Comments on: Rated R

By: Our Thoughts » Blog Archive » Edited Music

Our Thoughts » Blog Archive » Edited Music — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 02:30:23 +0000

[…] Given that some comments in a previous post established that buying edited films is still supporting questionable material, can the same thing be said about edited music (or even films) that were downloaded over the Internet? Is it better morally to have downloaded-but-edited music (if one’s jurisdiction considers it legal) than to have purchased-but-edited music? […]

By: Copedi

Copedi — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 15:53:30 +0000

I sometimes think (or at least hope) that if the church leaders who had counseled/commanded againt R-rated movies had known how legalistic people would have become about it, they would have worded things differently.

I see very, very few R-rated films, because very few of them are edifying. (I think I succumbed once last year and saw “The Constant Gardener,” which was, if anything can be, an intellectual thriller. I found the film intgriguing.) I actually think there’s more danger in many PG-13 films, which can be more likely to go wink-wink at sin rather than present it unblinkingly.

I have no criticism of those who refuse to see any R-rated film. But I do think that those who believe that anything with a softer rating is automatically OK are seriously mistaken.

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 02:58:54 +0000

MahNahvu: Regarding comment 43, I should thank you for your graciousness. (Or should I suspect you of flattery? ;) )

I think a more interesting question is whether YOU thought I was insulting someone, and if so, why.

But if you think this line of inquiry will do more harm than good, you’re welcome to leave it alone.

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 02:45:42 +0000

The theme that most struck me when I read Oedipus in my freshman year at BYU was that Oedipus had no redeemer. He was objectively guilty of killing his father and bedding his mother, yet his ignorance made him, in a sense, innocent. But there was no one to bridge the gap and save him from the objective guilt. There are no saviors on Mount Olympus. (I realize he was forgiven later, but forgiveness by a capricious god is not the same as actual redemption by a just God.)

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 00:20:30 +0000

I don't know if you're right. I have never seen it performed. When I read the play, I certainly didn't feel sorry for him for the situation that was brought to his attention, but it did make me reflect on the fact that things are not always what they seem, not even when such things are very close. This is particularly the case for victims of abuse I know who fell victim to people that were very close to them.

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 22:42:30 +0000

Having asked that question, I’ll now go on to indulge myself further:

A stronger example: I think the audience is meant to feel sympathetic emotions when Oedipus appears with his eyes gouged out. I think they are meant to feel, with him, the horror of recognition.

Which, of course leads to two questions: (1) Am I right? and (2) does this just mean that Oedipus falls into the “tiny subset” of emotional theater?

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 22:39:36 +0000

(By the way, do you think having a couple of theater guys talk shop like this is going to drive away the other folks who want to talk about the topic of the post?)

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 22:36:45 +0000

…Or perhaps not even disgusted; just disappointed. Disappointed in him for not being nobler, and disappointed WITH her in not having her love returned. Those are emotions, aren’t they?

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 22:35:37 +0000

I may also be using a milder definition of “emotion.” I’m not talking just about feeling great swaths of passion, but also of the ordinary, everyday feelings that characterize everyday life. I think when an audience feels “sympathetic” or “interested” or “intrigued” or “amused” it’s feeling emotions. I think there are various points in Uncle Vanya where the audience is led to feel sympathetic with a homely woman, disgusted with the man for whom she bears unrequited love, etc.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 22:29:12 +0000

“the emotional elements are separate and show up on stage (as you said).”

Just to be clear, I did not say that emotional aspects always show up on the stage, just that if emotional aspects were to show up in a play, ti would be on the stage and not in the script.

That being said, we must have seen different versions of Uncle Vanya because I felt absolutely no emotion during it. Now, Blood Relations on the other hand…(of course, we just had crappy actors at the production I saw).