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The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story): Difference between revisions
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=== Racial overtones and issues === | === Racial overtones and issues === | ||
* [[Philip Hinchcliffe]] cited Fu Manchu to [[Robert Holmes]] as an item to use as inspiration for writing ''The Talons of Weng-Chiang''.<ref>http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/4s.html</ref> This decision, and its subsequent impact upon the story as an influence, has been since the source of significant criticism. Most of this controversy in the years immediately following its creation was in the US and Canada, where the racial stereotyping and usage of "yellowface" (a practice where yellow makeup and prosthetics are applied to make an individual appear Asian) had already fallen into disfavour many years earlier. | * [[Philip Hinchcliffe]] cited Fu Manchu to [[Robert Holmes]] as an item to use as inspiration for writing ''The Talons of Weng-Chiang''.<ref>http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/4s.html</ref> This decision, and its subsequent impact upon the story as an influence, has been since the source of significant criticism. Most of this controversy in the years immediately following its creation was in the US and Canada, where the racial stereotyping and usage of "yellowface" (a practice where yellow makeup and prosthetics are applied to make an individual appear Asian) had already fallen into disfavour many years earlier. It has also been pointed out that Fu Manchu was a depiction that Chinese people had been campaigning and protesting against since the 1920s.<ref>''"Yellow Peril, Dark Hero: Fu Manchu and the 'Gothic Bedevilment' of Racist Intent"'', Karen Kingsbury, pg. 105 (published in 2004 as part of ''The Gothic Other: Racial and Social Constructions in the Literary Imaginations,'' edited by Ruth Bienstock Anolik and Douglas L. Howard, by McFarland & Co.)</ref><ref>''The Chinese in Britain, 1800-Present: Economy, Transnationalism, Identity'', Gregor Benton and Edmund Terence Gomez, pg. 313 (published 2008 by Palgrave MacMillan)</ref> | ||
** The Canadian syndication run on TVOntario in 1980 dropped the story and did not air it, due to complaints from the local Chinese Canadian community. In their complaint to TVOntario, the Chinese Canadian National Council described Talons as "dangerous, offensive, racist stereotyping to associate the Chinese with everything fearful and despicable" | ** The Canadian syndication run on TVOntario in 1980 dropped the story and did not air it, due to complaints from the local Chinese Canadian community. In their complaint to TVOntario, the Chinese Canadian National Council described Talons as "dangerous, offensive, racist stereotyping to associate the Chinese with everything fearful and despicable".<ref>Chinese object to Dr. Who". ''Regina Leader-Post''. 7 November 1980. p. 12. Archival copy at https://www.newspapers.com/image/495995728/</ref> Specifically, the CCNC's Dr. Joseph Wong also highlighted the Fu Manchu element as one of the issues.<ref>https://torontoist.com/2013/11/next-on-tvontario-doctor-who/</ref><ref>"TVOntario cancels the rest of Dr. Who", ''The Canadian Press'', 7th November 1980</ref> | ||
** The story was not shown on Los Angeles television after 1985 for similar reasons, this time involving a local sponsor of Asian extraction. And multiple other stations in the US and Canada also declined to air it. {{Fact}} | ** The story was not shown on Los Angeles television after 1985 for similar reasons, this time involving a local sponsor of Asian extraction. And multiple other stations in the US and Canada also declined to air it. {{Fact}} | ||
*Despite the story continuing to be acclaimed by ''Doctor Who'' fans, the story has also garnered controversy in later years for its stereotypical portrayals of the Chinese. | *Despite the story continuing to be acclaimed by ''Doctor Who'' fans, the story has also garnered controversy in later years for its stereotypical portrayals of the Chinese. | ||
**Aside from character actor [[John Bennett (actor)|John Bennett]], (an Englishman) playing the role of Chang in yellowface, the story has been criticised for portraying its Chinese characters as either "coolies" (locally sourced labourers, often Chinese) or tong members. | **Aside from character actor [[John Bennett (actor)|John Bennett]], (an Englishman) playing the role of Chang in yellowface<ref name=":1">https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/britbox-opens-up-racist-doctor-who-can-of-worms-kv9pt68x5</ref>, the story has been criticised for portraying its Chinese characters as either "coolies" (locally sourced labourers, often Chinese) or tong members. | ||
*Another point of strong criticism is the Jago's use of the slur "celestial" in reference to Li H'sen Chang, which goes unchallenged by the Doctor.<ref name=":0">''Doctor Who and Race'', Chapter 11, Kate Orman (edited by Lindy Orthia, released June 2013 by Intellect Books)</ref> - and the Doctor also makes an unpleasant remark about Li H'sen Chang's eyebrows. Attention has also been drawn to Litefoot's use of the slur "ch*nks"<ref name=":1" /><ref>https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.drwho/c/UaMhhbRXcOI/m/TUlXI9htTwIJ</ref> (which [[Stacey Smith?]] levelled criticism at for the lack of rebuttal within the story<ref>https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.drwho/c/UaMhhbRXcOI/m/rT6tp0U13bkJ</ref>) and Greel referring to Chang's henchmen as "opium-addicted scum"<ref name=":0" />. | |||
**Additionally, the camera scripts feature further points that have also become representative to fans of the problematic issue; including Sergeant Kyle using the phrase "Chinee" and Leela referring to Li H'Sen Chang as "the yellow one" (in part one), Teresa calling Chang "Mr Chin Chin" (in part three) and the phrase "tong-wallahs" (in part five)<ref name=":2">Camera scripts for ''The Talons of Weng-Chiang'' (as released in the PDF extras of The Collection - Season 14 bluray)</ref> | |||
*Some fans have commented that the moment where the Doctor appears to speak Chinese is actually mangled nonsense, indicative of a lack of research in that regard. | |||
**This point is supported by the camera script for part one, which notes merely "(Speaks Chinese)".<ref name=":2" /> | |||
*In more recent years, authors like [[Kate Orman]] have noted in critical analysis pieces the significance of the Fu Manchu inspiration upon the negative racial overtones of the story.<ref name=":0" /> Orman also rebuked the notion that it would have been too hard to find an Asian actor to play the part of Li H'Sen Chang (whilst also noting that even a correct racial casting would not have solved the racial issues inherent in the story's writing).<ref name=":0" /> | *In more recent years, authors like [[Kate Orman]] have noted in critical analysis pieces the significance of the Fu Manchu inspiration upon the negative racial overtones of the story.<ref name=":0" /> Orman also rebuked the notion that it would have been too hard to find an Asian actor to play the part of Li H'Sen Chang (whilst also noting that even a correct racial casting would not have solved the racial issues inherent in the story's writing).<ref name=":0" /> | ||
*Following fan concerns about [[BritBox]]'s easy access of the story and the decision to continue making it accessible with presence of a racial slur, yellowface and stereotype, BritBox decided to put up a trigger warning saying "Contains stereotypes that some may find offensive" to signpost the nature of the story's content.<ref>https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a31633239/doctor-who-trigger-warnings-britbox/</ref> | *Following fan concerns about [[BritBox]]'s easy access of the story and the decision to continue making it accessible with presence of a racial slur, yellowface and stereotype, BritBox decided to put up a trigger warning saying "Contains stereotypes that some may find offensive" to signpost the nature of the story's content.<ref>https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a31633239/doctor-who-trigger-warnings-britbox/</ref> | ||
