A good point. “All in the Family” was based on a British show called “Till Death Us Do Part”. That show featured a main character called Alf Garnett who was very racist and sexist. He was intended to mock the reactionary working class conservatives of the time but people dismissed the show as being in favour of the things that the character came out with because they couldn’t understand the satire.
He’s called Archie Bunker in the States and a lot of older Americans (Boomers and Xers mostly) love him because he shares their views. They don’t get that that’s a bad thing and he’s shown to be wrong and backward on the show.
I may be giving too much but I think some writers tried to steer public opinion lessen hatred using characters like Archie as a tool. If you pay attention over the course of the series while he never becomes good a lot of the hate lessened and he’ll admit people or things he hated were ok.
I.e. the racists become emotionally attached to him, so when Archie “learns” they will. (In theory)
A good point. “All in the Family” was based on a British show called “Till Death Us Do Part”. That show featured a main character called Alf Garnett who was very racist and sexist. He was intended to mock the reactionary working class conservatives of the time but people dismissed the show as being in favour of the things that the character came out with because they couldn’t understand the satire.
He’s called Archie Bunker in the States and a lot of older Americans (Boomers and Xers mostly) love him because he shares their views. They don’t get that that’s a bad thing and he’s shown to be wrong and backward on the show.
The same type of people that thought The Colbert Show was serious.
I may be giving too much but I think some writers tried to steer public opinion lessen hatred using characters like Archie as a tool. If you pay attention over the course of the series while he never becomes good a lot of the hate lessened and he’ll admit people or things he hated were ok.
I.e. the racists become emotionally attached to him, so when Archie “learns” they will. (In theory)
I do think that was the intent. All in the Family was progressive show for the time.