A friend of mine just sent me a link to this news story about an independent film 12 year old actress Dakota Fanning is starring in.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/24/sundance.fanning.ap/index.html
My question is this - do the people who are protesting this film somehow think that if no one makes films like this, real-life cases of abuse will just go away? If we ignore that this happens, it won't be real? Or should we not make films about this kind of abuse because it will break our moral fiber? Why? Wouldn't you think that something like this would raise our awareness to child abuse and molestation, and the shame and fear survivors have to live with?
For all of you who are going to say "Typical atheist comment", I'm Wiccan, and believe deeply in "right" and "wrong", so please spare your judgement on my character.
2007-01-24 06:59:35 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
JumpingJoy - I don't know about you, but I rarely go to the movies to be "entertained," and the vast majority of my friends don't, either. Yes, occasionally I like going to see something as fluffy as Pirates of the Carribean, but frankly I prefer seeing films that make me THINK and that lead to discussions afterwards. We're obviously very different in that respect.
2007-01-24 07:22:59 · update #1
Factorywrench - I can see how you would think our society might degenerate into one where parents take their kids to the video store to rent porn. After all, the Bible is full of sex and rape, isn't it? Maybe you just don't like being reminded of the more sordid parts of your holy book.
2007-01-24 07:27:57 · update #2
It rather ticks me off that these people will take the time and effort to speak out against this movie, but don't do anything about the abuse it depicts. Isn't there a better use of your time, effort, and leadership position? Aren't your priorities a little off?
2007-01-24 07:12:00 · answer #1 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Hiding our heads in the sand will never make abuse go away.
From what was written, the movie didn't show any graphic abuse scenes.
Dakota Fanning voiced her opinions of the criticisms in a very mature way. Her mom & teacher were there on the set with her.
If I'm not mistaken, teachers are supposed to be mandated reporters of abuse. No abuse was reported!
The film could teach, but only if people are willing to open their minds first!
2007-01-24 07:25:06 · answer #2 · answered by dark_firmament 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
"It's not really happening," Fanning said of a rape. "It's a movie, and it's called acting. I'm not going through anything."
Dakota Fanning is an actress, and she has the right to make her own career choices, with the support she has from others. Child actors are protected under the law, and she has parents who obviously do not feel that it poses a risk to her physical or psychological health. If people don't like the film's subject matter, they have the right to *not see it* - they don't have the right to decide whether or not it can be made or shown.
2007-01-24 07:08:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
The really sad thing is that those 'protesters' are the same people who will take their kids to a film depicting graphic violence and torture and say it's ok because it tells a religious story.
Perhaps the writer should have made the story about Lot, who gave his daughters to a mob to be raped, and then committed incest with them. That would probably be more in line with Christian teachings. And they could all take their kids to see that too!
2007-01-24 07:23:47 · answer #4 · answered by chaotic_n_cryptic 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I do not see a problem with this type of movie being made... Maybe by making it.. it will open some eyes to what is happening to some of our children... If they can make movies about bombings,killings,and rape of women and men... so we can be aware.. then this movie is of no different...
I am a pagan and I too believe in what is right and what is wrong.. especialy when it comes to the abuse of children....
We all need to stand up and help kep them safe.. because they are our future...Without them we are lost forever....
2007-01-24 07:10:37 · answer #5 · answered by whitefire14 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
i read the comments and i watched the report i must say that why would her parents even let her play such a role any how are they that money hungry do they really need publicity that bad where does it stop huh where when do we say to Hollywood enough is enough why do we need a file about child rape anyway huh do we need to expose it that much oh i can see it now HEY MOMMY CAN WE SEE THE MOVIE WHERE THE LITTLE GIRL GETS RAPED ....SURE SWEETLY AND WE WILL STOP OFF AT THE LOCAL PORN SHOP AFTER WARDS OKAY SWEETLY .....FUNNY HUH BUT THAT IS WERE OUR SICK AND PERVERTED COUNTRY ARE HEADED RIGHT DOWN THE SEWER PIPES while we have people like yourself saying there is nothing wrong with it and then be HYPOCRITICAL and Say I KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG!!!!!
2007-01-24 07:19:43 · answer #6 · answered by THE WAR WRENCH 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
So you think that staring at abuse will help us get rid of it?
If your kids don't take out the trash do you make them play with it cause it just "won't go away."
Would you make your kids eat rotten food to teach them that its bad for you? Because rotten food wont go away and you need to raise their awareness of it.
Will it raise awareness? looking at the ugly will cure it?
I think we should focus on the lovely so when we come in contact with the ugly we will be repulsed and not desensitized by mindless movies.
I hate it. I hate the fact that we would watch a little girl get raped for entertainment. Even if its "just pretend" its sick.
2007-01-24 07:11:15 · answer #7 · answered by JumpingJoy 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋