Oprah’s new series “Belief” features people of all kinds of religious faiths from every corner of the world.
It seems, though, that all these people have one unshakeable belief in common: the belief in the primacy of the English language. Irrespective of religion, country, culture and generation, they are all somehow English-speakers. This is neither questioned nor explained in the series.
Clarissa's Blog 
The television series is broadcast to an English-speaking audience, so why it is surprising that the shower’s producers would seek out English-speaking subjects who could be directly understood by the viewers?
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The show is not aimed at total dumbos. The intended audience is supposed to be able to process the film’s central idea that all religions are equally valid and beautiful.
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I agree.
The majority of Americans don’t watch foreign films.
Why?
Some hate subtitles (I’m not one of those).
Others, hate dubbed voices (yup, that would be me).
But I’d say the majority hate watching folks speaking in their native language, with their words translated into English.
“What the f*ck is wrong with ‘those’ people? Why can’t they learn to talk ‘Murkin!?!” (Sic) ((Or, rather: sick)) 😉
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Idiots of the kind you describe will not watch a 7-hour-long documentary on the beauty of Islam, Hinduism, aboriginal Australian religions, etc.
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There’s no such word as “Murkin.”
The main reason that “those people” outside the United States are so tolerant of subtitles and dubbed dialogue is because they have to be, if they want to watch American movies (and they do!) and other international productions that weren’t created in their country’s native language.
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That’s Putinoid mentality to a T. Putinoids of all countries, unite! 🙂
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It’s also true. 🙂
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“The main reason that “those people” outside the United States are so tolerant of subtitles and dubbed dialogue is because they have to be, if they want to watch American movies ”
There are movies made in languages other than english, you know. Your point is well taken about the cultural dominance of american movies and music, but the need for subtitles didn’t arise because of american films. It existed way before that. How does a native german speaker watch an Italian film? How do I (a native hindi speaker) watch a bengali film?
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Well, thanks for that hard-to-come-by information, Stinger Boy — I never knew that .You’ll notice that I said, “and other international productions that weren’t created in their country’s native languages.”
Let me guess — sign language??
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The people who only consume American movies and music are like those folks who never eat anything but McDonald’s food. They have robbed themselves of so much for no reason whatsoever.
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It seems, though, that all these people have one unshakeable belief in common: the belief in the primacy of the English language. Irrespective of religion, country, culture and generation, they are all somehow English-speakers. This is neither questioned nor explained in the series.
Good translators are hard to come by even for the most basic movie dialogues and when you’re discussing religious concepts some of which may have no exact analogue in the target audience’s upbringing or religion, it’s even harder. So the show’s producers find believers who speak English and can meet them at least half way. Plus with English speakers, the producers don’t have to worry about inadvertently insulting people with a bad translation.
Oprah’s audience wants to feel knowledgeable and enlightened without too much effort on their part. Remember there’s a significant number in this audience who think that Eat, Pray, Love is deep and profound.
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The dominance of US media in Europe (at least) is not only a function of popularity. It’s partly an accident of timing – Europe was still staggering financially as TV was introduced and it was cheaper to buy US stuff than make their own (comparative advantage).
Also… I once read an article on tv rights for movies, and at that time they were sold in bundles so broadcasters who want to buy a specific movie or series have to buy a crapton of stuff they don’t necessarily want.
As a general rule, as well, there’s a lot more non-American stuff on TV in former Iron Curtain countries where audiences were accustomed to more varied fare.
The US is a little unusual in having no real mainstream audience for foreign fare.
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And of course, this isn’t about religious faith (as such) at all. It’s about religions as consumer products that will complement your chosen spiritual identity and who in America wants to choose an identity based on not even knowing English?
Another way for people to drag their private baggage into the public realm so they can pick through it and ask passers by if this dogma makes their butt look big….
I do think that kind of thing can be done well, I remember back when I listened to BBC world they had a regular (rather short) show where people talked about their religions/religous faith in a way that was not weirdly offensive or strange. As I recall it was mostly about Middle Eastern religions (since further East actual belief isn’t necessarily a major concern).
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Oh, absolutely, you are spot-on. Much of the documentary has to do with bored, disillusioned Westerners who go, as if on a shopping tour, to India, Mecca, or elsewhere to purchase a more fulfilling religious experience.
It’s beautifully filmed, though.
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\ Much of the documentary has to do with bored, disillusioned Westerners who go, as if on a shopping tour, to India, Mecca, or elsewhere
Do any go to Israel out of interest in Judaism? Do Judaism and Jews appear at all?
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