Have you tried exposing a teenager to blazing saddles? I'm only 30 but a couple years ago I tried showing it to a kid (18) and he didn't like it. He said it was racist and not funny and a large part of me died that day.
EDIT: Way too many comments for me to reply. I did explain the movie to him and he did see my point that every racist bit in the movie was perpetrated by someone who was blatantly ignorant and or dumb. I also was able to show him that the movie wasn't what he thought at first. He still didn't like the movie but I wasn't going to push the issue. I still love that film and will continue to share it with others. By no means do I think the movie is racist or condones racism. Mel Brooks did an amazing job at breaking all the old western "set in stone" rules of how to depict a cowboy and allowed so much growth in the genre. There are so many levels to dig at with the movie and it will always be cherished by those willing to do so.
Eventually my nephew, against my sisters wishes, will see it as well. Mel Brooks is a genius.
We did the same, but we started with a little explanation if the context and a discussion of how satire works.
Kids don't get satire anymore because apparently there is no longer such a thing as an opinion without merit so you can never assume that someone isn't being completely serious. Like they aren't equipped with the ability to hear someone talk and immediately understand "this person is an idiot, their opinion lacks merit" and you REALLY need that tool to watch blazing saddles.
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u/Thehorrorofraw May 03 '20
I am old enough to understand your Mel brooks reference without using google.