Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Nialler · 01-09-2005, 06:34 AM

I watched it and enjoyed it thoroughly.

I guess part of the enjoyment was scoolboy giigling behind my hand at the sight and sound of operatic singers trilling "cunting cunting cunt", or threatening in song to fuck Gerry up the ass with barbed wire.

All-in-all very clever, very biting, well-performed... but Opera? I don't think so.

variant 13 · 01-09-2005, 04:32 PM

And now the Beeb is to be sued by nutters:

Quote:

Meanwhile, Stephen Green, National Director of Christian Voice, a UK-wide prayer group, confirmed on Sunday that his organisation would mount a private prosecution against the BBC.

He said: "We will probably bring a private prosecution against them for the common law offence of blasphemy.

"Having seen the thing, if this is not blasphemy, nothing is. There will be nothing sacred if we cannot successfully prosecute the BBC."

ashe · 01-10-2005, 04:31 AM

Blasphemy?! What year is this...?

ashe

Nialler · 01-10-2005, 06:10 AM

Could these people not find the on/off switch if they were so offended?

True story: in 1978 RTE, the Irish national broadcaster, showed an episode of an Irish-made drama called The Spike featuring, gasp, a full-frontal nude shot of an Irish woman (the slut, nymho etc etc). There was much outcry beforehand, and RTE pressed head with the showing. Oh delicious irony: the Chairman od the League of Decency, doubtless whipped up in a maelstrom of indignation (definitely not lust), had a heart attack while watching it! Yet again another man who couldn't find the on/off switch.

I_pity_the_fool · 01-10-2005, 06:35 AM

Let's see what they think at free republic

Quote:

(But the National Secular Society urged the national broadcaster to stand firm against "religious bullies". )

No word yet on the fact that this is "hate speach" and religious bigotry of the worst kind. I hate muslim extremists, but I am starting to see the wisdom of what they did to the Van Gogh film maker. I bet you that the Brits would think more than twice before putting on a similar play about Mohammad!

Hate speech? Wisdom? The United States contains more than a handful of strange people . . .

McGargoyle · 01-10-2005, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agnostic Beast

It was banned in some countries, which they used for the advert.

If someone can fill in the gaps, their slogan in one country was

So funny it was banned in ------,

since those two countries are (or were at the time) bitter rivals.

Banned in Norway, advertised as such in Sweden.

TheHoodedClaw · 01-10-2005, 07:17 AM

Fucking hell! That's the first time I've been to FreeRepublic. Someone please tell me that the views expressed there are on the margins of the Republican party.

As to the Springer Opera, it was very funny - kudos for the chorus being able to sing some of those lines with a straight face.

camp freddie · 01-14-2005, 03:04 AM

Well dip me in chocolate and throw me to the lesbians, what the hell was the controversy about?

What I found odd is that Stuart Lee has been blaspheming on BBC2 for years.

The Opera shows Jesus, Satan, God, Adam and Eve having an argument in Jerry Springer's DREAM SEQUENCE as he dies. Whoopee doo.

It was shown on BBC2 at 10 o'clock at night, with a preceeding half hour program on the background of the opera and interviews with religious leaders explaining their case for why it is unacceptable.
The BBC also inserted 2 strongly worded disclaimers before each act of the show (I was half expecting, South Park-style, "This is offensive and blasphemous and shouldn't be watched by anyone... ever). This was wonderfully ironic, since the the opera had screens in the background showing the normal Jerry Springer Show disclaimer, and in the dream sequence a new disclaimer saying, "Jerry Springer, the Opera is not suitable for those without a strong grasp of Judaeo-Christian mythology".

However, about 8 years ago, Stuart Lee did a series of programs called "Fist of Fun", which went out at about 9 o'clock and "This Morning with Richard Not Judy", which went out at MIDDAY ON SUNDAY for 18 EPISODES, which were also repeated.
These shows featured lots of ridicule for a priest character trying to explain god.
They also featured a Sunday Heroes section, parodying numerous miracles (Lazaurus, for example) and parables. Jesus is the teacher to a bunch of childish disciples. Peter is treated as a swot. Judas is the insolent pupil insulting his teacher. I'm sure Judas accuses Jesus of being Gay. Doubting Thomas gets it right and keeps correcting Jesus, resulting in Jesus saying he's sorry like a reluctant child.

Strangely, no-one seems to have tried to ban that, despite the fact that it went out straight after all the religious and children's programs on a Sunday morning!

It seems like Christians didn't want to be outdone by the Sikhs that shut down the Behtzi play. Clearly, they say the huge public condemnation (of the Sikhs, not the play!) and thought, "We want some of that for ourselves!"

PS: I loved God's song in the Opera, "It ain't easy being me".
PPS: Surely "record breaking 50,000 complaints to the BBC" is omething Lee and Thomas should be very proud of! They could take it to Broadway with publicity like that!

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01-09-2005, 06:34 AM	#11
Nialler Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Paris Posts: 8,473	I watched it and enjoyed it thoroughly. I guess part of the enjoyment was scoolboy giigling behind my hand at the sight and sound of operatic singers trilling "cunting cunting cunt", or threatening in song to fuck Gerry up the ass with barbed wire. All-in-all very clever, very biting, well-performed... but Opera? I don't think so.

01-10-2005, 04:31 AM	#13
ashe Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: _ Posts: 1,651	Blasphemy?! What year is this...? ashe

01-10-2005, 06:10 AM	#14
Nialler Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Paris Posts: 8,473	Could these people not find the on/off switch if they were so offended? True story: in 1978 RTE, the Irish national broadcaster, showed an episode of an Irish-made drama called The Spike featuring, gasp, a full-frontal nude shot of an Irish woman (the slut, nymho etc etc). There was much outcry beforehand, and RTE pressed head with the showing. Oh delicious irony: the Chairman od the League of Decency, doubtless whipped up in a maelstrom of indignation (definitely not lust), had a heart attack while watching it! Yet again another man who couldn't find the on/off switch.

01-10-2005, 07:17 AM	#17
TheHoodedClaw Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 105	Fucking hell! That's the first time I've been to FreeRepublic. Someone please tell me that the views expressed there are on the margins of the Republican party. As to the Springer Opera, it was very funny - kudos for the chorus being able to sing some of those lines with a straight face.

01-14-2005, 03:04 AM	#18
camp freddie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Leeds, UK Posts: 503	Well dip me in chocolate and throw me to the lesbians, what the hell was the controversy about? What I found odd is that Stuart Lee has been blaspheming on BBC2 for years. The Opera shows Jesus, Satan, God, Adam and Eve having an argument in Jerry Springer's DREAM SEQUENCE as he dies. Whoopee doo. It was shown on BBC2 at 10 o'clock at night, with a preceeding half hour program on the background of the opera and interviews with religious leaders explaining their case for why it is unacceptable. The BBC also inserted 2 strongly worded disclaimers before each act of the show (I was half expecting, South Park-style, "This is offensive and blasphemous and shouldn't be watched by anyone... ever). This was wonderfully ironic, since the the opera had screens in the background showing the normal Jerry Springer Show disclaimer, and in the dream sequence a new disclaimer saying, "Jerry Springer, the Opera is not suitable for those without a strong grasp of Judaeo-Christian mythology". However, about 8 years ago, Stuart Lee did a series of programs called "Fist of Fun", which went out at about 9 o'clock and "This Morning with Richard Not Judy", which went out at MIDDAY ON SUNDAY for 18 EPISODES, which were also repeated. These shows featured lots of ridicule for a priest character trying to explain god. They also featured a Sunday Heroes section, parodying numerous miracles (Lazaurus, for example) and parables. Jesus is the teacher to a bunch of childish disciples. Peter is treated as a swot. Judas is the insolent pupil insulting his teacher. I'm sure Judas accuses Jesus of being Gay. Doubting Thomas gets it right and keeps correcting Jesus, resulting in Jesus saying he's sorry like a reluctant child. Strangely, no-one seems to have tried to ban that, despite the fact that it went out straight after all the religious and children's programs on a Sunday morning! It seems like Christians didn't want to be outdone by the Sikhs that shut down the Behtzi play. Clearly, they say the huge public condemnation (of the Sikhs, not the play!) and thought, "We want some of that for ourselves!" PS: I loved God's song in the Opera, "It ain't easy being me". PPS: Surely "record breaking 50,000 complaints to the BBC" is omething Lee and Thomas should be very proud of! They could take it to Broadway with publicity like that!

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