Satire involving the police used to be different. In the '60s, they were figures of mild fun. A bit stupid, but largely harmless. Probably derived from the Inspector LeStrade character in the Sherlock Holmes stories. If you minded your own business, the police were no more threatening or annoying to middle-class Brits than the clergy or landladies.
Sam - edgy and unpredictable. Stepping on the cracks in pavements is still okay, but beyond that is an increasingly grey area.
I remember a retired miner complaining about cars when he needed a new one to take his wife's wheelchair. This was some years ago, but he said there was no pleasure in buying a new car because as soon as you take it on the road you are bound to be breaking some law.
What I find rather strange, is looking at this now, they arn't funny at all, just rather juvenile. I suppose that's what many of our parents' generation would have thought of them, (from a different perspective). Perhaps we've had so much comedy satire since, that it makes them look this way.
Tammly - it works for me, but I find it necessary to see it without looking at the contrived nature of it. I think all comedy tends to be like that if you look at the contrived aspect. And acting generally.
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The days when satire was satire and the audiences weren't a band of snowflakes.
ReplyDeleteJannie - yes, there were no swivel-eyed loons looking for reasons close it down.
ReplyDeleteSatire involving the police used to be different. In the '60s, they were figures of mild fun. A bit stupid, but largely harmless. Probably derived from the Inspector LeStrade character in the Sherlock Holmes stories. If you minded your own business, the police were no more threatening or annoying to middle-class Brits than the clergy or landladies.
ReplyDeleteIt's all got a bit more edgy, these days....
Sam - edgy and unpredictable. Stepping on the cracks in pavements is still okay, but beyond that is an increasingly grey area.
ReplyDeleteI remember a retired miner complaining about cars when he needed a new one to take his wife's wheelchair. This was some years ago, but he said there was no pleasure in buying a new car because as soon as you take it on the road you are bound to be breaking some law.
What I find rather strange, is looking at this now, they arn't funny at all, just rather juvenile. I suppose that's what many of our parents' generation would have thought of them, (from a different perspective). Perhaps we've had so much comedy satire since, that it makes them look this way.
ReplyDeleteTammly - it works for me, but I find it necessary to see it without looking at the contrived nature of it. I think all comedy tends to be like that if you look at the contrived aspect. And acting generally.
ReplyDelete