On Nov 18, 2:46 pm, "Kevin M." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Yes, I know, there are many of you who adore this reality series and > see it as a cut above others in the genre. I watched the show because > it sent the contestants to Kazakhstan, a place near and dear to my > heart. > > I was not amused. > > http://www.tvornottv.net/2008/11/18/the-amazing-racists/
Like or hate it, The Amazing Race is available and watched in most countries in the world: there was even a local version of The Amazing Race in Brazil and The Amazing Race Asia just completed its third season. The producers for The Amazing Race go to the countries in question and scout for suitable locations: as Loren said, modern infrastructure is not what they are looking for. They are looking for something interesting to show on TV. And as Rick pointed out, the local people are more than happy to help them out: The Amazing Race is shown, as I said, all over the world and its ratings beat any travel show on Discovery or any documentary on National geographic. The same day that The Amazing Race Asia showed contestants visiting Oman, there was a full page ad in the Taipei Times advertising holidays in Oman. You said that dressing up Kazakhs like Mongol warriors was "akin to dressing up a black man as a spear-chucking cannibal" but that's not quite true: the Mongols invaded the area in the 13rd century AD and, according to Wikipedia, it wasn't until the 15th century that "a distinct Kazakh identity began to emerge among the Turkic tribes, a process which was consolidated by the mid-16th century with the appearance of a distinctive Kazakh language, culture, and economy" so it seems that Kazakhs have a dual Turkic / Mongol heritage. Perhaps they just wanted to display both. Similarly, both The Amazing Race Asia and The Amazing Race (proper) have shown "Maori warriors" dressed in traditional costumes and, seeing as how The Amazing Race Asia did it first (so I've been told) and that was locally produced, it's hard to cry racism when Americans then go ahead and do the exact same thing. Martin --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Like TV only smarter. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
