Dissecting Dragons: Episode 181: Of Their Time - the Changing Faces of Diversity and Prejudice in Speculative Fiction

Episode 181: Of Their Time - the Changing Faces of Diversity and Prejudice in Speculative Fiction

 

When head canon clashes with casting decisions in film and TV adaptations, there's always trouble. And such has been the case with a number of the Disney live action versions of their old animated classics. However, the need to separate the context surrounding a piece of art from the film or book itself, is hardly a new requirement, as the dragons discuss in this week's episode. While Jules and Madeleine don't believe that a piece of work 'being of its time' prevents it from being offensive or even harmful, neither of the dragons like the prescriptive attitude as regards what is acceptable to read or watch either. In a fairly light and very lively discussion, they take a trip through literature and film, culminating in the newest adaptation of Disney's Little Mermaid - how has diverse representation and attitudes to prejudice in literature changed in the last century? 

 

Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic