Comments on: Little Britain panders to hatred and homophobia, claims academic

By: Gw Jung

Gw Jung — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:22:09 +0000

Allow a non-brit (resident of Florida) to comment: Little Britain is a spectacular show. Ms Finding's observations remind me of TV critics who made similar disparaging remarks about "All in the Family" — I agree with CC-T: Ms. Finding needs to find herself, instead of disparaging the mental abilities of non-academic, less educated folk, to discern what Little Britain is all about. She is way off mark.

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By: Gw Jung

Gw Jung — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:18:17 +0000

Living on the other side of the pond (in Florida) I must say that Little Britain is a spectacular show — and I agree with C C-T: Ms Finding needs to find a life. She has missed the point. As an academic she thinks people below her educational level are… dumb.

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By: Steve Hope

Steve Hope — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:05:57 +0000

She has a point in this sense: the lampooned characters will not be seen 'ironically' by millions of not very sophisticated people whose prejudices are directly given expression by the stereotypes represented. Daffyd is a clear case in point – the real joke is that a small rural community like his, which is completely indifferent and even supportive towards his homosexuality, simply wouldn't exist. Unfortunately, politicized lgbts and their straight allies are probably the only ones who 'get it'. To countless others it will be simply about a 'funny fat fairy'. The art is to educate without being humourless – not an easy call.

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By: Ivan

Ivan — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:28:15 +0000

Mike, worry not, you have it right. On first viewing, I was disturbed by the character but then saw the joke that he revels in his imagined oppression and uniqueness and is consequently very put out to find that no-one cares he is gay and that almost everyone else is too. Very funny.

Ms Finding is trying to be helpful – which is nice – but is trying too hard in this instance.

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By: theotherhalf

theotherhalf — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:42:22 +0000

no c c-t: Little Britain loves to laugh at Trannies, at women, at the Disabled…

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By: C C-T

C C-T — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:34:34 +0000

Deborah Finding seems to have missed the point that the British, unlike some other nations, love to laugh at themselves.
Little Britain seems to represent most areas of society and, to me doesn't seem homophobic anymore than it is ageist or anything else. Whilst all humour finds its roots in tragedy, the ridiculous and outrageous nature of these shows only serves to make them funnier.

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By: theotherhalf

theotherhalf — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:23:48 +0000

actually she speaks sense but still doesn't see the wood for the trees.

what she says about certain characters are true but she doesn't see the blatant misogyny, transphobia, hatred of the disabled and people with learning disabilities.

Little Britain is mainstream Mother-in-Law jokes dressed up as post-modern humor. don't make me laugh.

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By: JB

JB — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:03:58 +0000

Academics can be so stupid … not that the woman is mentally impaired, but she's so steeped in academia that she can't see the humor in the program. Needless to say, I'm glad I don't have to try to make dinner conversation with her, because I think I'd be bored senseless.

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By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:06:28 +0000

I thought the whole idea about Dafyd is that no one is bothered by him being Gay except himself; thats the joke? It like "How Very Dare You!" Derek Faye in Catherine Tate. People actually like him and want advise from him. Its the same satire as Goodness Gracious me, with the two Asian Couples pretending they are not Asians; pure satire!

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By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:59:19 +0000

I thought the whole idea of Dafyd was that no one in the Village was worried about Gays except him and he has internal homophobia; or have I got the wrong end of this particular stick??

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