tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776899.post115351188247423239..comments2024-03-06T03:15:58.539-05:00Comments on <b>THE NEW REFORM CLUB</b>: Hollywood and ReligionHunter Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14961831404331998743noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776899.post-1153608181756061012006-07-22T18:43:00.000-04:002006-07-22T18:43:00.000-04:00Mr. Karnick, Enjoyed the article. Still, I tend to...Mr. Karnick, <BR/>Enjoyed the article. Still, I tend to disagree with the "infiltration" approach to changing Hollywood. Compromise with Hollywood culture is much more likely than any change due to the persuasive appeal or even subtle influence of Christians. The various liberal and sexual lobbies can infiltrate Hollywood easily because they reflect its current culture. As Christians, we are the counterculture and need to honestly recognize it. <BR/>I agree that Christian products have historically been crappy and often continue to be so in music and film. Still, they're getting better all the time. Personally, since I'm not an artist I'm not faced with the dilemma of choosing between "beating 'em" or "joining 'em" and I sympathize with Christians aspiring to put out better product for mankind and choose to infiltrate Hollywood.<BR/><BR/>As a consumer, I agree with your point regarding gratuitous violence, etc. I try to read reviews at ChristianityToday.com before I watch most films. The critics there generally grant creators the need to use violence, sex, what-have-you if needed for the plot. What is bothersome are gratuitous scenes that are not necessary for the plot. All too often these are included with the presumption that such scenes are necessary to sell tickets. I believe that this presumption is incorrect. Relatively clean films do well at the box office. I believe Hollywood often throws garbage into movies because they don't see it as garbage. Simply put, their world view is worldly and incorporates behaviors that they believe are normative, but are not. Christians will continue to consume the fare they wish. I personally will never watch films designed to desensitive me to extramarital sex (hetero or otherwise) nor justify murder or criminality (as an adult I find Butch & Sundance type films totally immoral). <BR/>Overall, I believe Christians will build up independent production workshops because the economics of making and distributing music and film continue to improve. Some will try to change Hollywood "from the inside" but I believe that market forces are the only ones that matter. <BR/>In that sense, Mr. Bock (whom you quote) is somewhat correct in encouraging Christians to go to more films. Still, I believe that boycotts do work and further that the success of films like the Passion and other relatively clean fare will continue to gain market share.Evanston2https://www.blogger.com/profile/09851967034946400308noreply@blogger.com