The Problematic Gaze – Details, episodes & analysis

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week, we cast our gaze on the classic British sitcom Fawlty Towers, and focus on an episode from 1975 called 'The Germans'. Controversial in recent years for its use of racist language, this episode was removed from several platforms. Do the antics of Basil, Sybil, Polly and Manuel hold up through a modern lens?

Also, PG Towers is positively aglow from fibre optic and Hello Pierre! What's your real name and where do you come from?

You can watch Fawlty Towers: The Germans here.

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And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!

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Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week, in celebration of Halloween, we cast our gaze on the classic film An American Werewolf In London. From the Yorkshire Moors to Piccadilly Circus, this film caused a stir upon its release in 1981. Is it a horror or a comedy? Is Jenny Agutter the poshest nurse ever? Let's take a visit to the most unwelcoming pub in England. And have you ever woken up in a wolf enclosure? Easily done.

Also, did Lee and Dave first meet on a donkey in 1981? And the side plate going for a song at £155.00!!

You can watch An American Werewolf in London on Amazon Prime in the UK.

Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.

And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!

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Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we watch the 2004 British film 'Fat Slags'. Universally panned by critics and a flop at the box office, Dave and Dr Lee dig deep to find a redeeming feature. Do we succeed?

Also, we deep dive Dave's trip to New York and skim the surface on Lee's trip to erm... Wigan.

If you'd like to watch the (mercifully short) Fat Slags movie click here. We recommend having a bottle of gin and perhaps a crack pipe handy to get to the end.

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And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we watch the supernatural BBC 1 drama 'Ghostwatch' from 1992. Find out why it had the nation in uproar and jammed the BBC switchboard. Just who is Pipes? And dare you enter the Glory Hole?

Sadly the version of Ghostwatch we watched on YouTube has been taken down. But click here to watch a fab documentary about the Ghostwatch controversy by Shrouded Hand.

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And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we watch the 1990 movie "Pretty Woman" starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. Romantic fairy tale or a huge bucket of problematic misogyny? Let's discuss.

Also, Lee's big night out in Soho and Dave's favourite new podcast (after The Problematic Gaze of course!!)

You can watch Pretty Woman.... well, pretty much anywhere really!

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And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we watch an episode of popular UK sitcom 'Men Behaving Badly." from 1994. Just what was Lad Culture and what was it reacting against? Was it all just an advertisers wet dream?

Also, Lee's pigeon nightmare. And is beating a rat to death with a spade ever justified?

Click here to watch the episode of Men Behaving Badly discussed in this episode.

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And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we delve into the world of 'Carry On' films with Carry On Girls from 1973. Harmless saucy fun? Feminist classic? Hmmm......  Where can we buy a swanee whistle?

Also, just where did Bananarama film the video for 'Cruel Summer? Spontaneous nightclubbing. And Dave's Madonna nightmare.

You can watch Carry On Girls in ITV X in the UK. Or rent it from iTunes.

Click here to watch "Miss World 1970 Beauty Queens and Bedlam", a documentary about feminists storming the stage at the Miss World pageant in London, in protest against the objectification of women.

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And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we cast the Problematic lens over Madonna's 1990 music video for Justify My Love.

Madonna caused another commotion with the release of this video. But looking back on it, did it really warrant the moral backlash and slut shaming it received?
Also, what would Cilla Black's version of this song sound like? And Lee, why don't you tell us how you really feel about football!

To watch Madonna's Justify My Love video click here.

Watch Lee's short film with The Imperial War Museum here.

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And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we cast the Problematic lens over 'Man About The House', a UK sitcom from 1973. Jo and Chrissie find a strange man in their bath. But can he cook? And a new queen is crowned! All bow to Yootha Joyce!

Click here to watch the episode of Man About The House as discussed in this podcast

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And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we take a deep dive into Bullseye, a popular UK TV gameshow from the 80's and 90's. Jim Bowen, Tony Green, Bully's Prize Board! It's all here. Problematic? You bet!

Watch the Episode of Bullseye from 25th September 1988 here...

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And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!