Source: Eonline
For the past several days, all I have seen across the entertainment news is the huge promotion and hype around the premiere of The Hunger Games.
I have not seen it (nor will I), however, I know enough about it to know I don’t want to give my time, and my dollars, to the makers of this movie.
I will not be watching a movie where the mighty powerful “government” forces children to die. For sport. And a child agreeing to be sacrificed because the mighty nation requires it.
I’m sure there are people who will see it who will tell me the great messages of survival, and courage, and perseverance that probably are a part of the story as well. Even if the overall takeaway message is a “good” one, I am still not planning to see it for the simple reason stated above.
I’m not sure where on the “that’s a cool story” scale this concept even was considered.
I am tired of Hollywood glamorizing violence and death. I don’t even go to see movies in the theater anymore, because the last 2 times I went to see a movie in the theater, I ended up being like a little kid and literally covering my eyes during the previews because EVERY SINGLE PREVIEW was about death, violence, apocalypse, killing, and running for your life.
I have no interest in spending my time, paying attention to things that make me physically uncomfortable to watch. I’d rather be watching a comedy that makes me laugh, or a story of inspiration and hope. Or gardening. Or taking a walk on the beach with my family. Or sleeping.
And it unnerves me how many people actually think that is fun, and entertaining. Some people even call it “desensitized” to violence. The more used to violence people get, the more the movie makers have to make things more and more scary to raise the bar. And even if the overall theme of the movie might contain a positive message, does that make the idea that the government is choosing to play with children’s lives OK? (the irony of that is not lost on us, by the way).
So that’s it.
As a trying to be conscious parent, I had to speak up because I’ve just had enough, Hollywood. There are too many creative, talented, brilliant people in the world who can write interesting, thought-provoking, fun, uplifting movies to continue to put out movies like this.
And I’m sure it will probably break all records, and people will talk about it and the stars will become mega stars.
Would be nice if good people doing good things were more famous than a movie glorifying the sacrifice of children. Even if it is not the main point of the story, why even have it in there?
What are your thoughts on the underlying message and premise of the movie?
I recently refused to help someone very close to me get their book published on Amazon. Here is what I wrote in my “rejection letter.” I can’t believe I wrote a rejection letter to this person, but I feel so strongly that I had to.
Here goes:
“…there needs to be hope at the end… hope that things can get better, hope that there is something of benefit to the hero of the story… something to look forward to so all is not lost… the future is not bleak.
The big thing to remember here, and I can speak from current experience, is your readers are hormonal, emotional, and impressionable. What they read now might stick with them for a long time to come and shape how they view themselves and the world.
It’s up to us as writers to protect that part of them, to offer them a way through, a way out, a way forward.
That’s what they need. If we can tap into that, then we have done our jobs and fulfilled our responsibility to our readers. If we don’t, then we contribute to their feelings that the world is not ok, and they are not safe.
When I was in middle school, I read Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews. I mean, whoa. That book was just nonstop abuse. I saw it in the store the other day and it still made me shudder and not in a good way. As a parent, and as someone who seeks to add more light to this world that is full of so much darkness, I just feel it’s an abuse of trust to put something out there that is going to detract from a child’s sense of well-being.
What I suggest is you consider what in this kid’s life gives him hope. What allows him to move forward after these tragedies? Don’t leave your readers to fend for themselves because they might come up with a destructive answer.”
This was a very difficult letter to write, but I was not about to subject my own child to a book that didn’t offer hope. If the book is revised, I would help this person publish it.
Thank you, Erika. As always, thanks for sticking up for the kids… and for those of us who would like more light in the world.
Unfortunately, you just gave it 12 paragraphs of some pretty powerful energy, E. The universe doesn’t recognize your intent, just the strength of your energy and the direction you aim it.
When you said, ” I’m sure it will probably break all records, and people will talk about it and the stars will become mega stars” you hit the nail on the head, and helped it/them get there.
You are a powerful force and an incredible creator. Your energy carries out far and wide. Keep focused on what you DO want to see, read, hear, and be and you will see those things multiply.
With the greatest love and respect for all that you are,
P
Thanks, P, for your insightful observation from a spiritual perspective. Before I wrote it, I thought about how my commenting would in fact promote the concept. The idea was brewing for days before I actually posted, for the reason that you mentioned. I had a lot of resistance around the topic, which the more I fought against the resistance, the more it intensified.
In this adventure of doing this website, I have made a promise to myself to follow my heart, and to trust that what I am feeling drawn to write about, that I will honor that inspiration. (That guidance came through very clearly via a connection I did with a dear mutual friend of ours). 🙂
The time that it took me to write the quick post, was far less than the amount of time it was taking in my daily life. Since posting, a couple of things have happened…..no longer do I see (or notice) much about the movie. Prior to writing it, images and stories came at me what felt like constantly. Now, it’s a mere blip in the screen. Something about my devoting some energy to it, has dissipated it for me. Shining a light on it rather than trying to stuff it in the closet, has been a positive one for me.
More importantly, though, is the affirmation that following my inspiration brings blessings I could not have imagined. This particular post, more than any one I’ve ever done before, I felt was a little “angry” relative to my others, and arguably about a silly trivial topic such as a movie that has come out. I did not spend a lot of time on it, editing, rewriting, or softening – I just went with it. Posting it was risky for me – in several ways.
As a result of this post, however, my community came alive and participated in a very interesting discussion. This seemingly trivial post (in my mind) brought out some good participation, and opportunity for clarification. My greatest gift in this journey is to hear from other people, their thoughts, their approaches, and to continue to challenge myself and what I believe, or practice, in my life. I would be doing this even if I had no followers, as this is my heart – yet having the wonderful community here has brought me the biggest gifts.
Along those lines, I am so grateful for your participation in this community, P – your posts ALWAYS make me think, and give me another layer of perspective to consider. I am in this experience to continually learn and expand myself, and am very appreciative of your contribution to this process, and to this community.
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