Comments on: All violence is equal, but some violence is more equal than others

By: Soccer Dad

Soccer Dad — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:48:44 +0000

Submitted 07/03/09…

Watcher council nominations are up. The Libertarians Downfall: Conspiracy Theories – In this excellent essay, The Provocateur investigates the connection between libertarians and conspiracy theories. LIFE – Right Truth contemplates the intersection bet…

By: Watcher of Weasels » Democrat or Decepticon?

Watcher of Weasels » Democrat or Decepticon? — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:25:07 +0000

[...] Bookworm Room – All violence is equal, but some violence is more equal than others [...]

By: March Hare

March Hare — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:16:12 +0000

What I find interesting in the few reviews of “Stoning” that I’ve read is the obsession the reviewers have with the director’s connection with “The Passion of the Christ” and “American Carol.” They seem to feel this shows that the director is hopelessly ideological–and Not One of Us. Therefore, the message is automatically discredited.

So why aren’t the ideological creds of other directors mentioned in reviews of those movies, especially Left-wing ideological movies?

Don’t worry–I’m not naive. The question is rhetorical…

By: kali

kali — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:01:43 +0000

“Violence is nice and cuddly, like a carebear”

Ymar, it’s certainly something you can share with strangers . . .

By: Ymarsakar

Ymarsakar — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:09:40 +0000

Violence is nice and cuddly, like a carebear.

By: suek

suek — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:55:12 +0000

Kali…

You raise a good point – violence _can_ have a good end as a result. And sexual depiction in movies is almost _always_ celebrating adultery, fornication or just simply promiscuity. One exception is the movie “True Lies” and even that isn’t exactly an exception. The plot is one in which Schwarzenegger’s “wife” (Jamie Lee Curtis)gets suckered into a spy plan, and Schwarzenegger – who actually _is_ a spy – finds out about it and sets out to teach her a lesson. Part of that is to seduce a complete stranger (although she is assured that he won’t touch her) by dancing for him. The “stranger” is actually her husband, but he’s in a darkened room and she can’t recognize him (this part’s a bit weak). So it’s sexual in a farcical way – pretty unusual in movies.

Besides – the sexual drive is common to virtually all of us – killing and/or blowing people up…not so much. As a result, the violence in movies is easier to separate ourselves from than the sexual material.

By: kali

kali — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:17:19 +0000

Teenagers are always fond of pointing out how Americans like violence in their movies, but not sexuality. Well, mine were I always countered that the difference wasn’t based in how violence or sex were depicted, but the underlying morality they promoted. ie, if the violence was in redress of wrongs, or in self-defense, it was acceptable. If the sex celebrated adultery or promiscuity, it wasn’t. This is a huge generalization, but I still think that it has a core of truth, even in these “anything goes as long as it shocks” days.

In these two movies, the underlying morality is war==bad, stoning==bad. Whether the level of violence is artistic or sadistic depends on which the reviewer agrees with.

No, I don’t actually think the reviewer of The Stoning of Soraya M. thinks stoning is good, but I’m betting that he/she is caught up in the fear that such depictions will cause the average American to turn savage themselves and start slaughtering their Arab and/or Persian neighbors or worse, clamoring to go to war with Iran.

By: Ymarsakar

Ymarsakar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:40:47 +0000

They love seeing their enemies blown up. After all, their money went to pay for it so why shouldn’t they get the enjoyment of seeing it here as well.

The Islamic extremists don’t have a conscience. The Left doesn’t have a conscience. They are the same, and it is only attempts to differentiate them that has muddied this war against America’s enemies.