(Untitled)

[artemisiabrisol]

via ohnotheydidnt's original post

I am not a figure skating choreographer. Nor I am on the planning committee of the European Figure Skating Championships (though my 2010 schedule has an opening). So I was not privy to the meetings that lead to the decision to require ice dancing pairs to perform a routine that was "representative of a country's culture."

Because

Comments

[annoyedwabbit]

(here from Metaquotes! ^_^)

Yeah, Russians paying some kind of deranged "tribute" to the Australian Aborigines is several kinds of special. On the other hand, it wasn't all bad. A friend of mine was skating for Estonia - so she and her partner did an Estonian folk-dance theme for their routine. Apparently the Russians have just never heard of cultural sensitivity.

[ocelot_eyes]

(over here from Metaquotes too

[sleepinbeast]

...and another one via metaquotes.

I dunno, maybe Germany is too close to Russia or something, but I don't get what's soooooo offensive about their choice? Is there some kind of history between Russia and Australian Aborigines that isn't taught in German schools?

Someone please enlighten the insensitive kraut that is me?

[dornbeast]

It's not what they did, it's how.

Imagine that somebody wanted to do a dance representative of Germany, and thoughtlessly decided it involved goose-stepping and lots of "heil Hitler" salutes, and ignoring the deep well of culture that is far more representative of Germany.

That isn't an exact representation of what's going on here, but it's close.

[sleepinbeast]

Thank you both for explaining.

It must have something to do with how a culture perceives itself. If someone did an impression of Germany the way you suggested, no Germans I know would be offended, they'd just be "OMG look at the stupid, uneducated foreigners, ha ha, how embarassing for them" - actually, the stereotypical question any German expects to be asked (because it's happened so often) if they are in the US on a High school exchange program is whether Hitler is still alive and kickin'.

So maybe it depends on whether your ingrained reaction is more "MOCK THE STUPID" or more "YOU ARE INSULTING US AND TAKING AWAY OUR CULTURE".

also from metaquotes

[misters]

and you have to keep in mind that afaik there isn't a native people of Germany that has been historically mocked and slapped with degrading stereotypes the way the Aboriginals have in Australia. the majority culture (here defined mainly as "not Aboriginal" "not an Aborigine?" I'm not from Australia, someone correct me if I'm wrong) making fun of a minority culture is very different from someone in Germany or Russia making fun of someone with essentially the same ethnicity as themselves.

Re: also from metaquotes

[sleepinbeast]

This.

They'd probably have gotten a similar reaction for honouring German Jews by giving a medley of "The Eternal Jew" and Shylock, accompanied by Klezmer music. (Nothing against Klezmer! I like it!)

[sleepinbeast]

You mean US people don't tell post-WTC jokes?

"American Airlines - we'll fly you directly to your office"

*goes away snickering*

[daiq]

Hang on, hang on, i wouldn't say that Aussies find Blackface amusing in the slightest, it doesn't have the same cultural implications for us as it does in the US, but it is still wrong. I know the whole Harry Connick Jr thing made world news last year, and most of us sat here at home cringing (and were on HCJr's side)

[daiq]

The stupid show was having a reunion special, and brought back acts from the 80's that had been popular way back then. We have grown up a little since then ;) Don't get me wrong, some Aussies DID enjoy it and think it was funny, certainly no one i knew did though. But i think there will always be an element of the population who will enjoy anything

[poison_parlour]

They WHAT? God damn it! I hated Hey Hey when it was on when I was young and I still hate it today! I DON'T WANT MORE HEY HEY! It disrupts my evening viewing! And I can't stand Darryl Summers!

[daiq]

There is nothing on the Channel 9 website yet, but i have seen the adds on TV, apparently they have signed for a 10 or 13 episide season this year.

[poison_parlour]

I am thoroughly disgusted. I haven't seen any ads on Channel 9 in the Territory but I'm moving to Melbourne at the end of the week... hey, at least I'll have digital TV down there and the ability to watch something ELSE.