michaeljsmith wrote:
It is funny when you look back at books from 15-20 years ago and realize how "sensitive" we have all gotten since then
Yeah - and the Tintin books in question were published in the 1930's - so we're talking 70-80 years ago in this case. Our way of thinking has changed drastically since then.
I think we've only become more "sensitive" because we now realize that we were complete asshats for several centuries. The portrayal of black Africans in the first two volumes is definitely over the top - but a sign of the times, and the way of thinking back then. They're portrayed as being naïve and simple, are illustrated as being pitch black with a what looks like a white donut on their face for lips (this becomes bright pink in the coloured volumes), and call all caucasians "Master".
I don't think Hergé was being malicious in his portrayal, as his work is a reflection of the times. Plus, with cartoons everything tends to be exaggerrated; but he would be pretty severely chastised if the work were current (or he wouldn't be published at all without some severe editing). I'm certainly not one for pretending the past didn't happen, though. It is what it is - and I get upset when I hear about stores or schools banning books that were written in a different time because of how they portray a certain person or group (eg.
To Kill a Mockingbird, or even more apropos
Tintin in the Congo).
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