In my Newspaper Safari post I used the phrase Great White Hunter. Although I would not allow my readers go off on a racial dialogue, some explanation is in order. As a six year old boy watching Ramar of the Jungle, the hunters were white, and wore pith helmets. Africa was a tropical jungle, inhabited by blacks,living in huts. Despite the image I show here, the 1953 television show itself was black and white. As an impressionable boy, I do not believe I developed any racial attitudes from the program, but I certainly received some distorted geography. The Tarzan movies continued the myth that Africa was all jungle. Whether in Hollywood with Robert Redford, or in the local paper with some guy from Catasauqua, The Great White Hunter continues on in modern times.
Oct 7, 2011
The Great White Hunter
In my Newspaper Safari post I used the phrase Great White Hunter. Although I would not allow my readers go off on a racial dialogue, some explanation is in order. As a six year old boy watching Ramar of the Jungle, the hunters were white, and wore pith helmets. Africa was a tropical jungle, inhabited by blacks,living in huts. Despite the image I show here, the 1953 television show itself was black and white. As an impressionable boy, I do not believe I developed any racial attitudes from the program, but I certainly received some distorted geography. The Tarzan movies continued the myth that Africa was all jungle. Whether in Hollywood with Robert Redford, or in the local paper with some guy from Catasauqua, The Great White Hunter continues on in modern times.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
"I do not believe I developed any racial attitudes from the program..."
ReplyDeleteREALLY MM? Perhaps you are the exception but there is amply research to support the obverse.
gary, perhaps i should clarify. ramar in africa was too far away in both location and reality. the portrayal of blacks, in america itself, was fraught with negative stereotypes; amos and andy, roscoe on jack benny, etc. however, i will leave that discussion to more qualified observers.
ReplyDeleteplease do not be offended if your comment does not appear. if you are offended, start your own blog
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, Mr. Molovinsky, I am STILL trying to figure out the intended point of the original post with respect to the Great White Hunter.
ReplyDeleteA rich white guy goes to Africa, spends a bunch of money to stimulate the local Third World economy and shoots a lion LEGALLY.
Says he wants to go back and stick more money in the pockets of the locals, who, apparently, are happy to welcome him and enable his hunting activities.
Yes, a thought-provoking article, indeed.
I will take this opportunity to, respectfully, point out that many people find BOXING to be nothing more than degenerate violence that is shamelessly glorified and profited from ...
... for the record, I enjoy your boxing posts, nevertheless.
ROLF OELER
Chariman, White Men (Especially Rich Ones) Suck Feel-Good Action Committee For Change
binzley said...but there is amply research to support the obverse.
ReplyDeleteCare to share where you came up with that one?
Did you even see one episode?
You do realize Ramar was a research scientist whose parents were missionaries in Africa and helped the Africans?
While it may not be PC by today's standards it was not anti-black by any means.
Anxiously awaiting for your ample "research to support the obverse"
lvci, i don't think binzley was referring specifically to ramar of the jungle, but the image i conveyed of natives living in huts, etc.
ReplyDeletecomments submitted after 6:30 this evening, and tomorrow, will appear tomorrow evening.
Mr. Molovinsky,
ReplyDeleteThe Parkway has so many fallen trees, its reduced staff can't keep up. The walkways continue to be covered in mud and debris. Multiple fundraisers require the grass meadows to be trampled into oblivion. The restroom adjacent to the Watershed office has taken more than a year to build and still looks like another six months of path work to be done. Friday the stone wall leading into the park had barriers along side it. Why? Has stone restoration work begun? Was a proper bid process enforced? Is suitable mortar being used or junk stuff that will crumble. But Weitzel has money to connect the parks.
Although this blog has documented the deterioration of the iconic WPA Structures throughout the park system, the City goes forward with new park projects without addressing problems with existing features; We will now connect the neglect. The Morning Call this past weekend distributed the Fall and Winter Directory to Parks and Recreation. The cost of the slick magazine could have in itself repaired one set of steps at Irving Park. The City is going ahead with it's plans and paid consultants for the Network of Bicycle and Pedestrian Trails. The next meeting for that project will be October 26, at the Library. I attended the previous meeting last April. The theme is Connecting our Community. Park Director Weitzel and the paid consultant spoke about connecting the children of Allentown with the park system. Although they had a professionally produced large illustration of the Fountain Park area, the Lawrence Street WPA Steps were not included. In reality, that magnificent structure was built exactly for that purpose in 1936. It now stands neglected, with numerous missing steps, as a monument to this Park Department's misplaced priorities.
Mr. Molovinsky, I myself watched Ramar of the jungle as a child. I watched it strictly for entertainment.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-allentown-arena-acida-20111008,0,581794.story
ReplyDeletecorruption???????
What the hell?????