metaphorge
Archbishop of Bologna!!!
The recent release of the 3R/DiD "German Chancellor 1899-1945" figure has had me thinking a lot about the subject of toys versions of controversial historical figures and subjects.
Is there a line that should be drawn in what sees production? What does it say about us when we purchase and display an Adolf Hitler figure in our collection? (Disclaimer: I own the 3R Hitler figure, but in no way endorse National Socialism/Fasism as an ideology. I'm fully aware of what the Nazis did, and made the visit to Aschwitz/Birkenau to bear witness as best I could, since I firmly believe that those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it).
Why do we even feel the need to make disclaimers like the one I made above? It's not like anytime someone talks about their Freddy Kruger dolls they feel the need to disavow any enthusiasm for raping and murdering children.
I've seen toy versions of Andrew Jackson, Fidel Castro, Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and his dead and decomposing son, and Jack the Ripper, and seen people get terribly offended that the toys exist in the first place. {Also, see here.)
What's absolutely off limits? I was talking about this with my girlfriend, and the most unacceptable subject for a 1:6 historical toy we could think of would be concentration camp inmates. The thought is just horrible. But what if the inmates were rebelling, armed and looking defiant? Would that make the subject more palatable? Are action figures art, and does art always have to make us feel good?
(Yes, this post betrays that I'm a sociology geek.)
Is there a line that should be drawn in what sees production? What does it say about us when we purchase and display an Adolf Hitler figure in our collection? (Disclaimer: I own the 3R Hitler figure, but in no way endorse National Socialism/Fasism as an ideology. I'm fully aware of what the Nazis did, and made the visit to Aschwitz/Birkenau to bear witness as best I could, since I firmly believe that those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it).
Why do we even feel the need to make disclaimers like the one I made above? It's not like anytime someone talks about their Freddy Kruger dolls they feel the need to disavow any enthusiasm for raping and murdering children.
I've seen toy versions of Andrew Jackson, Fidel Castro, Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and his dead and decomposing son, and Jack the Ripper, and seen people get terribly offended that the toys exist in the first place. {Also, see here.)
What's absolutely off limits? I was talking about this with my girlfriend, and the most unacceptable subject for a 1:6 historical toy we could think of would be concentration camp inmates. The thought is just horrible. But what if the inmates were rebelling, armed and looking defiant? Would that make the subject more palatable? Are action figures art, and does art always have to make us feel good?
(Yes, this post betrays that I'm a sociology geek.)
Last edited: