Violence, Sex, & Profanity in the Media....Some Thoughts on Personal Limits

This morning on the Doug Wright show he was talking about personal limits about where people draw the lines in their movies and TV shows.  Most often, the categories people use are sex/nudity, violence, and language.  Of course, as a film critic, Mr. Wright (who is an active Latter-day Saint) is often required to see films with objectionable content.  However, even still he indicated there are limits on films he will not see.  Despite criticism from many LDS listeners to his show, he has been reassured by several high-level and prominent members of the LDS leadership (he did not want to use specific names) that he is a watchman on the tower and that, ultimately, it is up to individual people, not the leadership of the Church, to know their OWN limits and their OWN preferences and be their OWN policemen in determining what they view.  Ours is a Church, uniquely so, of personal revelation and inspiration.

With that said, I will share some of my thoughts that influence my personal efforts at exercising my moral agency responsibly for what I view in movies and on television.  First, of the three categories, the one to which I am most sensitive is sex and nudity.  I am more offended at a bare rear end or women's chest than I am at war level violence in some historical films.  Why is this?  To me, it is very simple--the sex and nudity are real, the violence is not.  Naked bodies are not achieved with make-up and effects, they are only achieved by asking someone to irreverently and inapproriately display one of God's sacred creations and gifts to us, our body.  Often, this is done in ways that are not only offensive to the creation itself, but also mock the powers of creation and disrespect the sanctity of the beauty of our body.  Violence, when I view it on the screen, is seen as an artificial depiction of reality. Even still, I have my limits when it comes to violence as well.  I am not a blood and guts, gory movie loving type person.  But there is a distinct, and to me important, distinction between these two categories in film.

Heavenly Father has created all life, and there are two powers associated with life--that of creating it and that of taking it.  Of those two, he shares with us only one, the power to create life.  He reserves for himself the power to take it.  I also am sensitive to situations that profane either the creating or taking of life.  Bedroom scenes and the like are an offensive profanity in my eyes that mock that sacred power of procreation.  Heavenly Father has entrusted us with a sacred, intimate act which is meant for only two people....not two people and a viewing audience.  Where some people feel it is "beautiful" to see tender depictions of sexual love, I feel it is a mockery, obscenity, and profanity of the highest order towards to the most sacred power of all that we have been given by our Heavenly Father.

In regards to violence and the taking of life, this is an act which can occur, sadly, in the life of any righteous Christian or Latter-day Saint when serving their country in war or on a law enforcement agency.  When I see depictions of violence, I am sensitive to whether it is actually profaning life itself or accurately depicting the consequences of an unrighteous exercise of one's agency.  Some films with extreme violence I feel actually display the consequences and causes of that violence, while others glorify that violence.  Simply put, I can usually tell by how I feel.  I have seen some historical films where I had a disturbing spirit while I viewed them which told me that the violence was there for show, it was there for reasons of macho bravado.  While other films just as violent have left me feeling that the depictions of violence were used to discourage violence, not promote it.  Through showing the causes of that violence, whether bigotry or hatred, we can better avoid it.  And through showing us, accurately, the consequences that violence can have on people, we are more motivated to work towards preventing it.

Latter-day Saints may be asked to face violence in real life, and continue in faith to be a defender of a peaceful life.  Latter-day Saints, however, will never be asked to witness the intimate acts of procreation for any individual other than themselves.  Facing and dealing with violence is much more pervasive in this world than is witnessing actual acts of physical intimacy.  Through viewing accurate depictions of violence--not only in the physical act, but in its causes and consequences--I feel I am better prepared to prevent acts of violence, help those who deal with it to cope better, and teach my children qualities to prevent the allure of fighting to take hold in their heart.

I do not see many violent films, but I have seen some that are quite violent.  I would not watch them on a whim, nor would I watch them for mere entertainment.  I watch them to be changed for the better, to be molded by the sheer power of emotion they cause me to feel.  They are tough to watch and emotionally draining, but they have an impact on me which teaches me and molds me into a better person.  They leave indelible and unforgettable impressions which remind me of the importance of peace and they motivate me to work towards ensuring that peace.  These movies will have different impressions on virtually every individual that views them, but that is how it is for me.  Everyone is taught different; we all have different perceptions and unique perspectives.  The Spirit speaks to all of us in the language of our own heart and mind, a language which is as unique and catered to us individually as is the uniqueness of each star that shines in the heavens above.

The views and standards I hold may be shared by some, but even then, to differing degrees.  We are not only all different, but all fully capable of being aware of our own sensibilities to sex, nudity, and violence.  No one else can feel what we feel or think the thoughts that we think.  Likewise, no one else can know what influence they are having upon us--whether that of strengthening us in righteouesness or weakening us to the decaying morals of the world.  It is up to us, through prayer and spiritual discernment, to evaluate and act upon the promptings we receive based upon the media we view.  How we feel is important, but even more important is how does it motivate us?  How does the stirring of emotions you feel move you?  Do they move you to a life of peace and righteousness, or do they move you to act out, lose patience, and lash out towards others?  We all become something a little different after every film or TV show we watch...and hopefully that is something a little bit better and not a little worse.  We have the ability to discern what it is, and then the responsibility to control what it is and direct it towards righteousness.

2011 Reflections...2012 is Here

(This is a very unfocused entry that could definitely be considered rambling on my part, aka mental jibberish, so feel free to not waste your time and wait for the next update which will hopefully be soon!)

As I look back on 2011, I'm not sure what to make of it.  The one, most obvious aspect of my reflections are that I am nowhere close to being where I thought I would be at this stage of my life.  Last year at this time, our lives were filled with a lot of uncertainty.  I had lost my job, which means we also lost our benefits while we were expecting our third child, our computer crashed with no information on back up (this was painfully stressful, all our pictures, many journals, and all my historical research and work was on the hard drive), and we had medical debts we were struggling to pay.  With such a bleak state of things at that time, I guess I really wasn't sure where we would be at this point in time.  While many of the issues we have struggled with have simply persisted or grown bigger, we would really be struggling if it wasn't simply for each other.  Isn't it great how family can take your mind off things and help you simply enjoy each day and find so much joy?  Perhaps in my case, I use that as an excuse to not face the pressing things I should really be focusing on.  But then when I tell myself that, I keep thinking that my children's childhood will never come again and I should cherish every moment and help make it the best it can be for them.  Alas, one of my GREATEST weaknesses is FOCUS.  I simply can't do it.  I am as scatterbrained as Dory from "Finding Nemo."

Alas, here we are at 2012.  I am going to try again to get into some graduate programs.  I didn't try last year at all, mainly due to the fact I was employed in a good job until the end of the year and didn't have time to work on applications.  Maybe this year will be the year I finally have some luck with continuing education.  Alice is leery about such matters, I think she wants to just stay where we are and not deal with any drastic change.  Fortunately, I know she'll support her hubby and remember that no matter where we go, we'll be together and have our beautiful boys to help us have tons of fun.  So where may we end up?  Phoenix?  New York?  Canada?  London?  Sri Lanka?  OK, not Sri Lanka, but who knows.  The primary issue I face is--do I just commit to a life of working hard at whatever job I happen to have or try to really focus on a vocation I love and work for a more purpose with more intrinsic motivation?

My mind is full, primarily with questions that I have no clue to what the answers are, but questions that should have been answered long ago.  Interesting times.  One thing I am definitely looking forward to in 2012 is the Titanic's Centennial.  I am hoping to be busy during the coming months with my Titanic lectures.  I am emailing all the universities and colleges in the state to line up some lectures and am reaching out to some television shows as well, both local and national.  While there are several Titanic historians, I hope that my unique background and matchstick model will help with garnering some publicity.

With all the questions I face and struggles we have had, how grateful I am for Alice who has weathered more than she should ever have had to.  She has been a rock.  I know she may not have felt like it at times, but to be where we are now after what we've gone through certainly indicates that at her core she is solid.  How grateful I am to her, and that she knows me so well, and that she is honest with me even when I may not want her to be!  Life is grand together, and we love it.

And I could ramble on, but alas must do some other things before going to bed.  Here we go 2012.