation is the key to success. (No one minds too much if someone hurts themselves and it slips out on rare occasions, but not in everyday speak if dealing with the public or if addressing the public. It is not the done thing. The worst place for language I ha eever heard and it was why I never wanted to go down that route even though they saw my tallents and wanted me due to my engineering background, were the armed forces. On another course I was on we did a days army training and I found that the one shouting orders at us used so many swear words that I honestly could not tell what he was saying! It was hillarious because it was like Mr Bean who took over giving orders and just made unintelligable raised voice sounds and the troops did things! But to me such words have no meaning in an order and confuse me as my mind dwells on these words because they don't fit the order and not on the ones that make sense.
The railway had a very sensible approach. Communication between signalmen and traincrew or control and traincrew etc had to be read out and repeated back exactly so it ensured there were no errors and everything was recorded, so if anything went wrong, no one could say they didn't understand, so no one swore over the radio or the phone equipment, as it was crucial that only the message itself was given in a plain and clear form. I can imagine how many mistakes the forces have with commuication due to swearing! Railway is crucial as it can cost many lives if messages are not clearly understood.


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03 Mar 2024, 8:14 pm

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to swear more often. I’m making progress but I’m nowhere near where I want to be yet.

Maybe I’ll get there by summer. Fingers crossed!

Here’s some language from Trump:

https://time.com/5047771/donald-trump-c ... illy-bush/

Trump and Biden shouldn’t be using abusive language although I don’t have a problem with swearing generally speaking.


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