Of course, Australia also has a notoriously puritan past when it comes to censorship. James Joyce’s Ulysses was banned until the 1950s in Australia. I wasted months of my early teenage years trying to find the naughty bits in the library.
Loading
But comedy has largely escaped the censor’s wrath. Looking back on the extraordinary comedy acts of my generation: Mikey Robins, Wendy Harmer, the Doug Anthony All Stars and Los Trios Ringbarkus, to name but a few, I am eternally grateful for the way they jolted my earnest young left-wing self out of self-righteousness. Thankfully, the irreverence continues. Tim Minchin’s brilliant political satire always restores my sanity when I find myself in despair over social media polemics.
In 1974, legendary left-wing PM Gough Whitlam appeared in the film Barry McKenzie Holds His Own in a cameo as himself. Today the film would struggle to get funding because of the “woke” minefield it drunkenly staggers across. (Indeed, Barry Humphries, who plays Barry McKenzie’s aunt in the movies, was later cancelled over perceived anti-trans comments and the Melbourne Comedy Festival removed his name from a key award.)
I’m a feminist and I love the Barry McKenzie movies. I think they send up sexism, not endorse it. And of course, they were of their era. We all live and learn. And I think we need to be very careful about how we separate true hate speech from satirical speech.
In an era where authoritarianism is once again on the march across the political spectrum, we need, more now than ever, to question our convictions and moral certainties. And god knows, we all need a good laugh.
Catharine Lumby is a Professor of Media at Sydney University. Her most recent book is Frank Moorhouse: A Life
Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.
Read the full article here
