As regular readers of my blog know, I went back to school a couple of years ago. I am ever-so-slowly working my way toward a degree. And when I say slowly, I mean s-l-o-w-l-y.
This semester, I am taking an introduction to film studies class. By early December, I’ll have watched a total of eight films that represent movies from the late 1930s up until 2006. This week’s film was from the 60’s. I’m not going to name the film, because it was vulgar, foul garbage. I kept thinking of the young gal who sits near me every week. Last week, she was reading a Ted Dekker novel in the hall while we were waiting for the classroom door to be unlocked. Should she have to watch this junk? Should I?
I remember the instructor’s comment the first week, telling us that this Academy Award Best Picture winner is considered “brilliant cinematography” but that its content might be disturbing to some. She added that this is a college class and we are all adults.
Excuse me. Just because I’m an adult doesn’t mean I want to see garbage on the screen. In fact, as a mature adult, I’m glad that I have acquired enough good sense and good taste to be able to differentiate between tripe and art. An Oscar does not make this movie better than it is. If it hadn’t been an assignment, I would have turned it off long before it got to the offensive parts because it just wasn’t good.
A well-known critic (who, BTW, has liked many movies I haven’t over the years), called this movie “an offensively trendy, gimmick-ridden, tarted-up, vulgar exercise in fashionable cinema.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I am no shrinking violet. Honestly, I do not melt when exposed to the more offensive or distasteful aspects of our culture. But those were two hours of my life that I wasted while watching that movie. Two hours that I will never get back. Not to mention the time it took to answer the questions in the viewing guide.
I guess this is a rant that is going nowhere. I’m not even sure of the point I want to make. Other than it saddens and angers me that films like this one are held up as examples of so-called brilliant cinema to potential future filmmakers. Really? Is this the best Hollywood (and academia)Â can do?
Rant over.
~robin
Oh, Robin, I know EXACTLY how you feel! Back in the ’80s, when I was in college, a film was shown on campus that one of my instructors highly recommended we attend. I went and regretted it every day thereafter. I wanted to scrub my eyes, my ears, my brain – anything that came in contact with the movie. To this day, when I think about it, I can see some of the scenes that were most offensive to me. I could not believe that the film was shown a.) at the Mennonite church school I was attending and b.) that it met any kind of standards for viewing, especially there. It definitely didn’t meet the “set your mind on things above..” standard. I’m sorry to say that not much has changed in 30 years….
Pam, I suppose one reason this grieves me is that it represents such a complete decline over the past 50 years. Things that once shocked us no longer do.
Robin, That reminds me of the story about the frog sitting in the pot of water and when the heat was turned up it boiled to death without even knowing it. It just keeps on get trashier! Unless a person keeps his/herself away from trash, then somehow it begins to not seems as bad as it did anymore. That is why I read Christian fiction! Bless you and keep up the great writing!
Yes, the slow boiling of a frog is a great analogy. Thanks for reading Christian fiction!
When I was a teenager I went to see Love Story, yes I’m showing my age. I was appalled at the language. I remember getting up and leaving the theater. I watched it again a few years ago and even though I still didnt like the language it was essentially mild compared to what comes out of the theaters today.
So true. This movie is probably mild compared to what is even on network TV sometimes. But I know what I think is art, and this isn’t even close.
For the past ten years I taught Literature in a Christian high school. I was allowed to choose classic literature with depth of meaning and quality of writing. However, some of the lists of recommended books for teens, and the required reading lists in high schools are so horrendous! I would never read them as an adult, let alone require an impressionable high school student to do so. My own children do not attend a Christian High School, and we have had to have several discussions about what they are “required” to read in class.
Yes, required reading lists can be a nightmare.
Well said. Especially about the wasting of 2 hour of Life being exposed to garbage. So many “friends” and family speak ill of us because we do not choose to watch or listen to garbage. When one is dealing with chronic or acute illness time is a most precious, irreplaceable commodity. Um, may I be bold as aks why is it that you are seeking a degree? No answer expected. Wondering why flirting with humanism would advance the richness of who you are, the Perfection that God Created that is you? . .Be Blessed as you journey.
Shalom, Judy B
Why am I seeking a degree? Because I want one and I have felt God’s approval for me to seek it. And all education, everything I read and hear and see, is grist for the mill for my writing. If I am ignorant of the culture in which I live, I cannot write life changing fiction that addresses the ills that beset not just society as a whole but people who are believers. It is an interesting balance, to be in the world and not of it, to think on things that are lovely and pure and yet be aware of the evils in our society.
I agree, Robin. There is so much garbage out there, particularly in film, TV, and fiction literature, if you can even call it literature. I also choose not to expose myself to it regularly, but I try not to insulate myself to the extent that I am unaware of how bad it really is. We cannot come against those things without educating ourselves first. It’s a difficult balance, and I applaud you for your efforts.
Amen, Robin! I rarely go to movies and have switched over to reading mostly Christian Fiction for this very reason. Thanks to you and the other CF writers who share your time and talents so we can have good, wholesome, uplifting stories to read. You are appreciated more than you’ll ever know! Hugs!!