« URL Change | Main | Just when I thought all hope was lost... »

Obscenity in Art

Jon Stewart recently interviewed Kelly Clarkson, the American Idol winner, on The Daily Show. It was mostly a bunch of BS, but a particular comment made by Kelly disturbed me. She was appearing on the show to promote her new movie, and Jon asked her if the movie was appropriate for children. Her response was a lot of canned promotional BS, mentioning that the film was rated PG, etc... but one part of her response compared her movie to The Shawshank Redemption. She implied that people should feel better about taking their kids to see her movie than Shawshank. It was a pretty off the cuff remark, something like, "Yeah, of course kids can come to this movie! It's not like The Shawshank Redemption or anything..."

I'm not really trying to rag on her for shameless promotion of her movie, but I found the remark rather narrowminded. I'm certain she was referring to the very frequent and unbridled use of obscenity in Shawshank, and while I haven't seen her movie, I'm guessing based on the PG rating and the context of her response, it doesn't use bad words and there probably isn't much violence.

But here's my problem with this: despite the use of profanity and violence, Shawshank is full of themes that I would want my children to learn about. I would go so far as to say that I'd rather have my children watch Shawshank *with me* than Kelly's movie. I mean, c'mon: the triumph of the human spirit over incredible odds and injustice or the triumph of greed and marketing over the creative medium and a mindless public? The important thing is to talk about the themes in the movie and focus on the message they should be taking from the movie afterwards.

I find all these people who count violent acts and swear words in movies and songs such narrowminded sheep with blinders on to the world. Rather than rendering judgment on art based on the presence of arbitrary words and actions, consider the themes the art stands for. The spirit of art is far more important than any single component.

PGP Signed Entry

Comments

As a father of four (three, two, one, whatever), I heartily agree with you. Seeing Kelly grind with Justin is far more damaging than the moral redemption deep meaning found in Shawshank. In terms of the swearing? Heck, the 10 year old hears far worse from her teen siblings…

I'm not a father myself yet, but I'm guessing the reason many parents would not prefer The Shawshank Redemption is because either they're lazy to or have no time to (not necessarily in that order; time is in short supply for everyone and the rat race only makes it worse) explain the movie to their children; all they see is the rating and decide it's not kids' material. I definitely agree with you that children (well, only down to a certain age that I don't know yet) can learn a lot of good life lessons from that movie. However, it takes time and effort for a parent to explain these themes to his or her children. Nowadays, the TV does the teaching, not the parents. I know that's not true for every parent, but it is definitely true for a large number.

And I have to agree with swansong; you can censor all the tv and movies you want but children will still learn what you're "protecting" them from from their siblings and friends.

Brian,

My apologies, but my only response is this:
If a person/couple can not put aside time to properly raise children themselves - not relying on others to do so for them: TV, movies, games, etc. - then they have no business having children in the first place.

As for swearing, the sooner society realizes that words are just words, none are bad or good, the sooner it will realize that it is getting worked up over nothing. Getting upset over somebody saying 'Oh shit!' is as arbitrary as getting worked up over somebody saying 'Oh pinwheel!'.

I definitely agree with you haglund. I'm just stating the way things are, not the way they're supposed to be.

Looking at Jet's earlier post about the pay scale...imagine if people were paid to raise their children? Instead of dual-income couples having no time for their children, imagine if they were rewarded by society for raising children? Many mothers sacrifice their entire career, worth over one million dollars in many cases, to raise their children. And then they get no recognition or reward. What the pinwheel is that all about?

This remains very similar to the "bleeping" out of swear words, the sentiment is the same and every child realizes this.

I do not agree with haglund about words being just words, words are symbols of meaning and intent, just go up to a black person and use a racial epithet. To them it conveys a lot more than just the sound of different syllables, it brings up a history of racism and oppression and violence. Of course, the way most swears are used in movies, they are pretty meaningless.

I completely agree! While the Shawshank has violence and cursing, I, at the age of fourteen, watched it and understood it for what it was--a great movie full of morals. I believe a child should only be allowed to watch what that child can handle on his or her own maturity level. And, yes, Kelly Clarkson IS full of BS.

Vito Acconci, Carolee Schneemann, Vallie Export, Chris Burden, Robert Mapplethorpe, just some artist that you all might like to see the works of.
Justin to Kelly what a perfect example of a product produced to aid in the conforming the young minds into consumers. Byproduct of the materialistic MTV commercialism spilling on to a TV show what idolizes fame of a uneducated individual to take their minds off of the sad fact that most of the ones watching in america will most likely end up in the rat race to pay off the creditors, then telling their kids to go study, get into a good college, get a stable job, pay your taxes, raise good kids and on ... continuing rat race.
Open your eyes, Mars? come on, dont you see the human being starving on a corner of a street?
Dont you see the elderly living to die in retirement homes? How will you go?
The demoralization of children must stop.
Unconditional commercialization must stop.
The bombings must stop.
The killings must stop.
The hate must stop.
Now i'm just ranting on.
No longer should individuals teach, "do as I say, Not as I do."
Children hate hypocrites, though they may not know the meaning of the word.
90% of the wealth is owned by the top 10% of the wealthy.
Thought of 1 individual making a difference makes my head hurt, so many problems...
I'm not a religious man, but look at Christ
The world looks to me like a place described in revelations.

Kelly, Justin, Clay, Ruben
4 horsemen from the corporate powers to brainwash and conform teenagers into mindless consumers.
Down with American Idol.

Free the minds of the child from the trash of MTV.
Request a higher level of learning at schools.
Demand IT!
Children like a blank canvas needs to be painted
Educate these minds.
Paint a beautiful painting.

So many problems and my rant is too long...
Let these problems make you think...
may you see more problems and seek a solution...
may my ranting continue in your mind...