Bright Lights, Big Screen, Broadway
It's almost summer, which means that folks are OUTSIDE! Yes, we all have an opportunity to be out and about, watching our favorite streaming platforms, catching a summer blockbuster at the movies, or...even heading to Broadway! This week's episode wanders through the unlearning and relearning of lived experience that can happen through entertainment.
Word of the Week [1:00]: Suffrage: There are 66 global elections going on this year, but not everyone has the right to vote in those elections. We define suffrage especially in relation to various movements for social justice.
Phase 1 [5:30]: Mary Poppins: Relatively recently, the lovable 1964 film was given a new rating by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) moving it from U (the American equivalent of G) to PG. The use of the word "hottentot" causes the BBFC to rethink the harm that may come from children repeating this problematic language.
Phase 2 [18:25]: TCM's Revamp of Problematic Films: You may not remember movies like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) or The Toy (1982), but these formerly mainstream blockbusters while entertaining then, are unacceptable and problematic now. TCM decided to dive head first into the conversation by providing important context about their overt and covert racism and sexism, rather than simply refusing to play them on their network.
Phase 3 [30:40]: Suffs: While death scrolling through Instagram, Dr. Shaunna discovered a new Broadway musical called "Suffs". Produced by Hillary Clinton and Malala Yousafzi, it recounts major, but often erased advocates, in the U.S. Women's Suffrage Movement who fought for the right to vote...remember, 1920 only gave voting rights to white women; it was a long while until women of color in the U.S. experienced unrestricted access to the ballot box.
Articles from the episode:
Mary Poppins Rating Changes Due to Specific Language
Problematic Classic Movies Examined
