An increasingly debated topic in recent years has been revisiting classic films which can be something of a minefield for blatant racism, sexism, homophobia and cultural stereotypes on display.
Recently we’ve seen a trend where streaming services have been adding disclaimers to the front of some films and episodes due to these outdated portrayals. A ruckus over “Gone with the Wind” on HBO Max stoked the fire of the debate which continued recently over certain episodes of “The Muppets” on Disney+.
THR has now done a feature piece on how the streamers are experimenting with label warnings, context panels and even purges (hello “Song of the South”) to deal with the issue.
Disney reportedly has a monthly meeting with an eclectic group of advisers who watch content that may contain stereotypes or insensitive imagery and offer their perspectives.
Turner Classic Movies, the cable network known for classic films, has kicked off a new series called “Reframed: Classic Films in the Rearview Mirror” which will touch upon eighteen culturally significant films which are both cinema classics and also have problematic aspects.
The series kicked off this week and boasts discussions about the films ranging from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Rope” to “The Searchers,” “Sinbad the Sailor,” “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and “Psycho” to provide context to help the films both be appreciated and scrutinized. TCM host Ben Mankiewicz says:
“Nobody’s canceling these movies. Our job is not to get up and say, ‘Here’s a movie that you should feel guilty about for liking.’ But to pretend that the racism in it is not painful and acute? No. I do not want to shy away from that. This was inevitable. And welcomed. And overdue.
I don’t think we ought to be afraid of irritating some people. Putting a movie into context does not mean saying, ‘Hey, look, man. People were racist in 1939, so let it go.’ Ultimately what we end up doing is making sure that these movies stay as part of the conversation.”
Whilst new original content draws people in, it’s library content that keeps them coming back to SVOD services – accounting for 80% of the demand on Disney+ and 90% on HBO Max. Many of these libraries are considered multibillion-dollar assets.
Several have reportedly been using an AI program designed to analyze films and shows for issues like gender representation and violence. One studio is now weighing using AI to scan scripts in its archive for content like racial slurs.
Some scholars feel removing a work can fetishize it and/or remove an opportunity for study. One scholar from the University of Alabama tells the paper: “The teacher in me is not interested in vanishing anything. These things are useful, and I don’t think wiping them from the face of the earth is going to resolve anything except have things re-created without an origin source. The assumption that if you get rid of Gone With the Wind, there won’t be any more Gone With the Winds is a specious claim.”
Source: The Los Angeles Times