Tarantino in N-word controversy

[RedMileDJ]

http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2012/12/2...enn-story.html

Quentin Tarantino has brushed off criticism of the racially-charged language used in his latest movie Django Uuchained, insisting the script reflects the reality of the time period.

The Western, which stars Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio, is set in slavery-era Mississippi in 1858 but the repeated use of the N-word has caused some controversy.

Spike Lee:

I am not seeing it. It would be disrespectful to my ancestors to see that film."

I haven't seen the film yet, and I do plan on it, but I don't see what the big deal is. I think I side with Tarantino. Hasn't there been plenty of "slavery-era" movies that drop the N-word all the time? Why the big deal now?

[malcolmk14]

If someone is offended by the language in the film, it's not my place (or anyone's) to tell them they can't be or shouldn't be. If you don't want to see the film, don't see it.

I'll see it because I think it's going to be a great fun time in the theatre on Christmas day, just like all Tarantino movies are.

It's a movie set in 1858 about slavery. The word wasn't considered perjorative until the 20th century.

[Daradon]

With the amount of movies that use that word surreptitiously, either placed in yesteryear or the modern era, I would find it hard to believe this would be any different or worse.

My bet Spike has a different reason to be made at Quentin and is just using this as a reason. Maybe he doesn't like Quentin's take on a 'slavery' film.

[RedMileDJ]

I guess I should be more specific, in case anyone reads into it the wrong way.

I don't condone the use of the N-word, or even like the word for that matter. That's my personal stance on it. But it won't stop me from seeing the film. I'm a Tarantino fan. I like his movies.

I just don't see why Spike Lee, and these other critics, are making such a big deal about the use of the word now, when it's been used plenty of times in other movies.

[CaptainCrunch]

People really need to go back and watch blazing saddles, there's no movie that uses the n-word more times then that movie.

[Thor]

How is using accurate language of the time period offensive, rather you see how nasty and intolerant the time period was than paint a brush over it like it never happened.

[getbak]

It's not the first time. I remember quite the uproar about it when Pulp Fiction came out.

Jimmie: [interupting] No, No, No, No, let me ask you a question. When you came pulling in here, did you notice a sign out in front of my house that said "Dead ###### Storage"?
Jules: Jimmie, you know I ain't seen no...
Jimmie: [cutting him off again; getting angry] Did you notice a sign out in front of my house that said "Dead ###### Storage"?
Jules: [pause] No. I didn't.
Jimmie: You know WHY you didn't see that sign?
Jules: Why?
Jimmie: 'Cause it ain't there, 'cause storing dead ######s ain't my ####ing business, that's why!

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Thor

How is using accurate language of the time period offensive, rather you see how nasty and intolerant the time period was than paint a brush over it like it never happened.

I'm curious though, how much was it really used back then? Obviously it was more accepted back then, but did people throw it around willy-nilly like they do these days? I obviously can only speculate, but I wonder if the fact that the word is taboo has actually caused it to be overused on modern times. I would not be surprised at all if Tarantino uses it way more often and in misused contexts than what would have been normal in the 1800s.

Edit: But I will add.... Spike Lee is an incredible artist and film maker. I enjoy his films... but he is a bit of a self-righteous prick.

[driveway]

I think they're both right. If Tarantino wants to make a film and slather it with '######s' then he can do that, and if it's a good movie, then it's a good movie.

If Spike Lee decides that he can't support a movie which he feels makes light of slavery then he's right to do that too.

I would prefer it if Spike Lee, being an artist himself, saw the movie before passing a judgment on it - but I'm not black so I don't have that relationship with either the history of slavery or the use of the word '######'.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Just to be clear. I don't think Spike Lee has said that he is offended by the language (unless I am missing something), instead I believe he thinks Tarantino didn't tackle the issue of slavery seriously enough and treated it like a "spaghetti western". Although Lee has been offended by Tarantino's use of the word in the past.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Maybe he should have said "n***as" as to imply friendship in the 1850's between the racists... I mean, the races.

This just makes we want to see it more. Thanks Spike Lee!

I wonder if he bans Chris Rock or just Louis CK.

[Deegee]

I wonder if Spike listens to rap music. Rap artists use that word all the time.

[Alberta_Beef]

I think having a movie based in slave times and not using the N word is more offensive, it is a time period we have to learn something from. I hate the word but if it was simply removed from the past we would be more likely to repeat IMO. Those slaves hear that word all that time, people need to see how much it was used to oppress.

Quite frankly I think the real issue is that its a white boy making a movie involving slavery and that is Spike Lee's problem.

[KTrain]

By some counts they say the word is used 110 times in a 165 minute movie.

I don't have a problem with it being used in the movie but the quantity does seem to be bit overkill.

[Slava]

I head Tarantino interviewed on Howard Stern about this movie and his explanation was enough for me. He says its a spaghetti western and the use of the N-word was because it was accurate. He says that while someone could complain that using the word to excess in Jackie Brown could be argued (and he would disagree), because of the historical period it wasn't out of line here.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I think having a movie based in slave times and not using the N word is more offensive

come on now

[Coach]

Originally Posted by nik-

come on now

I agree with him. Why nice it up for the camera? Wouldn't that be doing more of an injustice to the hardship that African American people's ancesters went through? And isn't the movie about a slave being able to take vengance on slave owners/runners? Seems like it should be viewed as impowering more than anything. Unless its just because a white guy made it. In which case, who is really the racist one?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by captaincrunch

people really need to go back and watch blazing saddles, there's no movie that is as awesome as that movie.

fyp

[Hockey_Ninja]

This is coming from a black guy. I honestly don't care. Yeah the word is pretty bad and i've been called it a handful of times growing up but this film takes place when black people were slaves and they had to go through hearing that language every single day. I honestly don't see what is wrong with using the word when its an important part of history. I seriously don't why the media and Spike Lee are making such a big deal out of it.

[Northendzone]

A Tarantino movie with colorful language?!?!?!