… apart from method actors.
I’m sorry for the long absence my dearest friends, Romans and countrymen, but alas I’ve been on a bit of a rollercoaster of late. Trust me, you don’t want to know. However I’m not one to look back, but rather here I am now looking forward to a nice little kvetching session, and today’s kvetch is regarding the use of allegedly offensive terms such as “retard”.
I’m not sure if any of you keep up with pop culture media and are aware there is a big hoopla at the moment surrounding a scene in the new Ben Stiller directed movie ‘Tropic Thunder‘. Well, one of the offending scenes can be viewed here. I’m not sure if there is only one ‘offending’ scene, but judging by the reaction of some I’m assuming there must be stacks of others of mongs and nuff nuffs being burnt at the stake. I’ve watched the scene a couple of times now and, well, I really can’t see what the fuss is about. Any retard would be able to tell you the joke is not in fact on people with intellectual disabilities, but rather on daft and precocious method actors willing to go to any length for the craft, so to speak.
Jim Haptonstahl, who according to this article works with “that community”, called the movie, “a demeaning and degrading parody of a person with intellectual disabilities.” He also has a brother with Downs Syndrome, so his authority mustn’t be questioned. Haptonstahl believes the protest against the movie is “a way to educate and stop the stereotyping.” Not to mention providing the studio with priceless publicity as well as stereotyping people with disabilities and the organisations who support them as humourless reactionaries.
Now I have great respect for the acting craft, I’ve not only performed in a number of plays myself but I’m currently trying to get a theatre production off the ground as well. I also have a plethora of unique and talented friends involved in various fields of the performing arts, but in this same field I have also come across some of the most pretentious, superficial and self-aggrandising twats you could ever imagine, like, y’know, man.
I don’t know if it is an urban myth or not, and I am not completely denigrating method acting, but recalling now having had the privilege of meeting ‘that’ breed of method actor I am reminded of an amusing anecdote involving Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman on the set of Marathon Man. It has been said that Dustin Hoffman often turned up on set after having partied all night as an attempt to get himself into in a rather dishevelled state for the sake of his character, that of an obsessive runner. Apparently confounded by Hoffman’s ostensible dedication to the method craft, the classically trained Olivier responded, no doubt in his marvellously effortless Shakespearean intonation, “Dear boy, why don’t you try acting?”
In the 1983 remake of the 1942 cinematic classic ‘To Be or Not to Be’, Mel Brooks’s character, Dr Frederick Bronski, at one stage responds to the increasing occupational restrictions imposed by the National Socialists by lamenting “without Jews, fags and gypsies there is no theatre.” So I guess that would make him an anti-Semitic, homophobic racist. I’m assuming then it’s irrelevant Brooks’s remake is one of the earliest popular acknowledgements of the persecution homosexuals (we all know what I think of pillow munchers) and gypsies also suffered under the Third Reich, not forgetting that Brooks is a shortass Jew himself. I’m not sure if he has a great big hook nose and horns as well, because I am often rendered almost completely blind by the tears of laughter induced by watching pretty much most of his body of work. Sorry, I meant visually impaired.
It’s called satire, dummkopf! That being said, I have a beloved cousin with a severe intellectual disability who is also completely blind, when I was younger it was acceptable to say I had a retarded cousin, but it’s intellectual disability now. I’d advise against calling and in turn denigrating and demeaning him a retard, well not unless you were looking for a beat down across the head by an angry cripple with a steaming hot iron rod decorated with jagged spikes soaked in sulfuric acid.
But as for parodying arrogant, clueless method actors, go for your life.
*ADDENDUM*
In the final paragraph I used the term cripple. My lawyers have advised me the term cripple is an oppressive patriarchal manifestation of capitalist control of the perpetually persecuted proletariat and no longer acceptable. According to the disability industry I’m now to refer to myself ‘differently abled‘, in spite of the fact that my legs are unable to do a single fucking thing.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Ha! That clip was funny, in a retarded, crippled, faggotty way.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Hell yeah! I… want… more
August 14th, 2008 at 3:28 am
i don’t have any children, but i have often wondered if i would still use the word if i happened to have a retarded child
lately i’ve been calling my girlfriend a retard during heated arguments and not felt the slightest bit guilty for it
i suggest more people try it
and welcome back, by the way
August 14th, 2008 at 3:33 am
I would never personally use the term in a derogatory way to describe someone with an intellectual disability, I just can’t believe that some people are so hypersensitive as to think that Ben Stiller et al are trying to take the Mickey out of people with intellectual disabilities and not pretentious actors. I thought it was pretty damned clear that the joke is on the assholes who actually mean it when they use these terms, and not disabled individuals themselves.
And it is indeed fantastic to be back, things got a little rough for a while there so hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here on in.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I have an autistic son. Sometime ago a boy the same age as my daughter(10 at that time) said to her “You’re just a retard like your brother!”
Shocked and upset, she said nothing.
When she came home from school she related the incident to me. Of course she was hurt. She is very protective of her brother, who, though “developmentally delayed” is well liked by his own classmates.
Whilst there will be many intelligent people who view this movie as a satire, there will be millions of others (just like that ignorant 10 year old boy)
who will see this movie as a licence to continue to toss the word retard as an insult.
And, it IS insulting.
This(satire) is perpetuating discrimination in my opinion.
Read what Timothy Shriver chairman of the Special Olympics has to say…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/10/AR2008081001869_pf.html
August 14th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Dear Kathy,
I do truly appreciate your comment but I am going to have to disagree with you. I made it quite clear how I felt about people throwing the word around in a derogatory manner. I have read what Timothy Shriver has to say, and while he does make some valid points I still disagree. As mentioned, I have a cousin with an intellectual disability and I am myself a quadriplegic, so I do believe I can offer a unique perspective.
As for a 10-year-old using the word retard it is shocking and absolutely beyond disgraceful, but at the same time it is highly unlikely that a child of that age learnt such language from movies (I would question any parent who would allow their child to watch this film). At no stage did I condone such language being used in this manner, again I thought I made the opposite quite clear.
Discrimination against people with a disability is going to exist with or without satirical movies. I have found from experience that the most discrimination I have been faced with comes from those who should know better such as government and care services, and as well as some in the medical field. I have never experienced discrimination in the wider community, and I have found complete strangers to be extremely accommodating went out with my cousin.
As someone with a significant disability I am increasingly tired of the typical politically correct knee-jerk reactions from disability advocacy groups who inadvertently pigeonhole the “disabled community” as being a homogenous whole. Instead of enlightening people with patronising awareness programmes, what’s wrong with bringing a bit of humour to the situation?
It is not a children’s movie, it is R rated hence it is highly unlikely that children are going to be picking up derogatory and discriminatory language from the film. As for adults, if someone cannot see the film for the satire that it is then they are not worth my time and I couldn’t give a rats what they think about me and my wheelchair.
However I think you will find that the movie depicts superficial, clueless method actors as the idiots.
I regret the fact is my satirical tone in this post has offended you or anyone else, but until more people start pushing the boundaries of absurdity the disability discrimination debate will remain in a politically correct framework and continue on its current cycle of going round and round and round and round and round and…
Thanks again for your comment and please do not believe for one second that I would ever condone such language that was used against your daughter, as well as your son.
Regards
Ms Rachy
PS Please also don’t forget what all of Mel Brooks’s Nazi humour (The Producers, Hitler Rap etc) did to be little the memory of one of the most evil creatures who has ever walked the earth. His humour was outrageous but it broke down stereotypes, and that’s what the disabled community needs.
August 14th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Hey Rachy, thanks for your thoughtful comments. You make a valid point about breaking down stereotypes.
And nah, not offended. I’m a tough nut mate.
I suppose I am a little sensitive though ,because of what happened to my own daughter, and the discrimination that my son will most likely encounter as he grows older ( he is seven)
You sort of feel your childs pain.
Their vulnerability.
It’s the fuckwits who discriminate against those with a disability (who cannot defend themselves ) that really piss me off Rachy.
Thanks again, and best wishes
Kathy Farrelly
August 14th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Oh goody!
I really appreciate your reply, and although I am not a parent I can completely understand how it is such a sensitive topic. I am dead serious when I say that I would probably kill anyone who hurt or denigrated my cousin, let alone anyone who would ever make fun of my uncle who is coincidentally also autistic.
You will surely understand me when I say that I have experienced more discrimination, both overt and covert, from organisations such as DHS, carers agencies and medical institutions than I have experienced in the wider community. I seriously cannot think of a single incident of discriminatory attitudes towards me. Then again, it might have something to do with being a tough nut as well.
I hope the school did something about what that little sh*t said to your daughter. Obviously education starts at home, but the onus is on the school to take these matters into their own hands when something happens during school hours.
Also, you might get a laugh out of this, I just showed my mother this post and she reminded me that when I was about eight years old we met up with my aunt and my two cousins at a McDonald’s and there were some other kids teasing my cousin. I completely saw red. So I went to the front counter and ordered six large iced waters and “accidentally” tripped over and splashed the water all over those turdbrains. No one, I repeat no one messes with my cousin.
Lastly, I’m not always this offensive so please feel free to come back and comment on other occasions.
Kindest regards
Ms Rachy
August 14th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Hi Rachy! Glad to see you back online — I was so happy to see your blog back a few months ago, then worried that you vanished again for a while. I’m happy that you’re back around and busy and seemingly doing well!
Re your post topic, I have to say I see a lot of the same thing going on whenever satire is involved — people too often react to the surface of things, without taking the time to see what the writer/actor/etc is trying to do in terms of commentary. I have that with my students a lot, too.
I recently got scolded by some internet person for using the word “retarded” in a post title, although the post title was just the title of that Black Eyed Peas song, “Let’s Get Retarded” (which was of course then censored for radio and turned into the song we all know, “Let’s Get it Started”). I’d meant only to poke fun at myself while making a pop-culture reference, but the person who showed up at my blog was duly offended.
I can’t claim I was doing anything especially artful or thoughtful, so in that case it might have been best not to use the word. On the other hand, I just felt like screaming, “LIGHTEN UP!” I’d thought the jokiness was clear, and not that offensive. Hard to tell where to draw the line, I guess.
August 14th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Ah, Rachy..
I do so love your chutzpah mate..
Looking forward to your next post.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:37 am
I am *so* glad to see you back, and in fine fettle at that. I loved the ice-water bit; quite inventive at your age!
All of the comments on this post have been really good. I must admit that when I was growing up we used That Word freely amongst us siblings, but we never did (quite) come to blows over it. Though my sister (the devil) did carve my brother’s name into the piano finish one day. It was a long time before she finally admitted it, and boy did he get in trouble in the meantime!
August 15th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Heh, I always knew Tom came from the wrong side of the tracks!
August 15th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
I haven’t read the article yet, or any other links.
Holy crap, merely thrilled that the silence is broken.
Delighted and relieved to hear your voice again.
Was only this last couple of days I was pondering whether to drop a note to the loverly Darlene to inquire about your well being & where abouts, but here you are: feisty as ever!
All is right with the interwebs, Rachy is back!
August 16th, 2008 at 3:16 am
Tim, I was so far on the wrong side of the tracks you couldn’t even *see* the tracks from my house. Why, there were people closer to the tracks who referred to us as coming from the wrong side of the wrong side of the tracks.
August 16th, 2008 at 7:23 am
See, I knew I liked you for a reason, Rachy. You wouldn’t go wasting a beer by dumping it on some assclown.
August 16th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Shrewd observation Stewed.
Even as a young ‘un, she had the sense to toss free tap water over people, rather than wasting recreational fluids. Way back then, the signs must have been obvious that she was destined to grow into a fine, responsible imbibing citizen.
August 17th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I finally got around to reading all the links.
Have to say that my first reaction to this brouhaha was to marvel at the use of the word “retard”. It’s so, well, retro, isn’t it?
Despite Gordon’s spirited use of the word when addressing his dearly beloved girlfriend, I can’t say that I’ve heard anyone use “retard” in any context for … decades? It’s one of those words that I thought had fallen from use, not least because it’s an ugly and lazy expression of contempt and dismissal when used against another person.
In other words I’m just surprised that the word has been used at all and that its use has caused such a ruckus. It’s not like Tarrantino using “nigger” 5000 times in Pulp Fiction.
Fifteen times over a couple of hours isn’t exactly in your face, nor designed to ram an offensive point home.
What about Downey Jr being a whitey painted up like a nigger, hey, hey? Where are all the protests? Oh, is it because everyone “gets” the point of the film when looking at Downey’s role, but disingenuously fail to get the point, fail to understand the story when dissecting the other roles?
This total loss of context bothers the crap out of me. As Rachy has pointed out, and as would be dead simple for anyone to find out just by Googling: the film is ABOUT pretentious, preening actors. You want an Oscar buddy? Sure fire winners: play at being ugly, or physically disabled, or mentally different. But whatever you do don’t take it “too far” – you know, only a little bit ugly, like with a prosthetic nose, and not “too retarded”, no drooling or anything, you have to be a very clever “retard”, someone endearing and uplifting and neatly dressed.
The film singularly pillars actors and the film industry, in a manner not done before – I’m very much looking forward to seeing it, for that reason alone!
Have we totally lost our ability to understand CONTEXT. Must we always follow the example of politicians by diverting attention from the real point of something, the real merits and de-merits?
The film doesn’t attack people with mental disabilities, it attacks those shallowest of creatures – actors.
August 17th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
“By all accounts, it is an unchecked assault on the humanity of people with intellectual disabilities — an affront to dignity, hope and respect.”
Err, no, no it isn’t.
Timothy Shriver is convinced that the film is about mentally disable people, indeed, he is INSISTING that it is.
Therein lay the problem of his film critique and his grossly misplaced indignation. I’m sure there’s much good he could be doing somewhere, but this isn’t it.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Yay! The Bitch is Back!
Anyway, a couple of points I have noted, Robert Downey Jnr is actually white, but they take the piss out of method actors in that regard too.
I am also reminded of the joke from Steady Eddy: “I was always told by people I am no different from anyone else. But every day a big blue bus would pick me up with the word spastic written on the side of it. Gee, thanks for pointing that out to everyone.”
Oh, and I am also a proud parent of a son with autism, and ADHD.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Did I ever tell you that I met Mel Brooks?
August 20th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Now *he* appreciated the proper use of a word, and even the delicately place bit of flatulence.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Caz
Very well said .I think the problem with Shriver is that he is a little too defensive. If he actually stepped back from the situation for a moment I wonder if he would see it differently. I just can’t understand how there are so many people aren’t there who cannot see this movie for what it is. I certainly look forward to seeing it and my review will be based on the quality of the film, I might like it or I might not, I will make sure to post a review.
Peter
I am insanely beyond the point of no return jealous! Tell me more!
August 20th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Good call Rebecca, Steady Eddy was great.
I find the line from so many disability advocates amusing “nothing is impossible.” I’m sorry, but me becoming a ballet dancer is impossible. It about identifying your strengths and running with them, as it were.
The thing is though, we are all different. My disability is limited to the physical but naturally that sets me apart from others because I face completely unique issues in life. I don’t mind being treated as though I have an intellectual disability, and that is not because I think people with intellectual disabilities are of lesser worth to society (quite the contrary) but because the fact that I am capable of intellectual endeavours (that obviously doesn’t include this blog!) means that I should be treated as such.
I think I might now go and try and find some Steady Eddy on YouTube.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I met Mel Brooks (and Carl Reiner) when they did a book signing in San Francisco many years ago. He seemed very tired at the time.
And on the subject of comedy directors, I also met Woody Allen. I’m a bigger Woody Allen fan than Mel Brooks fan (don’t hate me). I got to see Woody play the clarinet with his jazz band. I was in the front row, and he chatted a bit with the front row, and addressed the person sitting behind me (who was Sean Penn — and I have to admit to gloating slightly that I had better seats than Sean Penn).
August 20th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
because the fact that I am capable of intellectual endeavours (that obviously doesn’t include this blog!)
Awe jeez, now you tell me.
I thought this was where all the brainy people hung out.
Where are those darn intellectual blogs when ya need ‘em?
Sheesh.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
But nothing is impossible! You could become a ballet dancer puppet, for instance: jon malkovic gets up in the rafters and manipulates your body with ropes to do ballet moves! See? Don’t give up so easy, you (random derogatory).
August 20th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Sorry to be bringing you the bad news Caz!
And Aras, crazy I never thought about that, how very defeatist of me… now that you’re being creative how would you propose I became a bricklayer or an Olympic equestrian?:p
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:19 am
Lessee… bricklayer. I know a master bricklayer (since retired) up north of you somewhere. With a little mechanical work and good (really good) voice software, who knows? Though I would probably stay a safe distance away while the bugs were worked out.
The equestrian part is easy. Just like bull riding. Strap you to the horse, slap it on the rump, and hey presto!
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I am sooooo going to get you a pink tutu for your next birthday Rachy.
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:44 am
Great idea! Rachel can wear that Hooters top with it!
August 27th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
If you want to lay bricks, meaning have sex with them, just make sure they don’t have any sharp edges. Otherwise I don’t see a problem as it is.
As for horseback riding, I also fail to see the problem: you get straped on tight with your legs and around around the horse so you can’t fall off, and go! You just need a horse that obeys voice command instead of rein pulling. Plus, you could significanly decread the weight strain on the horse by choping your legs off! You’re a sure thing!
August 27th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Well I guess I have dated a few brick heads in my time, so does that make me a bricklayer?
As for horseriding it would take much more than just strapping my legs down considering I have no control over anything below my armpits, and even then I can only move my arms, not my hands… so how do I work that one? Should I buy the suit of an armoured Knight, that would stop my body from going all wobbly but how would I stay up?
August 28th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I meant your legs and arms are strapped around the horse!
August 28th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
With what? Duct tape? And how would I hold my head upright to be able to look at anything?
Anyway, fuck horse riding, I’m moving to Israel to fulfil my lifelong dream of becoming a robot. I don’t even have to clone myself to become a superhero now!
August 28th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I still want to strap you to my back, so I can take you for a ride on my motorbike Rachy.
I saw that robot thing, and thought of you today. I just imagined all the shit you would get up to as Robo-Rach.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Man, that thing is awesome!!!!! I need to look up the details on that, and the people who are doing it. Thanks for bringing it up!
There was something similar going on over here, too, but as usual in the mess of my desk I can’t find the little postit note I scribbled the URL on… grrrrr