|
|
Holy Hollywood
by Phil Boatwright, The Movie Reporter
Recently a major network news anchor presented four segments in one telecast that either subtly or openly impugned President Bush's integrity and leadership. The overt attacks became comical. Either the newscast was an example of heavy-handed journalism, or Bush really is guilty of every misdeed since the demise of Cock Robin. It has been well established that the secular news media tends toward a liberal bias, a fact we need remind ourselves during this upcoming season of political lobbying. But it isn't just network news coverage that tends to slant issues. Not satisfied with being glorified and well-paid court jesters, many members of the cinematic community have taken it upon themselves to debate political, social, and religious standards — three subjects of which moviefolk believe they instinctively know all there is to know. In the movies, social and political agendas often take precedence over facts. Historical figures are a prime example of this miscarriage. Take, for instance, George Armstrong Custer, who has been both glorified in film ("They Died With Their Boots On") and vilified (well, in every other adaptation). A recent History Channel special, however, declared that the real Custer lived somewhere between those two extreme movieportraits. But here is Custer's downfall in the eyes of moviemakers. He's just not a politically correct figure today. As U.S. citizens address the frontier treatment of the Native American, raising an Indian fighter to heroic status is out of the question in Hollywoodland. Once looked upon as a dutiful soldier and courageous warrior, Custer is now a caricature, representing aggression and the imperialistic establishment of his time. In Tinseltown, such a controversial figure as Custer hasn't a chance to be portrayed from the perspective of his day. He will forevermore be a cinematic sacrificial lamb, symbolically portrayed in media art forms as all that's wrong with America.Then there's 1995's "Nixon," directed by Oliver Stone. The filmmaker asserted that he had found Richard Nixon's inner drive, but filmgoers left theaters with only a one-dimensional sketch of the 37th President. The controversial director's central figure is emotionally vapid, unapproachable, vulgar and often cartoonish. We see a dark side, but little else. Missing is the significance of Nixon's triumphs - opening trade with China, beginning friendly negotiations with Russia, and ending the Vietnam War. Does "Nixon" offer any detail concerning hissuccessful college years, his honorable service in WW2, his terms in the Senate? No. Nor does it reveal his presidential accomplishments (he created the Environmental Protection Agency, promoted Affirmative Action, poured money into black colleges, created the National Endowment for Arts & Humanities). If conservatism were a dominant factor in the motion picture industry, would Stone's portrait have givenmore detail? Director Rob Reiner's "The American President" is another cinema example that not so subtly portrays Republicans as gremlins, while promoting all members of the Democratic side of the aisle as knights of Camelot's roundtable. The story concerns a widowed Chief Executive who must fend off those nasty old Rightwingers while trying to develop a romantic relationship with a political ally. Reiner's political stance against conservatives (especially Bob Dole) is so heavy-handed it detracts from the charming performances and its fresh and funny dialogue.This is not meant as a defense of Richard Nixon. Or Custer. Or George W. Bush, for that matter. What's more, a filmmaker's opposing political position can serve a purpose — by demanding accountability from our leaders. However, we need to warn Generation Y of the media's myopic and often anti-biblical leadings. Too many of today's youth are getting their civic andpolitical direction from those gurus of social responsibility, Brittany Spears and Ozzy Osborne. Trust me, MTV's Rock-the-Vote proponents are not attempting to sway their viewers/listeners in the direction of those who defend biblical principles. To discern the media's misconceptions and misdirections, whether from the press or in movie dramas, we must be grounded in scriptural teaching. Along with guidance from thoughtful theologians who study the social and political landscape, we gain communal foresight by personally studying scripture. The Bible is a guidepost for living a lifestyle that keeps us in harmony with the Heavenly Father and with our fellow man. "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight," 1 Corinthians 3:19 NIV. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," Psalm 111:10 NIV.
|
|
|
 |
|
Did you enjoy this article?
Would you like to read more like this
one?
With a FREE subscription we send you notifications
on articles or news breaks that are of interest to you.
Find a San Antonio church.
saWorship.com is a Christian Online
Magazine serving the local San Antonio area. Find a church online.
San Antonio churches
have free
listings
on our directory and can be updated at their convenience. Search
by denomination or area of the city.
|
|
| |
|
|
Find a Church in San Antonio
find a san antonio church, san antonio churches, christian magazine, find a church in san antonio, san antonio catholic church, free christian magazine, san antonio nondenominational church, christian woman magazine, san antonio community bible church, christian online, church in san antonio, san antonio baptist church, christian community online, san antonio presbyterian church, christian business online, san antonio lutheran church, san antonio protestant church
|
