Chris Pizzello / Invision / AP
We Saw Your Satire
Certainly, what proves to be distracting—whether because it is "obscene" or "spectacular" and so on— is culturally determined. Bare breasts in some cultures are the norm, but in a culture in which female breasts are as fetishized as they are in this one, their exposure works "against the scene" as MacFarlane's version of "The Emperor Has No Clothes On" demonstrates, even if supposedly in jest.
On the other hand, it's a Hollywood truism (which may or may not be actually true) that nudity for nudity's sake draws more dollars, and that's why directors often—though not always—insist upon it. Boobs distract, apparently, in lucrative ways.
It's understandable to feel dismay at having one's work or one's self reduced to merely an exposed breast, as some have said in the Oscars' aftermath. I understand the frustration of a reductionist reading of a work. I've experienced, for example, having something I've written dismissed entirely because of one ill-chosen word, and, conversely, have had entire treatises written about a polemical 140-character tweet. Such distortions are frustrating. Yet, I know that if I want to reach my audience—and if I fail to do so by distracting them with something that "goes against the scene"—I must strive to learn and do better. As tempting as it can be to blame the counter blogger or claim victimhood by the commenter, I must take responsibility for my actions and my art.
The same is true for the talented, smart, and successful female actors named in the song for showing their breasts in their films. The Women's Media Center tweeted that doing so likely wasn't their preference. Perhaps not. But it was certainly by their permission. While the working conditions of the film industry are undoubtedly patriarchal and sexist, one doesn't change a sexist industry by giving into its sexism. Nor does one change it by insisting that these actors are victims rather than moral agents in their art. What is shown is seen, after all. And that's what the song made explicit—and made mockery of.
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Obannon leo
The message is this: Women can show their boobs in film, but men are not allowed to sing about it. Tut, tut, men!
audrey ruth
Garbage in, garbage out. Philippians 4:8
Sarah Shaver
well, shootie-darn. i laughed out loud at the song, as did my husband. i'm not a fan of nudity or blatant sex in films or on tv, as i believe it objectifies God's creation. i took the song in my little pointed head as, "hey, you 'serious' actress, you sniffed and looked down your nose and said you got naked for 'art,' but you know what? you are no better than a girl gone wild! HA!" and i thought that was pretty hilarious. when the gay men's chorus joined in i almost fell in the floor. i'm not a seth mcfarlane fan (my kids aren't allowed to watch 'family guy,' unlike most of their friends) but thanks to my parents steeping me in monty python and early saturday night live, i'm pretty sure i know good satire when i see it. some of the rest of mcfarlane's stuff was gross and some was funny. like most of life.
PAUL ATWATER
Interesting to see that Jamie Lee Curtis and Jane Fonda expressed their disapproval of the song this week. So it seems that one cannot say that all of the actors and actresses in Hollywood were in on the gag. To be honest, I didn't see many smiling faces when the cameras panned the audience. Perhaps what is satire for one was over the line and offensive for those targeted - even in Hollywood.
audrey ruth
A major problem today is this matter of people (including Christians) giving their opinions without taking the time to compare their opinions with the Word of God to see if they measure up. This has been happening so long, it seems that very few people even care anymore what God's Word says about anything, only what they think. The Lord tells us of a nation that fell into terrible depravity and destruction because "each man did what was right in his own eyes". This begins with believing that whatever we think is right and good in our own eyes, not first submitting our thoughts to God's Holy Word for confirmation or correction. (Isaiah 55:8-9, Proverbs 16:25, 2 Timothy 3:16, et al)
Jeanne Coppola
Whether I agree with you or not is not as important to me as you giving an honest opinion as a Christian woman without being afraid. I love that!
Greg Smith
Why is her-meneutics always the column that gets it wrong?
Ken johnson
One of the things I like least about our culture is that everyone feels the necessity to respond to every little thing and analyze it to death. Maybe it's about time Christians just give up on some of these cultural events, realizing that they are never going to be satisfied with how the secular subculture behaves. I know it's nice to be involved in our culture as much as possible, but this whole thing reminds me of my Christian mother watching something on TV back in the day that was a little off-color (Not by today's standards, of course.) All the while she was watching it, she kept repeating,"this is terrible, this is terrible". I'm telling you folks what I told her, "Turn it off!" Read a book! (I'm sorry... a Kindle.)
audrey ruth
Karen Fahel, it seems the "family hour" has been a thing of the past for quite some time. Sadly so. There's been a general coarsening of society for years, it's only getting worse, and this is just one of the casualties. I even see non-family-friendly shows listed on "family channels".
steve page
I wonder why anyone watched the Oscars at all, to be honest.
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