Allo Allo! - A WWII Veteran's Humorous Take on 1980s Comedy
As a World War II veteran, my perspective offers a unique insight into the 1980s British comedy series, Allo Allo. While this iconic show may now seem like a delightful comedic journey, it once caused quite a stir among those who fought in the war. At the heart of the controversy lay the show's portrayal of the Germans as cuddly figures, which seemingly belittled the efforts of both the resistance and British agents.
The Controversial Portrayals
One of the biggest objections to the show was the way it depicted the Germans. Characters such as Lieutenant Gruber from Are You Being Served? were seen as an enlightened and sensitive caricature compared to the soft, harmless representations in Allo Allo. The results of this portrayal were noteworthy, and indeed, it is a testament to the show's ability to capture national stereotypes and humor in a way that is still hilarious today.
Allo Allo truly shines through its parody and satirical take on national stereotypes. It is as funny now as it was in the 1980s, if not more so. What this humor highlights is how serious and uptight modern society has become. Modern men can often be seen walking on eggshells to avoid offending anyone, a state where the fairer sex is much less cautious. The pervasive culture of speech control in contemporary society can make watching Allo Allo a sort of pornographic and voyeuristic experience, filled with a frisson of feeling just a little bit 'naughty'!
The Cultural Divide and Speech Control
This cultural divide and the modern obsession with speech control can be seen as a sort of Trojan horse for political correctness. The nay-sayers and politically correct brigade would need a safe space to view such content, as they might find it too shocking for their already frail sensibilities. They may even report it to a modern nanny state, which condones bleating and blabbing in a way that resembles Nazi informants or the Stasi from an extreme totalitarian regime.
The show's characterizations, including the portrayal of Herr Flick in his sado-masochistic Gestapo leather bondage gear, could perhaps be deemed as falling within the realms of 'hate-speech' even by today's standards. It's a question that seems to reflect the changing attitudes towards humor and offense in the modern era.
A Romanticizing of the Past
Some would argue that, in today's society, there is a need to revisit and sometimes apologize for the past, viewing it through the prism of modern sensibilities. However, such a culturalist construct did not exist in the 1980s. Back then, it was safe and even healthy to be mildly offensive, something that helped to toughen us up and taught us not to be narcissistic or to regard ourselves as social justice warriors. Today's poster children for virtue signaling would benefit from a more nuanced understanding of the era.
It's important to remember that the humor and artistic expression present in 1980s shows like Allo Allo were firmly of their time. The issue, if there is one, is the modern political prudes and revisionists attempting to rewrite the past from the safe space of today's society. This is a kind of lingering apology that, in fact, feels mildly embarrassing.
Conclusion
Watching shows like Allo Allo on repeat can provide a refreshing blast from the past. Much of the language and chauvinist remarks from the 1980s offer a gentle reminder of a less politically correct era. It's essential to look at these shows and their time with a balanced, historical perspective rather than through the lens of modern sensibilities. After all, history is often a subjective and evolving narrative.