I refuse, I refuse, I refuse

So, less than twenty-four hours later...yeah, I kind of like to work fast with this sort of thing...I've started a petition politely requesting that the MPAA wise up.

Here's the thing: I've been talking to people about this. We've assembled a team and we're going to do something about it. We will be Hipster Activists no longer.

You know what I mean about hipster activism, right? I mean that people sit around on Facebook and complain about how awful the media is and how awful the government is. And, okay, in some cases, they have a point. But here's the thing: I don't want to just sit here and whine about how awful it is that violene in films is totally acceptable, while lovemaking is considered "the devil."

Now, I am not saying that we should go back to the Production Code days. But I do think they were on to something when they made a stipulation that murder and rape scenes should be essential to the plot and should happen largely off-camera. Because it just blows my mind that violence against women--which is so often used as a plot device in films even now, when the "damsel in distress" archetype has been challenged over and over--is allowed to slip through into PG-13 and R films, which are marketed in the mainstream media and are given TV spots and advertising budgets. BUT. When a statement is made about it, or it is used in a realistic context, such as in Boys Don't Cry? It's slapped with an NC-17. And they go on and on about the violence, but the truth of it is, they're squicked out by the (non-explicit, very poigniant) sex scenes between a girl and a transgender boy. That's the bottom line.

And for those of you sitting there yelling, "You hypocrite, you slam violence in films but you gush about A Clockwork Orange on a daily basis!"--let me point out here, when that movie was withdrawn in the UK, it was withdrawn for violence. Not for the far-away, sped-up threesome sex scene, which surely would have gotten it banned in America. But for the violence. Also--much of the violence is implied in that film, as well. Think about it: During the rape scene, you do not actually see Alex rape the woman. They cut away before it happens. In the scene where he kills the woman with the statue--you do not actually see her die.

Murder and rape: only used when essential to the plot, done mostly off-camera.

Here's what you can do. Sign the petition. Watch Merchants of Cool. Watch This Film is Not Yet Rated.

If you want to help, that is. Remember: This is all my opinion. Educated and informed opinion, yes, but opinion nonetheless. I'm not trying to force anyone to think the way I think. I just want to help.