Stein, Weinstein, Siegel. These are the names of my colleagues, writers and friends. And dear Lord, I'm a Christian.
Jihad!
Religion is the touchiest of subjects. Of course, it should be. In educated circles such as universities, it often becomes near impossible to consider yourself intelligent and believe that the world we live in has a divine creator who loves us. Just look at our government and MTV's "The State" being taken off the air. Godless, indeed.
Unless you only interact with the world after the Yankees don't sign an available superstar, you know quite well the uproar surrounding "The Passion of the Christ," which is slated for release a week from today.
Mel Gibson, the film's director, is taking all kinds of heat for his New Testament-guided approach to the story of Jesus Christ's death and crucifixion, the most heat in particular for the distinct possibility that the movie will stir up the Anti-Semitic fervor that was somewhat quelled by Vatican II.
If American societal tradition has taught me anything, it's that the concept of "art" reigns over anything that may offend or incite controversy.
I will never fully understand the pain and belittlement that many Jewish people had to endure as a result of a resounding Anti-Semitic tone that permeated many homes and families in decades past (and certainly does today as well), but I will always be sympathetic. In "The Passion of the Christ," the graphic beating and killing of Jesus Christ is nothing compared to what mainstream media and entertainment has done to Him.
I must've been out dancing-a distinct possibility-when the nation rose in defense of Christians taking offense to "South Park's" depiction of a boxing match between Satan and Jesus Christ, the latter whom, whether God or man, preached "turn the other cheek" to one's enemies.
Maybe I'm unfamiliar with the uproar on behalf of Christians upon the release of David Bowie and Trent Reznor's "I'm Afraid of Americans" music video, a video that filmed Reznor carrying a cross, interspersed with flashes of Jesus taking his spot.
Perhaps I missed the overwhelming outcry in support of offended Christians when Marilyn Manson tore pages of the Bible and sent them into the crowd at many of his shows. People just said, "It's art."
Exactly.
By the "It's art" logic, its easy to see that neither "Jesus Tyson" or "Rocky VI: Christ Throws Down" aren't to be the next Hollywood blockbusters. I wasn't thoroughly beaten when my crucifix necklace popped out while standing in line for Bowie tickets. That kid in the "Antichrist Superstar" shirt didn't stab me with the ribs he had surgically removed, either.
By the "It's art" approach to things that offend, (which I've never been a fan of but has been accepted in these cases) "The Passion of the Christ" is something that needs to be viewed simply as a film. This is not to say people are not moved to thought or action by media. Obviously, they are, and certainly there is a tremendous history behind the relationship between Christianity and Judaism.
It certainly isn't confined to these two religions either. The portrayal of Kwik-E Mart-owning Apu and his god Vishnu in "The Simpsons" certainly was not aimed down the barrel of a hate gun.
I'm not writing to defend Gibson, either. Ol' Mad Max was hilarious Monday evening as Diane Sawyer-who during the interview appeared to be either "burnt" or "dead"-rattled off tough question after tough question regarding his new movie.
Gibson was defensive, defiant, decisive, and everything he needed to be to keep his project both interesting and intelligent. His words about his plans after the movie's release, to "go where no one will be able to find me. I'm pitching a tent next to the Weapons of Mass Destruction," allowed me to breathe for the first time in an hour.
Yet, his "Traditionalist Catholic" approach to Christianity, even Catholicism, feels awkward-believe what you want Mel, I'm not trying to judge-and there was just something about him, whether it was the stress he's under in risking his career for a movie he spent over $30,000,000 on or not, that felt out of sorts.
Regardless of whether you agree or not, American society in particular has been set up to view all things as art. Playing the role of the offended in today's Hollywood climate is just as dangerous as being a potential offender.
This column was originally about how much I love Motown and the new soul music of Lee Fields. I often wish I were still young. Pass the Lincoln Logs.
