Dub
05-05-2001, 07:30 AM
haven't visited here in QUITE a while. :D
Anyways, I figured you all would be interested in this. I know you all already know about the 12 June Bugs pulls, but this article should maybe shed a little more insight on it. If you wanna see the actual thing, go here: http://www.comicon.com/splash/
BLACKFACE BUGS YANKED FROM RETROSPECTIVE!
May 4: Cartoon Network's plans for a complete retrospective of Bugs Bunny cartoons that was to include every animated film the character ever appeared in has been altered due to the rascist content of the some of the material. Print editions of today's WALL STREET JOURNAL are reporting that twelve toons, including "All This And Rabbit Stew", "Any Bonds Today?" and "Frigid Hare" have been pulled from the line up because they were deemed "Racially charged" by AOL TIME WARNER executives.
The JOURNAL said: "The reversal sheds light on the early days of cartoons, when racially insensitive fare was common. Ethnic stereotypes were considered fair game, and animation, an art that depends on satire and edgy humor, fell in step with everyday prejudices." In one of the cartoons Bugs appears in black face. In another, he distracts a black hunter by rattling a pair of dice. In a third he sells tickets to "Uncle Tom's Cabinet". In others he insults a bucktoothed Eskimo and outwits a dopey American Indian.
Cartoon Network was aware of the racially charged content and had planned to run the offending cartoons late at night with a constant disclaimer across the bottom of the screen saying: "Cartoon Network does not endorse the use of racial slurs. These vintage cartoons are presented as representative of the time in which they were created and are presented for their historical value."
The JOURNAL said: "But Cartoon Network's plans were at odds with efforts by Warner Bros. to keep such images out of circulation. Warner Bros. began pulling Bugs Bunny cartoons featuring African Americans from its TV Packages in the late 1960's, sensitized by the civil rights movement, says animation expert Jerry beck. Cartoons featuring stereotyped American Indians disappeared from general viewing about five years ago."
Apparently the plan to run the rascist toons caused some consterantion and intercorporate warfare between Warner Bros., who was only told of the planned retrospective on April 26, and Cartoon Network. While the official AOL TIME WARNER line is that Cartoon Network itself chose to change its plans, the JOURNAL reports that the decision ended up on AOL TIME WARNER CEO Gerald Levin's desk. Cartoon Network President, Betty Cohen, told the JOURNAL: "Somebody told me that he's always been very concerned about these. I just thought I better find out if that's true. He left it up to us. He said. 'Could you just look at this again?'"
BTW - Can someone update me on the Speedy situation? How has it been going getting him back on the air?
Anyways, I figured you all would be interested in this. I know you all already know about the 12 June Bugs pulls, but this article should maybe shed a little more insight on it. If you wanna see the actual thing, go here: http://www.comicon.com/splash/
BLACKFACE BUGS YANKED FROM RETROSPECTIVE!
May 4: Cartoon Network's plans for a complete retrospective of Bugs Bunny cartoons that was to include every animated film the character ever appeared in has been altered due to the rascist content of the some of the material. Print editions of today's WALL STREET JOURNAL are reporting that twelve toons, including "All This And Rabbit Stew", "Any Bonds Today?" and "Frigid Hare" have been pulled from the line up because they were deemed "Racially charged" by AOL TIME WARNER executives.
The JOURNAL said: "The reversal sheds light on the early days of cartoons, when racially insensitive fare was common. Ethnic stereotypes were considered fair game, and animation, an art that depends on satire and edgy humor, fell in step with everyday prejudices." In one of the cartoons Bugs appears in black face. In another, he distracts a black hunter by rattling a pair of dice. In a third he sells tickets to "Uncle Tom's Cabinet". In others he insults a bucktoothed Eskimo and outwits a dopey American Indian.
Cartoon Network was aware of the racially charged content and had planned to run the offending cartoons late at night with a constant disclaimer across the bottom of the screen saying: "Cartoon Network does not endorse the use of racial slurs. These vintage cartoons are presented as representative of the time in which they were created and are presented for their historical value."
The JOURNAL said: "But Cartoon Network's plans were at odds with efforts by Warner Bros. to keep such images out of circulation. Warner Bros. began pulling Bugs Bunny cartoons featuring African Americans from its TV Packages in the late 1960's, sensitized by the civil rights movement, says animation expert Jerry beck. Cartoons featuring stereotyped American Indians disappeared from general viewing about five years ago."
Apparently the plan to run the rascist toons caused some consterantion and intercorporate warfare between Warner Bros., who was only told of the planned retrospective on April 26, and Cartoon Network. While the official AOL TIME WARNER line is that Cartoon Network itself chose to change its plans, the JOURNAL reports that the decision ended up on AOL TIME WARNER CEO Gerald Levin's desk. Cartoon Network President, Betty Cohen, told the JOURNAL: "Somebody told me that he's always been very concerned about these. I just thought I better find out if that's true. He left it up to us. He said. 'Could you just look at this again?'"
BTW - Can someone update me on the Speedy situation? How has it been going getting him back on the air?