Friday, October 03, 2003
Word of the week:
SHINDIG
A strange word, neither here nor there, doesn't seem to allude to anything in particular.
Late 19th century. Origin uncertain.
It's not really a likeable word, way too sharp and smug to be admired.
Up until now, I haven't been following BBC's 're-imagining' of The Canterbury Tales. The first episode was starring Billie Piper (Evans?) and James Nesbitt, which was enough to keep me away. However, last night I caught The Sea Captain's Tale, with the wonderful Om Puri. I like the fact that British television has embraced the different nationalities and cultures that are present in this country and does not veer from using (in this case) Indian actors in a story taking place entirely in the Indian community. What is even better is that this story is not particularly Indian - it could happen anywhere and the themes are universal. Indian actors are not (always) typecast but are allowed to carry a story on their merit. I have been away from Denmark for a long time and maybe things have changed, but I seem to remember only few actors who were not born and in bred in Denmark on the Danish TV screens (the occasional Eastern European, mainly). TV should reflect the society in which it functions and by now there are people from so many different cultures in Denmark that these should not be ignored or patronised.
Anyway, next week Jonny Lee Miller in The Pardoner's Tale. Should be good.
SHINDIG
A strange word, neither here nor there, doesn't seem to allude to anything in particular.
Late 19th century. Origin uncertain.
It's not really a likeable word, way too sharp and smug to be admired.
Up until now, I haven't been following BBC's 're-imagining' of The Canterbury Tales. The first episode was starring Billie Piper (Evans?) and James Nesbitt, which was enough to keep me away. However, last night I caught The Sea Captain's Tale, with the wonderful Om Puri. I like the fact that British television has embraced the different nationalities and cultures that are present in this country and does not veer from using (in this case) Indian actors in a story taking place entirely in the Indian community. What is even better is that this story is not particularly Indian - it could happen anywhere and the themes are universal. Indian actors are not (always) typecast but are allowed to carry a story on their merit. I have been away from Denmark for a long time and maybe things have changed, but I seem to remember only few actors who were not born and in bred in Denmark on the Danish TV screens (the occasional Eastern European, mainly). TV should reflect the society in which it functions and by now there are people from so many different cultures in Denmark that these should not be ignored or patronised.
Anyway, next week Jonny Lee Miller in The Pardoner's Tale. Should be good.
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