zlacker

It can be a hard choice with young children. I grew up watching Christmas Story every year. My son is two and I'm very hesitant to continue that tradition when he's a bit older. I don't want him to think that mocking people for their accents is something to be encouraged. It'd be nice to have a version of the movie where that scene is modified or redubbed because the movie is a creative treasure.

Of course, once he reaches an age where he's old enough to better understand explanations of racism in media, etc, that's a different story. All cultural history has attitudes that may have changed or that we may even view as repugnant. It's important that people learn about the past and what people were like in the past (or still today).

Maybe this type of thing would go off much better if parents were given a choice, and have the opportunity to confront these things with their children when they think they are ready.

>>russdi+(OP)
I agree; the issue here is more than there's a Monkey Christ level of literary competence that went into these changes (and also what seems like much, much too much ambition about what to change).

>>tptace+a1
I agree to a certain degree, the scope and fairly transparent agenda of the changes definitely make it more of a problem. I'm still put off by the project. I guess there's probably a small set of edits you could make that would be beneficial and not lose the original tone. I'm not convinced of the value of that project but maybe I could get behind it.

>>agentw+u2
I think a more gifted set of writers could have made the same changes less dunkably, is I guess most of what I have to say here. I sort of do get the idea of excising the fat references, for instance --- I wouldn't, but I get it: these are books for kids, and that's a thing kids absolutely do get victimized over. But if you're going to do it, don't fuck up the music of the prose, or relocate the inflections to Oberlin, Ohio.

>>russdi+(OP)
> It can be a hard choice with young children.

Is it though? A modified version of the scene seems like a dishonest solution to a problem that has good, straightforward solutions:

- Don't show them (if its a conversation you don't want to have yet)

- Show them and then discuss the scene

Norms change time... different people think different things are ok... these are lessons children need to learn just like any other.

>>russdi+(OP)
>It can be a hard choice with young children. I grew up watching Christmas Story every year. My son is two and I'm very hesitant to continue that tradition when he's a bit older. I don't want him to think that mocking people for their accents is something to be encouraged. It'd be nice to have a version of the movie where that scene is modified or redubbed because the movie is a creative treasure.

I can understand what you are saying however I STRONGLY disagree on your conclusion. If those things bother you and don't express the values you want your options should be either to A) watch them and then have a discussion with your children to explain what wasn't acceptable or B) find new movies that display the values you want to pass on.

Changing the past to reflect the present or ideal future is a TERRIBLE idea. I don't know exactly when it was that we all decided that we can't ever tell new stories or create new things instead of rehashing creative works of the past but I'll be glad when that trend ends.

>>jonahx+g7
I think this is the approach they took in the play version: the restaurant staff sang with American accents and made some joke about what people were expecting, which seems fair.

>>russdi+(OP)
>It'd be nice to have a version of the movie where that scene is modified or redubbed because the movie is a creative treasure.

How horrifying. This is where you as a parent are supposed to find opportunity for a lesson on evaluating media. "This is an inappropriate joke but the rest of this movie is so good that I'm letting you watch. Don't make fun of peoples' accents." If he's too young for that lesson, he's too young for the movie.

>>monkey+Q8
This ^^^

These situations are perfect for having actual, meaningful conversations with your kids. Not only will you clearly articulate expectations to your kids, but you'll grow closer.

>>kQq9oH+Lz
Agreed. My 4 year old went through a phase where she loved the original Disney Peter Pan. Disney themselves have included a disclaimer at the beginning of the film now, but for my daughter I made sure to discuss with her that the portrayal of the Indians wasn't particularly nice.