Posted on 05/22/2006 4:10:50 PM PDT by Conservative Coulter Fan
Imagine, if you can, a major studio releasing a thriller in which the stars investigate the origins of Islam. Pursued by a murderous Muslim cleric, they uncover a series of shocking discoveries: Mohammed was no prophet! The Koran is a hoax, the work of self-serving hypocrites! Modern-day Muslims are dupes, if not deranged psychopaths!
Now imagine, in the unlikely event such a film were ever made, what sort of reception it would get in the establishment media. Given the categorical refusal of the American press to publish the Danish Mohammed cartoons, it's a safe bet that the talking heads and big newspapers would only mention the movie to denounce it.
This is telling, given the fawning, copious attention that's been lavished upon Ron Howard's adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, which began well before the movie was even in production.
Five months in advance of its opening, Newsweek touted Da Vinci in a fluffy cover piece as the "New Year's Hottest Movie." NBC's "Today" show aired clips during the Winter Olympics. Throughout the media, giddy reporters and pundits counted down the days until the big-screen debut of Dan Brown's best-selling novel, which insists that Christ was not divine, that the Gospels are a fraud, and that the Catholic Church is a wicked, murderous conspiracy out to conceal the truth of the "sacred feminine."
Clearly the decision makers in today's establishment press defer to the religious sensibilities of some folks more than others.
There are various reasons for this double standard, the first being media cowardice. Christians tend not to riot and torch buildings when they're offended. They can deal with having their convictions challenged. The Muslim world, in contrast, is much more dangerous. And media crusaders tend to go weak in the knees if thereÍs a chance of becoming the next Salman Rushdie or Theo van Gogh.
Then there's simple economics: The Da Vinci Code, which sold 40 million copies in hardcover alone, has the potential to be a box-office hit of Harry Potter proportions. Reporters and news organizations that saw little profit in reprinting second-rate foreign cartoons want to get in on this bonanza.
But then The Passion of the Christ, which brought in $370 million domestically, was one of the highest-grossing films of all time. And while it got plenty of media attention, the coverage was completely different from that surrounding The Da Vinci Code. As aggressively as Da Vinci has been puffed, Christ got poked.
Likewise, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (another big-screen adaptation of a massively popular novel that was a huge moneymaker) never drew favorable publicity of the sort showered on DVC. Most of the Narnia coverage focused on whether the film's Christian themes would doom its chances at the box office.
The discrepancy is not so much a matter of money, then, but manners. To the establishment press, plots that strongly uphold traditional Christian beliefs, whether explicitly (as in The Passion) or allegorically (as in Narnia), are regarded as dubious, rude, even dangerous. Stories that undermine Christianity, on the other hand, are "hot" and edgy, and attract A-list celebrities, big studios, powerful news outlets, and charmed-circle journalists.
Just before The Passion came out, Newsweek gave the movie a cover story of its own--a long polemic that attacked the film's history and theology. The same issue included a hand-wringing editor's note which essentially accused director Mel Gibson of anti-Semitism by "laying the blame" for JesusÍs death "on the Jews of Jerusalem, not the occupying Romans." Newsweek editor Mark Whittaker even fretted that because "the more coverage the movie gets, the better it will do at the box office," his magazine might be "contributing to the hype."
Suffice it to say, Dan Brown's highly problematic scholarship hasn't received anywhere near the same level of scrutiny from the establishment media, let alone the scurrilous charges of bigotry. Occasionally a reporter will include a quote from an historian or theologian who notes that Brown's fiction-masquerading-as-fact is not founded on good scholarship. But this doesnÍt dampen the enthusiasm of the discussion, because something between skepticism and hostility toward Christianity is the dominant worldview in most newsrooms.
And so the hype continues.
If this movie were made about Islam, I would have my AR-15 at the ready to deal with the "Tolerance" of Muslims everywhere.
Well, not. She just makes her entrance on a dazzling Cross of mirrors, and takes the novel approach of mocking Christian symbols...
You're playing right into Sony's marketing plan for the movie.
Now imagine, in the unlikely event such a film were ever made, what sort of reception it would get in the establishment media. Given the categorical refusal of the American press to publish the Danish Mohammed cartoons, it's a safe bet that the talking heads and big newspapers would only mention the movie to denounce it.
Forget the media. The makers would be lucky to make it to their cars alive on opening night.
sounds like a great movie / book plot... go for it!!!
No, I'm not...I refuse to see the film...I'll boycott Sony and spend my money elsewhere.
Surely you don't expect an even break from the MSM.
Bump.
Actually, they keep making them even when they tank repeatedly.
Most of the time, Hollyweird is about the money. But there are things that they value more than the almighty buck. The praise of their own kind is worth more than money to them. And a sure way to get it is to mock the booboisie (that's us.)
You are helping to promote the film just like Sony planned. Your outrage and boycott promote the film to others.
You are helping to promote the film just like Sony planned. Your outrage and boycott promote the film to others.
The Forbidden Fruit syndrome. It only seems to work when the item in question has intrinsic qualities (taste, touch, feel, ...).
I'm seeing the movie is rapidly being recognized as a tanker. As more people see it [initially] and communicate its shortcomings (as well as factual failings), the anti-promotion will snow ball.
That's backwards...opposition doesn't translate into support....boycott doesn't translate into promotion. That's like saying that opposing John Kerry for President will encourage people to vote for him. I don't see how you logically draw such conclusions.
What? There a ton of people out there, young people in particular, who are going to say hey if this pisses off the church or some other authority figure, then Ive got to see it. Everytime some group of prudes has wanted to get some program off TV or complain about some movie, its driven up awareness, interest in and viewership. Dont you believe that the controversy over The Passion of the Christ enticed a lot of people to view it that wouldnt normally choose a religious film for their Saturday evening entertainment?
That makes a lot of sense...since Dave S has seen a young people, who he already indicates do things in their daily life to anger the church, or moreover God Almighty, and so we should remain silent, as well as the Churches, because people hostile to the Church will go see a film that is obviously heretical and blasphemous...you know you aren't winning me over.
So what has screaming your head off complaining about it done, nada, zilch. Hollywood is going to bring out whatever sells as long as it doesnt offend their sensibilities. I doubt any of the protests have done any good other than you make you FEEL GOOD...but then that's what the liberals do. They want to do take steps to show how great they are so they can feel good about their intentions. Results, hey that's not their problem. Apparently its not yours either. But Im glad you feel good. If you really believed you could probably accomplish more by praying for the unbelievers or the fools than by berating them for wanting to be entertained at your poor egos expense.
BUMP
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