The characters of hit comedy Little Britain – including "only gay in the village" Daffyd Thomas, are stereotypes which play on people's prejudices, according a new study. Promoting hatred? Matt Lucas as Daffyd Thomas London School of Economics researcher Deborah Finding says the show as "the comedy equivalent of junk food". "It is clear that when 'we', the audience, are invited to laugh at 'them', the characters - we are laughing not only at the figures on screen but at entire groups of people whom they come to represent," she said. "Little Britain does far more to promote racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism and classism than it does to satirise them - though it does do that from time to time." Plus-sized out and proud gay character Daffyd "is a character who connects the idea of being homosexual with being ridiculous and therefore relies on mainstream fears about gayness, despite the fact that Daffyd is the creation of comedian Matt Lucas - who is himself gay," the researcher states in her academic paper, titled 'I can't believe you just said that'. Deborah Finding's full academic paper (sized 630KB) can be downloaded by clicking the top link below. A video clip of Matt Lucas live on stage as Daffyd Thomas appears below.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Thursday, 30th October 2008 - 10:57am