SOTS News-Is This Legit?

[BILLONEE]

http://bb.mcdrake.nl/engdisney/viewtopic.php?id=258

I came across this & I hope it has a long overdue happy ending.

[singerguy04]

That press conference and that post on that forum is from 2007

[BILLONEE]

That press conference and that post on that forum is from 2007

I'm sorry. I didn't catch the date before posting. Thank you.

[Lazario]

I came across this & I hope it has a long overdue happy ending.

[merlinjones]

If you haven't visited the incredible site Song of the South.net - - it's a must for all fans of Uncle Remus and his tales.

http://songofthesouth.net/index.html

[Duckburger]

Iger made himself pretty clear when he said that Song of the South will not be released due to content issues. He's the highest in position, meaning... end of story.

Why even bother to raise your hopes?

[merlinjones]

>>Iger made himself pretty clear when he said that Song of the South will not be released due to content issues. He's the highest in position, meaning... end of story. Why even bother to raise your hopes?<<

As long as the movie still exists (and it does), and there is money to be made (lots) there is always hope for the film to be shown again - - and history backs up that hope.

During the height of the Civil Rights era in the 1960's, Walt Disney Productions announced that "Song of the South" had been permanently withdrawn from the marketplace due to content issues - - but then the winds changed and the film was re-released in 1972 becoming the biggest grossing reissue in the company's history (and was successful again and again in 1974, 1980 and 1986 - - with nary a perceptible peep of objection in the media).

No matter what, this movie is part of our collective pop culture history and also belongs to those who care about the perpetuation of art and ideas and rights of the masses (and the free marketplace) to continue enjoying classic works. Despite being of another era in terms of political correctness, the film isn't at all racist at heart, but the loving story of the bond between two unlikely friends - - a film that strives to unite, not divide.

My compliments to the webmaster of songofthesouth. net for helping to keep the film's memory going in such a artful fashion during this period of suppression.

[ajmrowland]

Mods, feel free to merge this with the "Too Offensive for DVD?" thread.

[Goliath]

Hey, that is from the international section of the Dutch forum that I advertise in my signature! It's set up by an aquintance of mine.

But the message is from 2007, and the international section unfortunately proved to be fruitless. It still exists, but I don't think it's still being used. The Dutch section is still active.

[AwallaceUNC]

That press conference and that post on that forum is from 2007

I'm sorry. I didn't catch the date before posting. Thank you.

No worries. The Song of the South issue needs to be kept alive anyways.

I share merlinjones' forward-looking optimism. I wouldn't look for a release anytime soon (as has already been said in this forum, Iger very recently reiterated his stance on the movie), but I'd be surprised if it never sees the light of day on home video.

[Barbossa]

I don't know why they don't release this one when Huck Finn is on DVD, and I felt that has more racial content and mature themes than SotS.

[Elladorine]

I don't know why they don't release this one when Huck Finn is on DVD, and I felt that has more racial content and mature themes than SotS.

I agree with you. However, I think the company is afraid it's going to be judged more harshly just because it's a Disney film that contains animation (i.e., family-friendly). And when things like this happen . . .

A few years back, a research team was put together to gauge the reaction to rereleasing SONG OF THE SOUTH. You see, Disney knows that the release would garner quite a bit of money for the studio on Video and DVD, but at the same time they realize there is a political backside to the film in these days of political correctness and sensitivity... and as a sensitive company feeling the sting of the Baptist and other groups... the last thing they want is more troubles. So they sent copies of a SONG OF THE SOUTH tape out to folks like BILL COSBY and MAYA ANGELOU, as well as Henry Hampton and Julius Wilson. They asked for comments and recommendations for how to handle the rerelease of the film.

Maya Angelou reacted quite strongly. She said the movie was dehumanizing and that she would certainly be involved with any boycott or protest. And there were others that reacted in a similar fashion.

Source: http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?q=node/6325

When you have someone as influential as Maya Angelou stating that she'd be involved with a boycott or protest of any release, well . . . sigh.

[SpringHeelJack]

Oh, she can't live forever.

...unless she can. Then may God have mercy on us all.

[Lazario]

Mods, feel free to merge this with the "Too Offensive for DVD?" thread.

This may mark the first occasion of this, I'm not sure - but we're in agreement.

I think the company is afraid it's going to be judged more harshly just because it's a Disney film that contains animation (i.e., family-friendly). And when things like this happen . . .

A few years back, a research team was put together to gauge the reaction to rereleasing SONG OF THE SOUTH. You see, Disney knows that the release would garner quite a bit of money for the studio on Video and DVD, but at the same time they realize there is a political backside to the film in these days of political correctness and sensitivity... and as a sensitive company feeling the sting of the Baptist and other groups... the last thing they want is more troubles. So they sent copies of a SONG OF THE SOUTH tape out to folks like BILL COSBY and MAYA ANGELOU, as well as Henry Hampton and Julius Wilson. They asked for comments and recommendations for how to handle the rerelease of the film.

Maya Angelou reacted quite strongly. She said the movie was dehumanizing and that she would certainly be involved with any boycott or protest. And there were others that reacted in a similar fashion.

Source: http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?q=node/6325

When you have someone as influential as Maya Angelou stating that she'd be involved with a boycott or protest of any release, well . . . sigh.

Sigh, yes. It's not nice for someone to want to hold back history, sure. But still, I'm a little tired of people who keep ignoring something key here. What black people think of this movie is important to consider. Maya Angelou does not deserve this scorn or disrespect. Disney making money - who cares? I think you guys are being a little selfish now. Of all the discussions of is the movie really racist or offensive, I don't see anyone other than maybe me who seems to give a damn about what black people think at all. Much like the movie itself.

The movie does in fact contain rascist stereotypes and is degrading to black people. Just because it's not offensive to the white members here speaking out does not mean it isn't offensive to black people. I still stand by my position as a white man. And as a gay man, I see all the time how - for no good reason at all - human characteristics of people are taken out of context for laughs or simple-minded, hokey "feel-good" / life-affirming messages. And especially minorities. And it serves to do nothing else but further numb viewers to the problem's source.

You people would all change your tune and how if you could see this from someone else's point of view.

[Elladorine]

You people would all change your tune and how if you could see this from someone else's point of view.

Oh, I suppose I've never had to face any prejudice in my life because of who I am, that I've never been able to see anything from someone else's point of view. Forget the fact that my own family is hurtful and disrespectful of the mixed-race relationship I'm in, or the fact that one of my old best friends was practically run out of my hometown since she was one of its few black residents. I'm not unique to other specific stereotypes, prejudice, and other hurtful things I've had to face in my life but I don't attack unchangeable history over it.

So yeah, I guess I have no empathy what-so-ever when it comes to prejudice, and that I'm selfish since have no problem putting a movie that was very much the product of its time in the proper context.

[Lazario]

So you think Maya Angelou is an ignorant, idiotic bafoon?

Don't get self-righteous about this and don't take it personally. The fact remains: this is still chiefly and majorly disrespectful to people who find it offensive. Those people have every right to take issue with this movie and I'm sick and tired of people not giving a crap. I have every right to express that viewpoint and not be attacked for it either.

History's unchangeable. But does that mean these people need to be further disrespected by the apathy of Disney fans?

[ajmrowland]

Before people start replying angrily to the above post, let me point out that there was no reported introduction putting the film in context.

That said, I'd love to see Bill Cosby's reaction to it.

[Lazario]

No one here has any right to be angry about what I said. It's a damn fact that people get really self-righteous about their own right to own the movie via a Disney released copy of the movie.

I don't hear a single person talking about the black people who think this movie is offensive other than to mock them. I haven't even called blatant racism on that and I easily could have.

Instead what we get from defenders of the movie on DVD are excuses like "history isn't changeable." Yeah? Well, what we decide to do about it is. The people here don't want SotS on DVD so we can learn from its' mistakes. Read the threads about the movie. People here aren't even willing to admit the movie made any.


EDIT / UPDATE:

Enignawing - you remember us talking on Chat. We were getting along great. I do not want to trash that. And I know just because I said something you didn't like doesn't mean you think I was trying to or anything. But I didn't mean to piss you off. And if you had told me right to my face that I had, I would have apologized. But you definitely meant to piss me off. So I don't feel like I owe you an apology for any of this. Not now.

I know everyone has their own personal reason for wanting something. And had people chose to respond to Disney's decision to keep the movie vaulted with more respect to people's feelings, I wouldn't even be talking about this. But what they choose to express is a spiteful, selfish request from where I'm sitting. I've seen mocking and outright apathy from people in response to outraged and offended members of the black community. So what else should I say? It's disturbing enough that of all the people vocal about social issues- whites still get more camera time and blacks more insults, parody, and trendy hatred. And on the UD board, we have endless threads of dozens and dozens on the of whites being more vocal than anyone else about this one bad movie.

To say the least, it's counter-productive to stopping racism which is obviously still alive and well. Or showing that it bothers us as a community when we have a chance to recognize this movie for being highly offensive.


On a related note:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100420/ap_ ... bit_height

[merlinjones]

The movie clearly isn't racist in intent and neither are those who simply enjoy it's art and storytelling or champion its release.

Maya Angelou is but one citizen of the world with equal rights to an opinion, and the right to choose whether to view the movie or not, not the arbiter for all. As an author, poet and singer, I'm sure Maya would not appreciate her own works suppressed by a corporate rights holder in the future -- the same consideration must be given to artists Walt Disney, Joel Chandler Harris, James Baskett, Hattie MacDaniel, Bobby Driscoll, et al.

Censorship or suppression of art is never acceptable. We all must be free to view and debate intellectual and historic property openly and without restriction for this to be a truly free society and future for one and all. Otherwise, who is to decide what is right for everyone to see and hear and say?

[slave2moonlight]

Don't get self-righteous about this and don't take it personally.

Hmm, that demand doesn't sound the least bit hypocritical.

The fact remains: this is still chiefly and majorly disrespectful to people who find it offensive. Those people have every right to take issue with this movie and I'm sick and tired of people not giving a crap. I have every right to express that viewpoint and not be attacked for it either.

The fact here is that just about every film, book, painting, etc... has something in it that someone can or will find offensive. It doesn't matter if it's one person, a large group of people, the majority, nothing should be buried on the basis that it offends. This is an issue about art and history and trying to whitewash the past. It's both sad and disappointing to hear that artists like Angelou and Cosby don't understand that.

Yes, everyone has the right to be offended, but not to be thought police or art police. As is the correct, normal address to people who find something offensive: if you don't like it, don't watch it. We all get offended by things we see in the media at one time or another. If you're going to be like book burners and demand people bow down to your hurt feelings, you shouldn't be surprised if a lot of people don't give a crap.

And I'm not condoning the creation of racially insensitive art of any form, just condemning the burying/editing/whitewashing of it. Once it's done, it's done, and we'll never fully understand each other if we cover our eyes and ears to the past. I don't believe a film like this makes anyone a racist anymore than horror films make people killers. As most of us have said, this work should be released in the proper context if people feel it necessary. It's an invaluable window to one common viewpoint from our past that we are still trying to correct. It should be out there for viewing and discussion. And despite its racially offensive aspects, it is still a lovely story about an interracial bond with excellent animation of the classic Brer Rabbit stories.