I recently began watching this series at school for media. Though it is hard to watch this from a modern (2007) point of view, you have to remember that lots of things that we see as being politically and socially incorrect for this day and age, taken back 30 years, would have been considered the norm.
Eddie Booth, the predominant white male, is a comical representation of the (then) typical, white union member. Joan Booth is the typical white housewife, bending to her husband's every need by having dinner on the table when he gets home and having the house tidy. (Remember this was before the Feminist movement in the UK.) Bill Reynolds, the predominant black male, is a representation of the incoming black community of the early 1970's. Barbie Reynolds is very much seen in the same way as Joan, as a typical housewife, though is presented as being more sexual that Joan, who sees sex as being a chore every Wednesday and Saturday night.
I originally had a problem watching this series because of all the racist slurs etc. but then, I took a step back and instead of watching it from a 2007 p.o.v, watched it as though I was living in the time. After you realise that, in the early 70's this would not have been seen as racist, it was just showing the dominant social value of the time, this programme is much more enjoyable...Even if you do eventually have to do an exam on it...
Eddie Booth, the predominant white male, is a comical representation of the (then) typical, white union member. Joan Booth is the typical white housewife, bending to her husband's every need by having dinner on the table when he gets home and having the house tidy. (Remember this was before the Feminist movement in the UK.) Bill Reynolds, the predominant black male, is a representation of the incoming black community of the early 1970's. Barbie Reynolds is very much seen in the same way as Joan, as a typical housewife, though is presented as being more sexual that Joan, who sees sex as being a chore every Wednesday and Saturday night.
I originally had a problem watching this series because of all the racist slurs etc. but then, I took a step back and instead of watching it from a 2007 p.o.v, watched it as though I was living in the time. After you realise that, in the early 70's this would not have been seen as racist, it was just showing the dominant social value of the time, this programme is much more enjoyable...Even if you do eventually have to do an exam on it...