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Graffiti on ‘Homeland,’ Unnoticed by Producers, Calls Show Racist

nytimes.com

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Re: Graffiti on ‘Homeland,’ Unnoticed by Producers, Calls Show Racist

#51

Post by ethbro »

huac wrote: post #8
Archio wrote: post #2

I haven't seen Homeland past the first season - but can someone who has seen more shed light on the alleged "racism" of the show? Is the show actually racist in its depiction of Arab-speaking characters, or is this simply a manifestation of Hanlon's Razor - "never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity"?

Easier to read the linked articles. https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/10/02/... http://www.hebaamin.com/arabian-street-artists-bomb-homeland...

Let's just sum it up and say it's "24 with more intelligence community office politics."

Re: Graffiti on ‘Homeland,’ Unnoticed by Producers, Calls Show Racist

#52

Post by ashwinaj »

drzaiusapelord wrote: post #41
hackuser wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Homeland isn't a documentary ... True, but I don't feel it's not enough for Homeland's producers, or anyone, to say 'it's not our problem'. We all live in a community and are responsible for taking care of it and for the consequences of what we do. "No man is an island." People absorb their views of the world from TV, in part. With widespread prejudice against people who believe in Islam, portraying stereotypes of…

>many people, seeing only stereotypes, come to believe them. Seems like the local education system has failed if people can't think critically or rationally. Blaming the arts is wrong and only treats the symptom. Do you believe that all information needs to be carefully controlled so that people don't get the wrong ideas? If so, what are you doing on an open/liberal/libertarian forum like HN then? Anyone can post any…

This. Thanks for posting this. Everyone likes to shirk personal responsibility and put the blame on others. If you are too challenged to distinguish between real life vs reel life, you should excuse yourself from such matters.

EDIT: Thanks for the down votes, the truth is a bitter pill to swallow, isn't it?

Re: Graffiti on ‘Homeland,’ Unnoticed by Producers, Calls Show Racist

#53

Post by briandear »

zhemao wrote: post #42
drzaiusapelord wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, the show depicts largely terrorists and criminals. Activists apparently want long diatribes about how wonderful Arab and Muslim families are to "balance" it out. Homeland isn't a documentary. Its a dramatic show about national security and as such it will probably not paint a realistic picture of the average Muslim, because average Muslims aren't really what its supposed to portray. The same way professional wr…

Well, it apparently can't even depict terrorists correctly, because suggesting that Al Qaeda and Hezbollah would ever work together is just ludicrous. And I can totally see why Lebanese would be pissed off at seeing Hamra street completely misrepresented in that way. And even if the show isn't supposed to depict "average Muslims", do you really think all the viewers of the show will get that nuance? If all of the Ara…

Might we also criticize the portrayal of Jews in Palestinian kids cartoons? I am not certain there are many Muslims complaining about those portrayals.

Re: Graffiti on ‘Homeland,’ Unnoticed by Producers, Calls Show Racist

#55

Post by skywhopper »

ingsoc79 wrote: post #4

Never knew you could be "racist" against a religion. I get it though, take a powerful word with negative connotations and use it to put your target on the defensive, no matter how tangential the connection. Kind of like being called a "commie" in the 20th century.

What does religion have to do with whether Homeland is racist?

Re: Graffiti on ‘Homeland,’ Unnoticed by Producers, Calls Show Racist

#56

Post by wmil »

Archio wrote: post #2

I haven't seen Homeland past the first season - but can someone who has seen more shed light on the alleged "racism" of the show? Is the show actually racist in its depiction of Arab-speaking characters, or is this simply a manifestation of Hanlon's Razor - "never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity"?

The writers can't keep up the quality as they write the season. They're rushed for the later episodes.

So characters start out as nuanced and then become more one dimensional towards the end of the season. Also they need to deliver twists and shocks.

So it's not exactly stupidity but it's not really intentional either.

Re: Graffiti on ‘Homeland,’ Unnoticed by Producers, Calls Show Racist

#57

Post by [deleted] »

Apocryphon wrote: post #32
unknownzero wrote: post #21

This is the best hack I've seen on Hacker News in months and it doesn't even involve a computer. Great job to everyone involved in pulling it off, even if the casual viewers didn't notice.

Now that I think about it, this is pretty much social engineering. One can imagine exploiting cultural ignorances and biases similarly as part of an electronic hack.

[deleted]

Re: Graffiti on ‘Homeland,’ Unnoticed by Producers, Calls Show Racist

#58

Post by briandear »

Apocryphon wrote: post #30
13thLetter wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sorry, but according to whom? Not the dictionary, or Wikipedia.

According to popular use. A lot of words, especially in the political or controversial sphere, end up having folk definitions that are open to interpretation. Witness how meaningless labels like "conservative" or "liberal" become when you try to dissect them.

Incorrect popular use doesn't make it correct. This venue if any ought to know the difference.

Re: Graffiti on ‘Homeland,’ Unnoticed by Producers, Calls Show Racist

#59

Post by skywhopper »

I wouldn't take fake background graffiti in a TV show as seriously as an Internet Essay. The graffiti that don't claim racism are mostly just silly, and "X is racist" could be read as being in line with the same type of silly humor as much as a "silent protest" or whatever. For all we know, the producers asked the artists to paint that text.

Re: Graffiti on ‘Homeland,’ Unnoticed by Producers, Calls Show Racist

#60

Post by vezzy-fnord »

Apocryphon wrote: post #22

Meta: Does this act count as culture jamming? And if so, does culture jamming count as hacking? Because if so, I foresee the possibility of more links on HN about Banksy, or whomever is the Banksy of the moment, and others who find ways to disrupt establishment norms.

A synonym for culture jamming is "reality hacking," so I think it might qualify.

If you read many of the antics documented in compendiums like sniggle.net, they can be remarkably crafty and intricate, so I think they would count. Particularly someone like Dick Tuck is doubtlessly a hacker.

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