A Different Kind of TV Program Warning
By urbangirl
@urbangirl (1456)
Australia
July 15, 2007 11:45pm CST
I want to share something about the Australian Aboriginal culture.
I was watching the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Channel) the other day or “Aunty” as Aussies sometimes lovingly refer to this free to air channel, and before the program started there was a warning aimed at the Australian indigenous (aboriginal) population.
It said the program to follow could be distressing to people of aboriginal or Torres Straite Islander descent because it shows images of people who may be deceased. To clarify, this is not showing the depiction of a dying person on screen, but say, an actor who not in the movie, but in real life, has since died.
This prohibition also extends to the use of personal names and images in referring to deceased Aboriginal people as hearing the names of deceased people or seeing a photo of a person who has since been deceased can also cause distress to aboriginal people.
Is there anything along these lines (doesn’t have to be about death) in your culture or an indigenous culture you know of which extends to these types of warnings in movies or TV programs?
4 people like this
6 responses
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
16 Jul 07
I have never heard of or seen a warning like that. It is interesting though. I know Amish people do not like their picture taken. Most Amish consider posing for photographs to be an unacceptable act of pride and do not allow pictures of themselves. But I have never seen any kind of warning that an Amish person is being portrayed...
I guess it's a good thing for the aboriginal culture.
@GardenGerty (160390)
• United States
17 Jul 07
They also consider a photo to be a 'graven image'. Also no faces on dolls and toys. It is akin to idolatry in their minds.
@urbangirl (1456)
• Australia
19 Jul 07
Thankyou for your informative discussions. That's the reason I open up these discussions in the first place - to learn and share about other cultures. Cheers.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
16 Jul 07
I cannot think of anything offhand, although there were certain things we were taught not to do as children because we were told they would make our ancestors "roll over in their graves." a phrase taken more seriously by some family members than others, of course. Although that is not related to TV or movie warnings, I think it stems from a similar kind of thinking in which the living are considered to have an ongoing responsibility to their deceased ancestors.
2 people like this
@gardengrrl (1445)
• United States
16 Jul 07
LOL... my friends and I make reference to the fact that the Founding Fathers of the USA are spinning in their graves so fast, they should be evaluated as a potential energy source!
@Perry2007 (2229)
• Philippines
16 Jul 07
that is so informative but distressing. I haven't heard of any TV warning on our local channels, althought news may sometimes flash on similar but not the thing you have in your place.
@derek_a (10874)
•
16 Jul 07
I have never heard such a warning on our UK TV. The only warning we ever get is if there are scenes of animals or people in distress. Can it really be distressing for people to see other people who are deceased? I have film of my parents and other relative who are long since deceased, but it doesn't cause me any distress to see them - in fact quite the opposite, it brings pleasant memories. :-)
@herrbaggs (1308)
• United States
16 Jul 07
That sounds like the downunder rendition of Islam and Christianty. Totally strange, wierd and sonething to dance around a bonfire about. Humanity and thier cultural beliefs often cause me to drool. But I could be wrong. I must run! I have to go read some chicken bones to see what my future holds.
@urbangirl (1456)
• Australia
19 Jul 07
Herrbaggs - I think Islam and Christianity have more in common that Christianity and Aboriginal Religion.
