Dolls Of Film Characters, Offensive?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2264652/Toy-makers-cease-production-Django-Unchained-action-figures-black-community-leaders-criticize-trivializing-slavery.html

Perhaps whites should also be offended, seeing that the white character dolls are offensive to present day white people?

/// Najee Ali, director of the Los Angeles civil rights group Project Islamic Hope, said he and other figures in the black community were 'outraged' to hear of the action figures and said they were 'a slap in the face of our ancestors'. ///

[emmie]

who in their right would buy them anyway, not quite Ken and Barbie is it.

[emmie]

right mind, sorry

[daffy654]

For god's sake! Some people just enjoy being offended. I think they probably scour the internet and press for stories just so they can spout about how offensive it is to their history/culture/religion.

[tonyav]

Collectors might buy them em, could be worth a few quid in years to come.

[woofgang]

why is the film not offensive and the dolls are offensive?

[emmie]

i expect knowing Tarantino, the film is ultra violent and offensive to some, i never did get the explicit violence in his films or that he has been so lauded all these years.

[anotheoldgit]

The one thing that will be apparent, the 'Whites' won't come out in the film, as the 'good guys'.

One gets rather fed up with the continuance harping on about the misdeeds of our forefathers.

Perhaps we should start exploring the misdeeds of other nation's forefathers?

Just in the support of a 'level playing field' you understand?

[bazwillrun]

I couldnt give a monkeys if theyre offended or not,

Pretty simple really , if they dont like them then dont buy them.

if hes so worried about his "ancestors" perhaps he should think of getting a black name instead of his stupid pretend muslim name, I'm pretty damn sure his "ancestors" werent called ali

[bazwillrun]

"What a brilliant idea. Perhaps one could complete the set with a small plastic tree so kids can play 'hang the n....r'. "

nah, i'm sure kids are inventive enough to come up with something rather than having to buy a plastic one

[sp1814]

AOG

Your forefathers were behind the industrial revolution, and twice faced down the might of the German army, defeated fascism and were responsible for inventions that still make the world a better place.

If we can celebrate what was good in your forefathers, why can't we acknowledge the bad?

You know - some of your forefathers were evil scum who partook in the rape and murder of black slaves.

Fact.

It's simply a part of British history, and is as valid as all the other positive heroic stories.

Level playing field? What you seem to be asking for is a playing field with sections missing.

[FredPuli43]

Ridiculous. Until I saw you post, SP, I thought that such a response and reaction was confined to the States. The dolls are of characters in a film, some of whom are slaves; hardly surprising as slavery is the driving theme of it. If recalling slavery is so offensive, these black organisations should be calling for the film itself to be banned, and while they are at it, for banning reruns of Spartacus and, for all we know, Lincoln as well.

[ummmm]

Toy slave dolls and people can't understand why that might be considered offensive?

[sp1814]

AOG

By the way, I suggest you avoid jumping to conclusions about a film you've not seen.

I have, and can confirm that you're wholly mistaken.

[woofgang]

but if the story celebrates the courage and hardihood of black slaves and is honest, if gratuitously gory about the misdeeds of white slave owners and is therefore not racist or a slap in the face then why are action figure from the film not acceptable?

I mean i dislike Tarentino films and would pay not to watch them but I honestly don't see where the difference lies?

[ummmm]

Yes, but films also educate people of the horrors that black slaves had to endure. No one in their right mind would give their child a toy slave doll to play with.

[woofgang]

But isn't the slave character the hero?

[sp1814]

I'm off into town to buy a Fred West doll then. Hours of rape/murder fun.

To be honest, I'm not too fussed myself. I would view the dolls like you, as film characters (although why dolls have been made for this film is beyond me) - but it's useful to provide an alternative argument, is it not?

Incidentally. The film is quite poor, but Leonardo Di Caprio deserved an Oscar nod. Robbed again.

[ummmm]

I don't know, I haven't watched it. I just understand why people would find the dolls offensive.

[woofgang]

there's a difference sp. Fred West isn't a hero. Given the type of film that this is, I would guess that the dolls are collectible action figures and not toys for the kiddies.