GOLDEN BOY'S REFLECTION
All right, I admit it, I stayed up and watched the Oscars this past Sunday night/Monday morning (or was that afternoon). It was a loooong show, but to my way of thinking, it was the best Academy Awards I've ever spied — even if I had to endure hearing a song called, "Blame Canada"! At least I didn't have to see a stage full of dancers dancing in Tarzan suits while Phil Collins sang! The no prancy-dancer clause added to this year's Academy Award rule book was a long overdue bonus; as was the brilliant return of Billy Crystal. Billy reminds us that a host can have class and tact and still be wonderfully funny. Way to go, Billy! Thanks for showing us that humor doesn't have to be sexually suggestive/explicit to get a laugh!
Now, let me say that, even as I write, I have mixed feelings about what I am about to say. I have thought long and hard about the place of art and entertainment in our world today and I continue to pursue a chicken and the egg argument in my mind as to whether the media shapes our culture, or our culture is reflected in the media. The best I have come up with thus far is that the entertainment media does tend to push the envelope on what is moral and acceptable. But, having said that, doesn't our culture continue to reward those who are pushing the envelopes? Regardless of the 'shaping' or 'reflecting' argument, there certainly seems to be a circular influence between the things we watch and the people we become. OK, now that I've confused you (and myself) let me ask you about the message you got from this year's winners.
To be fair, I haven't seen any of the movies I will be mentioning, so take my comments with a grain of salt. I'm sure all of the winning movies are the sum total of many gifted, dedicated individuals who believed in each movie's social and entertainment value. So, please note that I am not commenting on the artistic value of the winning movies, or the quality of performances they've captured — I just want to examine their subject matter.
This year's winner of Best Picture was "American Beauty." American Beauty is a movie that is described by one person who saw it as "a movie that exhibits a year-in-the-life of two extremely disturbed families which glorifies homosexuality, adultery, lies, profanity, murder, hate, and nudity." From what I understand this movie is as graphic as it is brilliant. Apparently, it truthfully portrays the state of the human animal as it roams the not-so-free range of the American suburbs. Then we have the movie, "Cider House Rules." A review of this movie states: "The messages in this movie are clear: abortion, fornication, drug use, lying, incest, and murder are condoned; rules are made to be broken. There are no absolutes." Humm. By the comments of the writer John Irving, who won the Oscar for "Best Screenplay", this movie is clearly a 'pro-choice' poster child. Then we have the winner for 'Best Actress' going to Hilary Swank for her portrayal of a woman who had a sexual identity problem and felt more comfortable living and loving as a man. Sadly, the movie, "Boy's Don't Cry" is based on a true story. Ah, we've come a long way from past 'Best Picture" winners like 'Ben Hur', 'The Sound of Music', 'Forrest Gump' or 'Driving Miss Daisy', haven't we?
What do the big winners
of this year's Golden Boy blowout tell us?
Well, let's just say that it ain't good. The graphic content of these movies doesn't surprise me. To be brutally honest, it's exactly what I expect from Hollywood. That's the problem. I understand the need for honesty and integrity in film making. I also understand that moral messages can be learned from the folly of watching an immoral life (as perhaps is the case with 'American Beauty'). But how much immorality do we really have to see? Don't the graphical immoral images of a movie eventually undermine any moral message that might be forthcoming?
It seems to me that art shouldn't just communicate the cold, hard, ugly truth of the human condition, even if it is 'honest.' Shouldn't art not only communicate truth, but also aspire to lift us up out of the ugliness of our existence and inspire us to soar to new levels of love, beauty, joy, and truth? Shouldn't art try to communicate beauty without dragging us through the muddiest part of reality first? If I want to know what the lowest common denominator of the human race is, all I need do is read the paper, or pay attention to the world around me. That side of the story is easy to find. What we really need to see more of is the greatness we are able to achieve as God's children. What we really need is a return to dignity and morality in the story-telling process.
It is equally clear that the story of Hollywood is one-sided. The media and it's message is being controlled by those who don't, for the most part, respect God or His people. All you need do is look at the messages and the lifestyles of the movers and shakers to understand this truth. Please understand that this isn't a judgement, just an observation. But, let me ask you a question — why isn't there a greater moral, Christian voice in the entertainment/media world? If art, and media are the great molders and shapers of our world, shouldn't we be out on the front lines with creativity, drive and excellence? If our voice isn't being portrayed in Hollywood, whose fault is it? I think it's time we Christians stop criticizing and start creating. There is a place for art, for creativity, for an honest expression of the worthwhile questions of life, but we need skilled voices to speak from God's perspective. Who will go? Who will say, "Here I am, send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)
