Wednesday, September 12, 2012
"Don't ask, Don't Tell"
We'll tonight I just got told to turn off a movie that I was watching because it is deemed inappropriate by the college. I think that what their trying to incorporate here is noble yet a bit naive, saying all R rated movies are bad is a general stereotype that is outdated. I can watch a pg-13 movie that shows nudity yet when I go into my room to watch a brilliant film with an amazing storyline and acting It is against the rules. I realize that their is not a very good way to regulate it but on the other hand I also think the rule is a bit extreme especially for someone going into film production. It goes against everything that the Liberal Arts has taught me so far; what I have learned in my first few weeks is to formulate my own opinions on what I observe, well what I am currently observing is a problem in the regulations of one of our school policy. Now it is easy to point out a problem of an imperfect system but finding a workable solution is very difficult and I don't think the current solution of shutting your door is good enough because it is basically "don't ask don't tell." A very brilliant man made this quote "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" most of you may recognize this from the bible and I think it has great application to this problem. This verse does not say to ignore the world but that you should not be conformed by it. The movie policy has a valid place in a Christian setting but I feel like were using a rocket launcher to kill flies, this effectively works to not allow the flies to remain but in the process you destroy the beauty that may surround the flies and currently I think HU is losing out in some of the beauty in films. Their are many movies that are rated R that have been some of the greatest films to this day, for a Christian example The Passion of the Christ is rated R yet it is shown in churches across the nation as a type of evangelism. Now I am not ignoring the fact that their are just as many if not more bad movies than good movies but it should be the responsibility of the student to differentiate between what they believe is appropriate and what is unacceptable. Until their is a policy that allows for the student to make a choice than the college atmosphere that administration is working for is only a fable. A fable in the sense that it only lasts for a semester and students go back to their regular habits in media consumption. I think though if the freedom is granted to them, students will take on the responsibility of regulating their media and actually grow from depending on the status quo of a college to feed them their morals.
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I have to agree with you. I find the Rated R policy to be one of the most obnoxious rules on campus and I am very bitter about it. I feel like as adults, we should be able to make our own decisions on what is appropriate and what is not. That's really what annoys me: is that we're adults and this rule is the same rule you would see at a pre teen summer camp.
ReplyDeleteCollege is supposed to be preparing us for the "real world" and in the real world there are far more offensive things then Rated R movies. I just think its incredibly unnecessary to be shielding college students from movies. And, if a person is really so offended by a film someone else is watching, then they should have to take it upon themselves to confront that person. The college should not have to construct that rule, the student should have the guts to confront people.
The whole policy really upsets me, especially as a film student. I mean, if I wanted to have my media monitored and censored I would have went to college in North Korea.
Good post, by the way! :)
I couldn't agree more with the both of you!
ReplyDeleteAlso agree completely, but I gotta ask - what movie did they tell you you couldn't watch? Was it 'V is for Vendetta'? *notices the picture at the end*
ReplyDeleteSoooo...it's your tuition dollars. Things won't change unless students raise a respectful, informed dialogue with the administration over this.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, as a DMA student (studying film) you have some options. One. . .come to Signs and Wonders and share in the communal aspect of watching powerful films regardless of what the ratings board says. Two. . .check out powerful films from the media library. Apparently DMA students have special dispensation if the films come from our Media Library. You'd be amazed at the titles we have. And Three arrange to watch films in your own choice of community by booking time in the screening room. Talk with Dr. Clark about the details but I believe all of these options are open to you.
Regardless of which option you choose I like the path of changing the policy based on rating restriction for 17 year-olds.
Something to think about.
I think that the rule is fine, and appropriate for Huntington University. Yes, we're supposed to be gearing up for the "real world" and yes, I'm sure there are many of us in the student body who can maturely handle a rated R film, and yes, you are a DMA student, but the fact is, there are also a lot of people who cannot handle a rated R movie appropriately and appreciate it's good plot or depth--people won't even necessarily look for that stuff.
DeleteLike Leeper said, Signs and Wonders and the Media Library; sift through all those movies, those will keep you entertained for a bit (and I hear some of them are rated R to satisfy the need). Wait till break if you desire so badly to go watch rated R films. I don't think not watching rated R movies is too lofty of a regulation to have to live by on a Christian campus, I really don't.
I could go on a lot more about this, but I really don't want to be biting back so hard, so I'll keep quiet. You can shrug off whatever I say, it's fine, but I think that us DMA people proclaiming that it's ridiculous that we're so sheltered simply because we can't watch rated R movies is ridiculous in itself. You can find out about the world and what we're up against in other ways than watching rated R movies. We're all oblivious here.
On another note, I have watched rated R movies, and some that were...okay well I haven't watched a single decent rated R movie yet...but I do understand that it's a lot of peoples' preference of media sometimes and that it stinks to have it forbidden to be seen for seemingly dumb reasons. I do sympathize with having something harmless ripped away from you for a four month time period! But not too much.
I need to stop talking.
P.S-I don't want to make enemies, I'm just speaking up for the rule that none of us agree with, you're still my friends! D: Oh I'm going to get nailed for this......
Call me lazy but every time I want to watch a movie I don't want to rent out the theater room or watch it with signs and wonders. Sometimes a movie with only a few close people can spark more intimate conversation and I don't find the policy to be overdone for a christian college but it does seem a bit obnoxious for a christian college that has an entire major dedicated to film. I love signs and wonders but I also like watching movies by myself (call it an independent study) on a schedule that works for me. On a final note to address signs and wonders, the movies they pick are very good but I don't think of it as a perfect solution. I think that signs and wonders is a vitamin that students can take weekly but for their daily diet of media I think they should have pretty much free reign.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to rent out the theater each time to watch a movie from the Media library; you can rent it like a normal movie and watch it at your own convenience. Meaning you can go in, browse till your eyes hurt, and pick out a handful to take back and watch over the next few days.
DeleteI know, I know, that involves the long haul to Becker, but when you go there to rent out media, you interact with the wanderers of Becker, which will be good in the long run: connections are prime.
I don't call you lazy. I get it. I'm a college student too, I'm lazy. :)
Still agreeing 100% with TJ.
ReplyDeleteI'm still very adamant that what a person chooses to watch is their business and not the college's or other students'. If I'm watching, let's say The Big Lebowski (A fantastic Rated R film by the Coen Brothers), and you are so absolutely offended by it, thats fine. You are absolutely allowed to be offended by it, but, I'm also allowed to not be offended by it and to actually enjoy it. And you should be able to come to me and say "Hey ReJeana, I think that movie is offensive, what can we do about it so we're both happy?" and I'll say "Hey that's cool, yeah it does swear a lot doesn't it? I'll put headphones in so you don't have to hear it." Problem solved. You don't have to be subjected to what you don't want to be subjected to, and I don't have to stop watching one of my favorite movies for a four month time span.
I think the Media Library and Signs & Wonders are great tools. But that's what they are: tools. They are not a solution, and I still think this is a rule that has no place in an adult, Christian community.
I still agree with Tj and ReJeana, like what has been said we are all adults here. You have to be what 17 to go see a rated R movie at the movies. A lot of rated R movies are the best, and if your offended if it cusses or has nudity in it "Not a dirty way" that's just sad. It's a part of film, to show this type of art. I think its wrong to limit the view of Film students just because this is a Christian college. I think Christians get caught up in always trying to not do the "wrong" thing, I feel like they try to live in this fantasy land of life and have these rules to live by. I bet 95 percent of us will not work for a "Christian" company one day, and will be with a lot of people that may believe in something that you don't. Are we going to still live in a bubble or actually pay attention to the world we live in? And to even have a conversation back and forth about being able to watch a Rated R movie when we all are over the age of 17, just blows my mind.
ReplyDelete