Movies And Shows With Bad Content

[Dranu]

Okay, the basic question is this: Given that we are not seriously tempted by the material, what are we Catholics to do with shows and movies that have inappropriate material (that is, shows and movies with some material that has the purpose of the promotion of bad morals, the purpose to try and incite lust, etc)?

My opinion is that we ought not give it any support in any way when the show is for our own enjoyment (even though this intent is without the intent of enjoying the illicit teachings or lustful scenes of course). I would think that ‘support’ would include anything that clearly brings the producers the slightest benefit from the show itself. Therefore, watching the show when it comes on, watching it on hulu, watching it on netflix, buying movie tickets, purchasing the dvds, etc, would all be ruled out since they either contribute monetarily or to the ratings.

Since just about every TV show/movie has something wrong with it to at least some degree, I think certain situations may allow us to give some support to the shows/movies since it is not directly supporting the illicit stuff and it is a very minimal support at most if it does support the evil. Such situations may be when there is a less direct connection between an activity and the support the producer may receive or perhaps when friends with laxer consciences invite you out to see it so long as the movie/show is not uncommonly proliferated with such things.

At the same time, however, it almost seems slightly scrupulous and overly strict, but that might just be a symptom of being in a world that thinks its so normal.

I don’t know, but those are my initial thoughts, and it unfortunately rules out a good chunk of all modern entertainment, since most things are polluted with at least some support of immorality, while many intend to put at least something lustful in. Any ideas?

 

[edwest2]

I don’t watch much TV. Most movies are right out. I might see one or two a year. The current media environment, for the most part, lacks modesty, shame and decency. These are important for true human dignity.

Peace,
Ed

 

[PolyphonyChick]

Those are interesting thoughts. Definitely don’t have an answer, but I would like to add my thoughts as well.

Watching a lot of television is a lot of extra noise in our lives. If we leave silence then we will hear God more easily and learn how to better manage the little time (and money!) we have. Since I have stopped watching so much tv away at college, things are more shocking and you find yourself less numb to things. For example, I remember reading in my old psychology book that back in the original talkie days of movies, in a western, a cowboy pointed a gun at the “audience” and shot.

People ran out of that theater screaming.

I never understood how this was possible until I stopped watching tv. Things shock you more. You are able to explore the depths of your emotions far better, which is spiritually a massive accomplishment. I would really recommend trying it, and replacing the television time with a fun and classier hobby.

 

[Love_Divine]

This is why I only watch CFL Football, baseball, the Weather Network, and Little House on the Prairies. Nothing sinful there.

 

[Newbie2]

I like to use “The Sopranos” as an example of this topic. For anyone who is familiar with the show, it was originally aired on HBO. “Sanitized” reruns run on A&E and possibly other channels.

The show centers around a New Jersey Mob figure, his family and his “family”. They are criminals. They’re bad guys, and they act like bad guys. They curse, they commit crimes, they hang out in topless bars, they procure the services of ladies of the evening, etc. etc.

Now, the HBO version is in places pretty graphic…some of it is gratuitous, but IMHO most of it goes to serve the plot. The topless bar scenes are there for realism, methinks, not to titilate the viewer. I think they did a pretty good job, compared to other shows nowadays, not to overdo the bad content in a gratuitous way.

So…as Catholics, should we shun shows where the “bad content” serves the plot? For me, that is the crux.

Remember “The Sting”? Robert Redford’s character invites himself into a woman’s apartment and spends the night. We see him go into the door and wake up the next morning realizing that she’s already gotten up and left. We know what happened; we don’t need to be shown.

Again, then, the question is for me, does the “bad content” serve the plot or is it gratuitious? Is the director and/or studio going for an R rating because R pictures typically make more $$ than PG-13 or PG-17?

Good pictures or TV assumes intelligence on the part of the viewer; yeah, we get it, no need to show us EVERYTHING.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

My opinion is that we ought not give it any support in any way when the show is for our own enjoyment (even though this intent is without the intent of enjoying the illicit teachings or lustful scenes of course).

Sorry but I’ve got a problem with this. What is wrong with enjoying something for reasons that could possibly be higher than shallow desires for titillation? For instance, what if I ‘enjoy’ a series on the horrors of human trafficking because I like how it makes people aware of the reality and how it presents the sex trade to be the filthy, inhumane slavery that it is? What about people who enjoy moves like The Rite not because of the graphic imagery but because of its themes of promoting awareness of spiritual warfare?

Personally, I like any type of fiction (be it book, movie, show, cartoon, comic) that presents the dark realities of life. On the other hand, I’ve become increasingly irked by anything that blatantly makes me out like I’m some kind of simple-minded child. Even innuendo, at times, I find either guilty of this or just simply lacking in impact.

Also, I find people who insist on stories that avoid such topics or scenarios to be quite cowardly. They like to preach about how this or that is a sin yet run away covering their ears when challenged to deal with the problems such things cause.

 

[Dranu]

Sorry but I’ve got a problem with this. What is wrong with enjoying something for reasons that could possibly be higher than shallow desires for titillation?

Friend, my original post was assuming we were not watching it for lust or illicit gratification. E.g.s:
-“Given that we are not seriously tempted by the material
-even though this intent is without the intent of enjoying the illicit teachings or lustful scenes of course”

So to clarify, I am not talking about the risk of sinning by being tempted, but rather, I am talking about the refraining from these things because we may aid others in sin. That is, because we aid in some shows /movies that purposeful contribute to promoting sin (intentionally creating bad teachings or downfalls for others, etc))

Personally, I like any type of fiction (be it book, movie, show, cartoon, comic) that presents the dark realities of life.

As do I, at least when there is some light or a hero in it that stands against the darkness . Either that or it paints the evil as something not to be desired at all, but the former makes better fiction IMO.

Also, I find people who insist on stories that avoid such topics or scenarios to be quite cowardly.

Of course we should not censor a discussion of evil in general. Furthermore, of course we ought to avoid near occasion of sin, but being overly worried about near occasion can increase temptation and scrupulosity (in my experience), so there has to be good judgment. In many ways I agree with you, but thats not exactly the issue of my OP.