Mark Gatiss, the creative force behind the acclaimed seriesSherlock, has voiced his support for trigger warnings accompanying older television programs and films. He believes these warnings offer crucial context, acknowledging the societal norms prevalent during the time of their creation.
Gatiss argues that confronting past attitudes, rather than erasing them, provides a more honest and valuable viewing experience. He points to Talking Pictures TV, which precedes its classic content with a simple disclaimer: “This reflects the attitudes of the time.” This approach, he suggests, fosters a healthier understanding of media history.
“Pretending it never happened creates a false narrative, as if the entertainment industry always existed within a progressive utopia,” Gatiss explained. He champions open discussion over censorship, believing that acknowledging problematic elements is far more constructive than simply concealing them.
Gatiss’s perspective stems from personal experience. His darkly comedic series,The League of Gentlemen, was removed from Netflix in 2020 due to concerns surrounding the character Papa Lazarou.
Papa Lazarou, portrayed by Reece Shearsmith, quickly became a fan favorite, but his distinctive makeup – resembling a black and white minstrel – sparked controversy in recent years. Despite the creators’ insistence that the character was never intended as a racist caricature, the show faced scrutiny.
Shearsmith and co-creator Steve Pemberton previously addressed the criticism, explaining that Lazarou was conceived as a deliberately unsettling and otherworldly figure. They maintained that the character’s design was rooted in creating a frightening presence, akin to a “Child Catcher,” rather than perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
“It was never an existing character, not me doing a black man,” Shearsmith clarified. “It was always this clown-like make-up, and we just came up with what we thought was the scariest idea.” Pemberton added that, even during later revivals of the show, complaints about the character were minimal.
The League of Gentlemen, a cult hit that ran on the BBC from 1999 to 2002, masterfully blended dark humor with elements of horror. The show’s removal from streaming platforms ignited a broader conversation about the complexities of revisiting older content in a modern context.
Ultimately, Gatiss’s stance underscores the importance of acknowledging the past, even its uncomfortable aspects, to foster a more informed and nuanced understanding of both media and society.
