Is Tarzan racist?

Discussion in 'Art & Culture' started by spidergoat, Aug 3, 2016.

  1. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    54,036
    Is Tarzan a racist story? Does it reflect the prejudices of the time like "Tom Sawyer", but can be appreciated despite them? Or is it irredeemable?
     
  2. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  3. KilljoyKlown Whatever Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    6,493
    I never had that feeling and I've read all the books and seen all the movies except the latest. So maybe you can elaborate a bit more on your reasons for your comments.
     
  4. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  5. PhysBang Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,422
    It is totally racist. A white man has all these abilities without ever being raised by humans but all the indigenous people can't come close to his abilities.
     
  6. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  7. timojin Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    3,252
    Yes he picked up a white woman why not a black one since there were many black tribes and he could pick up a black woman, so he was a racist and a bigot.
     
  8. Ivan Seeking Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    957
    Well, no. You aren't a racist just because you are attracted to white women. In fact, one might argue, he could be attracted to her because she's different than everyone else he sees and like him.
     
  9. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    18,935
    In what particular respect do you see it as racist?
     
  10. Stoniphi obscurely fossiliferous Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    3,256
    Gee....and here I thought that 'Tarzan of the apes' meant he was raised by 'the apes' and thus would naturally reflect the knowledge and experience of that upbringing. Merely not marrying a black girl does not infer that he would be racist either. Otherwise, all marriages would be multi - racial. Mebbe he should have married a Bonobo of either sex.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  11. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    54,036
    http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2016/07/26/stop-making-tarzan-movies-please/

    "So really, Hollywood, this is not a story that can be salvaged at all. It’s the product of a pre-WWII mentality in which eugenics seemed reasonable, most of the world was thought to be inhabited by sub-human races with limited intelligence, and the white man was the crown of creation who, if only justice were done, would rule over the brown and yellow people with a benevolence that they could not possibly appreciate."
     
    DaveC426913 likes this.
  12. Jeeves Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    5,089
    An Englishman, writing for an English audience in Edwardian England puts an English nobleman at the center of a story set in "the dark continent", an exotic, almost mythical place, which is unknown to most of the readers. (How strange!!) The protagonist in that fantasy waits for his appropriate story-book bride, rather than steal a girl from a hostile native tribe or mate with a different species. (Of the three options, which were the readers most likely to accept?)
    You're just baiting us on 'political correctness' again, aren't you?
     
  13. Dr_Toad It's green! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,527
    Tarzan kreegah bundolo. Don't y'all know anything?

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
    DaveC426913 likes this.
  14. Beer w/Straw Transcendental Ignorance! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    6,549
    Well, is Superman a racist?
     
  15. Dr_Toad It's green! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,527
    He's literally not Hitler, anyhow..
     
  16. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    54,036
    He can't fall in love with a storybook native? How is that not an option?

    As far as baiting, hell yes. What's wrong with that? Plasma obviously thinks this forum needs a kick start, and I think he's doing it wrong.
     
  17. timojin Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    3,252
    was Ray Charles a racist ?
     
  18. timojin Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    3,252

    Was or is Ray Charles a racist ?
     
  19. Dr_Toad It's green! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,527
    How could it be "is", since he's dead? I think he was colorblind, dude. After all, he could shave in the dark.
     
  20. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    18,935
    OK, that's twice in five minutes you're made me smile.
    [kreegah bundolo!]
     
  21. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    18,935
    Yeah. I think we granted why it went down the way it did. It was a product of the times and does need to be viewed in that context - inasmuch as we judge the author for it.

    But that doesn't mean it wasn't, in retrospect, racist.

    Likewise, slavery was pretty racist, even though 400 years ago it didn't seem to be.
     
  22. Dr_Toad It's green! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,527
    Happy to help. I seem to be in one of those moods today...
     
  23. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    54,036
    I don't think so.
     

Share This Page