★★★★★ 0/5

Dear Border Security, this is “not helpful” either.

Unsubtle Border Security promo goes for racial stereotypes with Asian fonts and Chinese music.

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wwmw“Not helpful,” Barnaby Joyce said of Clive Palmer’s outburst against China on Q & A last night.

Wonder if Barnaby has seen this promo Seven is currently running for Border Security in which a man of Asian appearance is being questioned by Australian customs?

“What’s Wrong With Mr. Wong?” asks the promo in an Asian-style font.

It is accompanied by the sounds of martial arts, Chinese music -and a burp- presumably because the man appears to be taken ill. Just to ram home the point, it runs twice in the one promo.

Border Security, which tells long-haul passengers via a sign that they should alert them if they do NOT want to be filmed, has never been particularly subtle with its agenda. But to lay on the racial stereotypes in promos is pretty poor form.

Is this really the best we can do?

 

32 Responses

  1. So Mr Wong suddenly got sick because his attempt to scam his way into the country with a false passport fell apart. So long Mr Wong.

    Looking forward to the hurry curry next week.

  3. Well they don’t call it Bogan Security for nothing!
    Unfortunately commercial TV is fertile ground for racial stereotypes, fear mongering and simple mindedness. It will only get worse as alternative viewing platforms multiply. A race to the bottom.

  4. @Weatherman – the portrayal of an ethnic character in a satirical animated comedy is very different to the use of casual racism in promoting a factual tv show.

  5. @jezza, no, they wouldn’t in a million years ever dare to feature a Muslim tourist in any of their ads for the show. Could you imagine a “What’s wrong with Mr Khan?” written in Arabic style calligraphy letters and belly dance music in the background as a trailer for Border Security? The wrath of the Australian Islamic community would immediately come down on them like a ton of bricks. Asians are a soft target, they rarely kick up a fuss re racism.

  6. Ethnic stereotyping isn’t anything new. Television shows, such as The Simpsons had always portrayed ethnic stereotypes. Remember the Indian guy Apu operating the convenience store with a mock English accent.

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