Edinburgh school mural featuring golliwog probed by police

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-e ... e-24999917

Edinburgh school mural featuring golliwog probed by police

Police are investigating a complaint about a mural at an Edinburgh primary school which features a golliwog.

The scene from Alice in Wonderland in Wardie Primary's assembly hall dates back to 1936 and was recently restored with a Heritage Lottery Fund.

A mother has lodged a complaint about the image describing it as racist.

Edinburgh City Council said it understands the offensiveness of the image but said it does not reflect the attitudes of the school.

(continued, could always black it out?)

[klr]

FFS, much ado about nothing. Does every piece of artwork have to be continuously checked and updated to reflect changing mores?

[Audley Strange]

Yes. It's not only fascists or The Party from 1984 who like erasing history that does not conform to their ideology. In fact it's pretty common. One only has to look at how the U.K. deals and has dealt with Shakespeare. What is "difficult" now was not "difficult" in the victorian era and vice versa. Shylock is a perfect example, Lady MacBeth is another. Currently both can be seen as anti-Semitic and Sexist whereas Shakespeare's bawdyness and anti-monarchical themes are not an issue.

It is important, in fact utterly necessary that we do not civilise our past by erasing our mistakes. It is also important that people confront such rather than be hidden from it. Lest we forget and all that.

[MrJonno]

It's about context, there is nothing wrong with an racist painting in an art gallery where this is discussed, same with a play.

It's a bit different in a primary school, would you put a painting of a Nazi Nuremberg rally at such place?

[mistermack]

What is surprising is that the golliwog was banned in Nazi Germany, in 1934.

Apparently, the Nazis were more racially sensitive than the Brits.

But no, it wasn't that, it was that it wasn't considered suitable for Aryan children to be playing with a black golliwog.

So, owning a golliwog is less racist than Hitler, but more racist than owning a nice white doll.

Of course, it's the caricature nature, rather than the colour, which is deemed racist. It's a copy of the blacked-up white men who used to do the minstrel shows. They're lovable characters who are still alive and well :

[MrJonno]

Some behaviour that was 'good' in the past is bad now (concepts of good/evil are relative).

Doesn't mean bad things from the past should be hidden but there is a time and place to discuss them and primary school isn't it.

Sell the painting to an art gallery and replace it with something more appropriate for the school

[cronus]

It all becomes a rote reaction devoid of meaning or intent after a while. Anyone can claim victimhood over something. There are some folks born short and feel overlooked although it isn't something I've noticed myself.

[mistermack]

Some behaviour that was 'good' in the past is bad now (concepts of good/evil are relative).

Doesn't mean bad things from the past should be hidden but there is a time and place to discuss them and primary school isn't it.

Sell the painting to an art gallery and replace it with something more appropriate for the school

It would be a problem selling a mural.
From what I saw on the link, the picture is fine. The golliwog is just one character in a group.
You can't shelter kids forever. I would leave it there, and if any kid asks about it, you just tell them that people painted black people differently years ago. I don't think kids would have any problem with that.

[Brian Peacock]

What are the police probing the poor golly with, and why?

[Svartalf]

FFS, much ado about nothing. Does every piece of artwork have to be continuously checked and updated to reflect changing mores?

Some parents are idiots with no appreciation for history.

[Svartalf]

What are the police probing the poor golly with, and why?

Golly got probed, I already hear inspiration striking Tattuchu

[JimC]

What are the police probing the poor golly with, and why?

Couple of local coppers, "Noddy" Earnshaw and "Big Ears" Buttclutcher are very keen on probing golliwogs...

[tattuchu]

What are the police probing the poor golly with, and why?

Golly got probed, I already hear inspiration striking Tattuchu

I followed the link and looked at the image. It's just a black doll. I'm not seeing the big deal

[JimC]

The politically correct brigade often bemoan the fact that people of other races are "invisible" in aspects of modern culture, such as children's story books and toys.

Here we have a doll that's proudly black, and with an afro to boot!

Not seeing any issue...

[charlou]

Some behaviour that was 'good' in the past is bad now (concepts of good/evil are relative).

Doesn't mean bad things from the past should be hidden but there is a time and place to discuss them and primary school isn't it.

Why not?

Sell the painting to an art gallery and replace it with something more appropriate for the school

If it's a mural, I assume it was painted directly onto a wall.