Posted on 10/14/2018 11:56:34 AM PDT by Morgana
Are movies an expression of America’s cultural values, or are our values influenced by what we see on the big screen? There’s a case to be made for both arguments, and the answer may be that it's a giant circle; what we see influences what we believe, and what we create and portray is influenced by our evolving beliefs.
This is certainly the way it has played out over the last 50 years in the debate over abortion rights. The landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which affirmed women's legal rights to abortion, brings the national conversation to a fever pitch any time a judicial nomination threatens to alter the delicate balance on the nation’s highest court.
That’s one of the the reasons Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination has become so controversial. Most justices—Kavanaugh included—agree it’s a “settled law,” yet some politicians are still doing a dance about a major change being just one vote away.
A new poll looking at things from a cultural rather than a political perspective shows attitudes are changing, even while the issue remains complex. A recent Harris/Barna survey asked 1,008 adult Americans to evaluate a list of fourteen movies, all of which had abortion as a central or major theme, and rank them according to how comfortable they were with the way the issue was handled.
The results are surprising. Three films, two regarded as leaning pro-life and one leaning pro-choice led the way in being ranked as handled in a way viewers were comfortable with. Juno, a pro-life film, topped the list at 17 percent, followed by Dirty Dancing (1987) at 14 percent and Knocked Up (2007) at 13 percent.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
Remember “Fast Times At Ridgemont High”?
According to it, a good guy is one who pays for his girl”s abortion.
I remember that! And what she do? Go right back to guy who dumped her for being pregnant. Women don’t learn.
I think you’re thinking of “The Last American Virgin”. Very disturbing, but weak women prefer to be victims.
Good piece. I remain amazed at the success of Juno, a really good movie. Our gentle author did not recount it in the piece, but Juno decides to have her baby after she meets a schoolmate who is doing a lone ‘rescue’ vigil outside the abortion mill. The pro-life girl tells Juno: your baby already has fingernails!
Juno, sitting in the waiting room, notices all the people there drumming their fingers, she notices their fingernails. She leaves.
“I think you’re thinking of “The Last American Virgin”. Very disturbing, but weak women prefer to be victims.”
Oh you right! Man I am getting old! That was so sad. What happened in “Fast Times at Ridgmont High” after she had her abortion? I can’t remember now
Juno, sitting in the waiting room, notices all the people there drumming their fingers, she notices their fingernails. She leaves.
And Juno is the daughter of a "nail technician" so of course her perception is sharpened.
I’ve never seen “Juno” am glad you all have and can tell me about it.
October Baby is another excellent film that deals with the issue of abortion.It deals with a young woman who survived one.Very well done.
“And Juno is the daughter of a “nail technician” so of course her perception is sharpened.”
I did not remember that part! It’s a good movie, definitely worth watching. The actors are all very good, very earnest in their roles. And yes, it has a happy ending!
He makes a major mistake, though, in describing Gosnell as "the dark side of illegal abortion". Uh, no. Other than the killing of babies after they were born, all the rest of Gosnell's butchery was (arguably) legal. This is the dark side of "legal" abortion.
And it's dark all over.
Stacy's brother Brad, realizing what was happening (she tried to ditch him), was waiting as she emerged from the clinic. After some idle chatting about the abourtiin and the guy, Brad takes her to get a bite to eat and promises not to tell Mom or Dad. In some ways, it was the most powerful moment of the movie...she clearly was not happy and Brad didn't castigate her.
Ultimately Stacy goes "back" to "Rat" and never returns to Damone.
Very good point.
Yes, OCTOBER BABY, taking place in Alabama, is an excellent film. BELLA, starring Eduardo Verastegui, takes place in New York city and Long Island, and is a top tier pro-life film.
No-ooooo. It created the legality of abortion.
She ditched the loser. Then his friend confronted him in the locker room and told him what he REALLY thought of him. Nothing nearly as sad as TLAV.
I remember now. You forgot about what happened when Stacey’s friend found out mike damone did not show up or help her pay for the abortion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8hA1DRFsTI
I mean this in all sincerity...Fast Times is in many ways a pro-conservative film but in a reverse-subversive manner. I suspect many people came away from that film thinking twice about loose sex, abortion, drugs, and virginity. I'm not saying it SOLVED all the related problems, but I bet more than a few kids chose the right path when they approached that fork in the road.
About the only thing I remember about the movie was one scene. Well some came back after being reminded.
A young actress in a red bikini.
Moving in Stereo. She is married to Kevin Kline.
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