Pirates of the Caribbean auction scene to change

[DisBabe94]

I certainly understand the nostalgia and not wanting to mess with something that Walt had such a part in.

What I don't understand is the notion that getting rid of a reference to slavery = PC culture. Joking about or making light of slavery has been a pretty cut-and-dry "no-no" for decades... maybe shows like South Park would do that... but certainly not in a family-friendly place such as Disney...

 

[jdisnut]

Song of the South was a beautiful movie that portrayed Uncle Remus as a wise hero and the boy's white parents as rigid and misguided. It shows the beauty and great dignity of African-American spiritual music and worship during the scene when the servants hold vigil when the little boy is hurt. It ends with a black man and white child holding hands, and a few moments later, we see black and white children playing together peacefully. Thank goodness that modern audiences are spared seeing these "problematic elements"...

I am not making a value judgment. The fact remains that "Song of the South" has never been released on home video in the United States. You or I can disagree with that decision, but elements from the film were not included in Splash Mountain for the same reason the film has never been released. I think we can agree on that point.

 

[bryanb]

Emotions, nostalgia and personal feelings aside, it's just hard for me to hear news that Disney is changing a scene that depicted women being sold into sexual slavery and think, "This is bad." It's just difficult to justify that way of thinking.

We're talking about men trying to buy human beings as property for the purpose of raping them. That's not "bawdy." There are other ways to show pirates as bad people who rightfully get their comeuppance at the end. I don't know. I'm probably walking into an explosion by even posting this, but I just can't in good conscious complain about this.

I agree with you. As a kid (and even perhaps now), I liked that the redhead and the "winsome wench" seemed happy to participate in the auction, for a chance to be matched up with an eligible pirate bachelor. My mom would laugh, pointing out how the "stout hearted" lady was so happy and proud to be showing her larboard side. Even the pirates who made rude comments and cat-calls didn't phase her, as she confidently turned. But the shackled old lady in the wedding gown, comforting the crying younger woman in front of her, that was always a sad sight that added a strange dose of reality to a scene that was meant to be lighthearted.

The victims in the background, of course, weren't meant to be the focus of the joke. But it does seem like the joke is no longer right today for many reasons.

 

[Shanti]

I am not making a value judgment. The fact remains that "Song of the South" has never been released on home video in the United States. You or I can disagree with that decision, but elements from the film were not included in Splash Mountain for the same reason the film has never been released. I think we can agree on that point.

I don't see how putting humans in Splash Mountain would have worked with the ride, actually. It's all about the animated story that's within Song of the South. So even if race had nothing to do with the movie, humans probably wouldn't feature in that ride.

No, I don't see any problem with "Song of the South" at all and think it's a real shame it's not in distribution.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

I can only speak for myself, and it's difficult to articulate what I'm trying to say, but I don't see this as traditional political correctness. If they were changing the scene only to include more people of color, or if they were adding two pirates holding hands to indicate gayness, I'd agree that those changes were made (for better or worse) in the interest of PC.

But I see this as different - a way to try and remove an element of "disturbing-ness" (I just made up that word). I absolutely LOVE Haunted Mansion, especially the attic scene. But if there was a part that showed the bride with an ax raised over her head, ready to strike her husband who was on his knees, cowering in fear, I would not look forward to that scene anymore. To me, that provides an element of disturbing-ness (that word again) that I, personally, don't like to see at Disney. A sort of jolt back to reality, if you will.

I understand that for the majority of people, this is not a welcome change. I'm just trying (probably badly) to explain why I'm not sad to see it go.

 

[Jen_G]

I actually really like that concept art for the redesigned scene. The redhead looks badass in it.

 

[Disney_and_Wine]

I'm just trying (probably badly) to explain why I'm not sad to see it go.

Not "badly" at all. You make a valid and unique point that there is a difference between "PC" and "current".

 

[mirak]

I didn't realize until this thread how offended I need to be about a bunch of rides. We're gonna have to rework all of this.

The standard is clearly that if an old ride doesn't meet our current cultural norms of propriety, it has to be changed!!

 

[ArwenMarie]

I actually really like that concept art for the redesigned scene. The redhead looks badass in it.

I didn't like it at first but I think it could look pretty neat when it is done. It's cool that they kept her as the star of the scene

 

[Jennasis]

Like it or lump it, it's happening, so there's no point in complaining about it. I only hope the change makes sense wen finished.

I have to wonder if Haunted Mansion is next? There's a suicide at the end of the stretching room, references to the occult, grisly murder, animal cruelty (the groundskeeper's dog always upset me)...

 

[CAS239]

They could've just kept the scene the way it was but for the pirates that didn't have the top bid, they could've handed out participation trophies. That would fit with today and be a lot cheaper

 

[fairytalelover]

Emotions, nostalgia and personal feelings aside, it's just hard for me to hear news that Disney is changing a scene that depicted women being sold into sexual slavery and think, "This is bad." It's just difficult to justify that way of thinking.

We're talking about men trying to buy human beings as property for the purpose of raping them. That's not "bawdy." There are other ways to show pirates as bad people who rightfully get their comeuppance at the end. I don't know. I'm probably walking into an explosion by even posting this, but I just can't in good conscious complain about this.

And this kind of PC snowflake whining and garbage is why they are changing and ruining yet another part of this ride and probably more to come. Eventually they will get rid of the rum and the drunk pirates and it will just turn into It's a Small World. Pirates were drunks who killed and stole and raped and all of the other horrible things that goes with being a pirate. If you are going to have a Pirates ride it should be a tiny bit realistic in a family friendly way which I believe it already was.

 

[Tonyz]

They could've just kept the scene the way it was but for the pirates that didn't have the top bid, they could've handed out participation trophies. That would fit with today and be a lot cheaper

Are we blaming this on millennials too?

 

[fairytalelover]

when is this change going to happen??

 

[Disney_traveler]

Based on this, things they could do next (all for kicks and giggles, please join in):
Make changes to Splash. I'm continually surprised Brer Rabbit and company are even. Part of it given the "banning" of the movie

Country Bears---quite a bit of violence with "don't whup Buford" and I wonder if rednecks get offended

Haunted mansion--- infringing on others beliefs of the after life

7 dwarfs mine train---should we be calling them dwarfs?

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

(the groundskeeper's dog always upset me)...

Lol, I hate seeing that dog! I read somewhere that CMs used to put a dog biscuit out for it every now and then, but I've never seen it.

 

[jdisnut]

And this kind of PC snowflake whining and garbage is why they are changing and ruining yet another part of this ride and probably more to come.

Where was I whining?

 

[emonade8]

Are we blaming this on millennials too?

Thank you. I hear enough crap about snowflakes and participation trophies on political sites. I really don't need to run into it on the Disboards.

 

[Tonyz]

I honestly cannot believe a single person has every been offended by this scene. This is fixing a problem that doesn't exist.

 

[Farro]

And this kind of PC snowflake whining and garbage is why they are changing and ruining yet another part of this ride and probably more to come. Eventually they will get rid of the rum and the drunk pirates and it will just turn into It's a Small World. Pirates were drunks who killed and stole and raped and all of the other horrible things that goes with being a pirate. If you are going to have a Pirates ride it should be a tiny bit realistic in a family friendly way which I believe it already was.

Oh yes, the way Disney always portrays raping in their movies!

Sure, it will be missed.

But I can't argue with the idea that selling women as sex slaves (or whatever family friendly thing you think they were being sold for) is a portrayal that isn't acceptable anymore. Sad I had to say anymore.

(ETA)
I mean, isn't it slightly odd that if it were a child, or a slave being auctioned, everyone would be offended? But since it's a woman, it's funny? I'm not saying I was offended, as I wasn't. But I can't argue the reasoning behind this change.

and now I will back slowly out of this thread...