When viewing the classic gangster film Goodfellas on channel AMC recently, viewers were given a trigger warning, citing “language and/or cultural stereotypes”. The disclaimer has since gone viral online, leading to a range of responses from fans of the film. Some have taken issue with the use of a warning, arguing that the movie portrays a “stereotyped set of people” and that warnings of this kind protect language barriers rather than diversity. Others have defended the channel’s choice, suggesting that it highlights that we live in an evolved world where “cultural references that some viewers might find offensive” are flagged.
While the use of trigger warnings in popular entertainment has been a divisive issue in recent years, some well-known figures in show business have begun to add their voices to the debate. Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has voiced opposition to warnings, stating that most viewers who claim to be offended by an artistic work are reacting in a knee-jerk fashion. In a recent interview with La Liberation, the director stated that he “reject[s] the word ‘offended’”. Similarly, actor Judi Dench recently suggested that if audience members are particularly sensitive, they should not attend theatrical productions in the first place.
While debate continues to rage over the efficacy of these warnings, it seems clear that they are becoming increasingly common in our popular culture. For some, they are a necessary safeguard against harmful rhetoric and language. For others, they are indicative of a society that is too quick to take offense. Ultimately, it seems that whether or not to issue a warning before films or plays is a deeply subjective issue, dependent on the individual, the work, and the context in which both are experienced
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