So what do we think of this?

Tmuk · Post by **Tmuk** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:14 pm 0

Bid to ban 'racist' Tin Tin book. I can see where they're coming from, but I really fail to see how anyone could be offended by a 50 year old comic book?

HGFB · Post by **HGFB** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:30 pm 0

Play.com have this to say about it

http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/6587 ... oduct.html

First published in book form in 1931 (in black & white only), Tintin in the Congo reflects the colonial attitudes of that period in its depiction of African people. Herge himself admitted that he was influenced by the bourgeois, paternalistic stereotypes of the period. This is also true of the treatment of big-game hunting and the attitude towards animals. All copies of the book will be displayed with a belly-band advertising its content

Product of its time. Stick it in the adult section and let people buy it if they want. If you go down the route of banning things for content that was perfectly acceptable at the time it was published then things get really bad, really fast.

RedOktober · Post by **RedOktober** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:34 pm 0

Does this mean all books over a certain age displaying any racism, stereotypes or bigorty will be banned too?

Good luck with that.

gravy · Post by **gravy** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:37 pm 0

Banning aside, why is it still being published?

stealthbanana · Post by **stealthbanana** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:39 pm 0

I think its an interesting historical document.

Should we ban MacBeth due to its warping of the historical King into some homicidal loony to suit the politics of the time.

HGFB · Post by **HGFB** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:39 pm 0

There must be some kind of demand for comics of this age or it wouldn't be. Isn't there a book out with similar style comics from the Beano or Dandy? I'm sure we've had a thread about it.

Post by **Jedburgh** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:40 pm 0

gravy wrote:Banning aside, why is it still being published?

Because people keep buying it?

gravy · Post by **gravy** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:41 pm 0

Yeah I reckon there is a demand

I can understand a collector trying to get an original copy of this but people buying a brand new copy? It's a bit odd

teamonkey · Post by **teamonkey** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:41 pm 0

gravy wrote:Banning aside, why is it still being published?

Why not?

[EDIT]
I should probably add that I've bought that book, along with many other Tintin books. I like Tintin. It's not a great story as far as Tintin goes, but it's interesting if you're a fan of Herge and it's nice to see how the comic evolved. There's an introduction explaining the motivations and yes, there was a paper "Racist warning" band sealing it.

I've also bought "Ten Little Niggers" by Agatha Christie.

Post by **Jedburgh** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:41 pm 0

gravy wrote:Yeah I reckon there is a demand

I can understand a collector trying to get an original copy of this but people buying a brand new copy? It's a bit odd

Tintin's quite popular.

Tael · Post by **Tael** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:43 pm 0

Had to post it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmnY_SOTMio

HGFB · Post by **HGFB** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:45 pm 0

I've ordered a copy from Play. I'd be interested in reading it but certainly not in paying collectors prices for an original.

Tmuk · Post by **Tmuk** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:46 pm 0

HGFB wrote:I've ordered a copy from Play. I'd be interested in reading it but certainly not in paying collectors prices for an original.

Careful you don't become a racist.

HGFB · Post by **HGFB** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:47 pm 0

Tmuk wrote:
HGFB wrote:I've ordered a copy from Play. I'd be interested in reading it but certainly not in paying collectors prices for an original.
Careful you don't become a racist.

Drop dead whitey.

Post by **Jedburgh** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:48 pm 0

HGFB wrote:I've ordered a copy from Play. I'd be interested in reading it but certainly not in paying collectors prices for an original.

Too bad if you want a copy of Rupert on Coon Island, then.