THE Chinese drama, Portrait Of Home II, airs on Channel 8 during the 7-8pm prime-time slot on weekdays. This is the time that many families with children would be watching television while having dinner.
I have found that some of the themes in this series (as well as the earlier Portrait Of Home series), such as revenge among family members and the explicit cruel acts they do to one another, are unsuitable for young audiences, but my family has continued to watch the programme as it is a convenient way of exposing my children to more Mandarin (we are an English-speaking family). As it is on prime-time television, surely, it can't be too risque, can it?
However, the episode which aired on Oct 17 crossed the boundary of what is acceptable on prime-time television.
Towards the end of this episode, the character Shaodong showed the dim-witted Dayang an X-rated VCD to arouse him. (It appears to be a pirated VCD as there are no markings on it.)
Shaodong then encouraged Dayang to make sexual advances to his girlfriend Baobei that night and told him that he should force himself on her if she refused to accept his advances.
Shaodong said that the angrier Baobei got, the happier she really was. That night, Dayang attempted to undress Baobei as she slept.
In my opinion, this scene is totally unnecessary for the development of the story. What message does this episode convey to viewers, especially young, impressionable ones?
It is the duty of members of the public to raise the issue whenever they feel that the line has been crossed, and mine is but one small voice to show the broadcasters and producers that the public is vigilant.
Dr Tham Chen Khong
lets watch barney and friends.
