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Subject: 
Re: Arkham Asylum - A cool set, but a bit disturbing.
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date: 
Thu, 7 Jun 2007 16:12:20 GMT
Viewed: 
6991 times
  
In lugnet.licensed.batman, Mark Larson wrote:

   You seem to be implying that LEGO either is insensitive to the Abu Ghraib controversy or is purposely making fun of it. Do you really think that’s true? Abu Ghraib is a mess of complex political and military controversies, the Arkham Asylum is a place where they hold Super Villians.

Although it’s unlikely that LEGO intended the set as a commentary on Abu Ghraib, their choice to foreground an institutionalized torture chamber speaks of a curious lack of sensitivity on the subject. Given TLG’s long-standing policy of non-violent toys (a policy quickly abandoned when it threatened their profits, of course), you’d think that they’d be more conscious of how their portrayals of violence are likely to be interpreted.

   If LEGO had released a US military base and there were a torture chamber in it, I’d think there was a big problem. This set is from a comic book where very dark things happen. What did you expect them to have in the Arkham Asylum, a community room with checkers and snacks?

Why include the torture chamber at all? They didn’t include the reception desk, the bathroom, or the parking lot, after all. Their choice to include the chamber makes it fair game for discussion.

   Like everyone who responded I am trying to continue a respectable discussion.

FWIW I think you’ve done just fine in that regard.


Dave!



Message has 3 Replies:
  Re: Arkham Asylum - A cool set, but a bit disturbing.
 
(...) You think? (...) I think that there is a definite line WRT to reality and fantasy. The holocaust sets were offensive because they portrayed reality; these Spiderman sets deal in the realm of fantasy and make-believe, and so they shouldn't be (...) (17 years ago, 7-Jun-07, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)
  Re: Arkham Asylum - A cool set, but a bit disturbing.
 
(...) But, they're making a toy. Saying they have a "curious lack of sensitivity" implies that there is some sort of sinister commentary on their part. Just because it reminded one person of something horrible doesn't mean that issue should've been (...) (17 years ago, 7-Jun-07, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)
  Re: Arkham Asylum - A cool set, but a bit disturbing.
 
(...) Well, they did sorta include the reception desk. Sorta. In the first floor, aside from the sliding cage door, there's some sort of computer terminal with a phone and a swivel chair. Not very desk-like, but hey, it's not very asylum-like (...) (17 years ago, 8-Jun-07, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Arkham Asylum - A cool set, but a bit disturbing.
 
(...) This is an alarmist over-reaction, in my opinion. No offense, I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, but you broached the subject and here's my opinion. You seem to be implying that LEGO either is insensitive to the Abu Ghraib (...) (17 years ago, 7-Jun-07, to lugnet.licensed.batman, lugnet.dear-lego, FTX) ! 

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