'Neighbours' Is All White On The Night: Report
Here's a report that should by rights surprise no one who has watched an episode of Neighbours in the entire history of the soap opera's, er, history, but which is nonetheless disappointing considering the world we live in (i.e. one that isn't solely populated by WASPs and the occasional swarthy Italian): Neighbours is too white:
Australian TV soap Neighbours in which Kylie Minogue first found fame has been branded "too white" by black and Asian viewers in Britain.They're pretty much on the money - the only non-white characters I can remember on Neighbours (and I've only recently given it up after years of faithful viewing) were a single Asian mother giving birth on the side of the road one time, Conor's ex-stripper Asian babymama, and, er, anyone else got anything?A report by the nation's racial equality chief found many ethnic viewers felt were under-represented in some of Britain's most popular shows.
Neighbours, which is screened on the Five network, and the BBC comedy The Vicar of Dibley starring Dawn French were singled out for being "all white".
Other popular soaps including the BBC's Eastenders and ITV's Coronation Street also came under attack for including stereotypical characters such as Asian shopkeepers and black single mums.
Oh and there was Lil and her family, who were what, Serbian? And they went down in a plane crash. Good track record, Neighbours!
I bet the Home & Away production team is feeling pretty smug right about now, what with the tsunami orphan and the new police officer with the Italian name (you know, the one played by a Caucasian actor). That's, what, three non-WASPs living in Summer Bay now?
Although sometimes you have to wonder how difficult it is for non-white actors to get work in Australia at all. You know, whether they get the auditions for "Girl, 18-24" or just the ones that say "Girl, 18-24, Italian" or whatever.
I can remember an asian family moving to Ramsay St years ago but they didn't seem to last all that long.
Then there is that Natalie Blair who plays a character with an Italian background whose father wouldn't you know it..is in the Mafia! Brava Neighbours!
i have vague memories of an Asian family, maybe early 90's... don't think it lasted very long
oh good lord, too many white people. well i find there are too many black people in hip-hop videos. get over it.
Its articles like this that will turn racism against the supposed minorities to where its racism against the majority. maybe us in Australia do not have that great of a talent Asian and black actors.
Mathematically speaking there should be a greater pool of "whit" actors as there is a higher proportion of "white" people living in Australia especially in the middle and upper class's who can afford to send there children to prestigious schools. so unless you people wish to change our immigration policy to only accept people of non white background as well as introduce a true communist state then stop your complaining,it is the way it is
As a Pom' who visits Oz on a regular basis let me just say.
This panel of so called experts have not got a clue of what happens in the real world. They have been scathing on UK programming as well.
The Vicar of Dibley being one. A typical country village as portrayed in the programme is exactly how it is. You would be hard pressed to find a non-white in real life in that sort of village. That make up of people is as real life as it can be.
There are other TV programmes that these clowns have complained about. All programming, like I would think in Oz, is researched to get the correct ethnic make up of people for whatever programme they are making.
Here in UK at the moment it seems certain ethnic people are attempting to stir up what trouble they can at whatever level.
As long as the representation of ethnic groups in EVERY show around the WORLD equals the actual ratio of the populations present, whilst not undermining any of these groups by placing them in less lucrative jobs and hence presenting them as inferior, I am happy.
I think a few of you are being a bit Anglocentric here. It is not just Neighbours - can anyone name a show on TV, much less an Aussie one, that had for example an Asian guy as a main character? Or even a secondary character, as opposed to a shopkeeper or restaurant owner?
Now, knowing these odds, would you as an Asian guy pursue an acting career in Australia, even if you were talented, rich etc? Seems a bit trite to say that maybe there's just no Asian actors. And the same would apply for Asian girls or most other ethnicities.
Ok, so it's not ethnic cleansing, but it is a real example of systemic racism - non-white actors will find it hard to get work, and non-white audiences will be in a sense excluded from this cultural good. Whether its because media execs are all white males, or because audiences would truly be offended by more minority characters I don't know. But if you think asking for more minority representation on telly is racism towards white people, all I can say is that you're a bona fide moron and probably a racist to boot.