Letter to Steve Carell re ‘Crazy Stupid Love’s’ Teen Nude Photos

Posted on August 10, 2011 at 12:00 pm

I was very pleased to hear that my friend Rev. Debra Haffner has written to producer/star Steve Carell about the scene where a 17-year-old girl gives a 13-year-old boy nude photos in “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” This offensive scene, portraying the gift as generous and compassionate, is one reason I gave “Crazy, Stupid, Love” a D. Rev. Haffner is one of the leading experts in the country on teen sexuality. She acknowledges that these are fictional characters but points out that teenagers get ideas about how to behave from what they see on screen. If she gets a response, I will post it.

Dear Mr. Carell:

I am writing to you as a certified sexuality educator and an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister who is concerned that your new movie, “Crazy, Stupid, Love” models behaviors for teen and tween audiences that puts them at risk for legal action. I am the author of several books for parents on talking with their children and teens about sexuality, and I have worked with adolescents on responsible sexual behavior for many years.

There are several sexual messages in the movie that I disagree with, but I am most concerned about 17 year old Jessica giving 13 year old Robbie nude photos of herself that she took. It is illegal for anyone to create sexually explicit images of a minor, to possess such images, or to distribute them. Although it may seem nonsensical, several states have passed additional laws that make it illegal for teens to take and distribute such pictures of themselves to other teens. Indeed, because of their age differences, depending on the age of majority in the state, Jessica might also be charged and convicted as a sexual offender for exposing a minor to child pornography. In some states, she could face life in prison or have to register as a sex offender for life. Further, the gender of the characters reinforces a stereotype that teen boys cannot be victims of child sexual abuse, when in reality, a boy is most likely sexually victimized by a teenage girl.

These are fictional characters – but their actions may well be repeated by young people in your audiences. I know that your movie is out in general release, and I don’t know what can be done by Carousal Productions at this point to get out the message, “don’t’ try this at home”. But, I do know that PG-13 movies shouldn’t be modeling criminal behaviors as harmless or worse, acts of generosity.

I would welcome hearing a response from you. Please let me know if I can provide you with additional information.

Sincerely,

Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner

The Real Offensive Language in ‘The Change-Up’

Posted on August 9, 2011 at 5:06 pm

Ellen Seldman, the mother of a special needs child, has written a heartfelt post for Parents.com about the offensive language in The Change-Up. It isn’t the (constant) four-letter words or graphic sexual references she objects to. It is the crude references to Down Syndrome. “It contains a scene in which a character asks a dad whether his twins are ‘retarded’ because they’re not yet speaking, then adds ‘I don’t know, this one looks a little Downsy.'”

I agree with her that the language is very offensive (I noted the use of the “r-word” in my review). I think it is important to point out, however, that the movie is not making fun of special needs kids. It is making fun of the “normal” idiot who uses that language.

The Change-Up is a very raunchy, graphic, intentionally provocative comedy. But it is no more on the side of the use of that language than it is of the other irresponsible and disgusting behavior by the character, including exposing the babies to very dangerous items and advising the older child to beat up a bully. I was more offended by the use of the r-word by characters portrayed more approvingly in other recent movies I have seen, most recently “Our Idiot Brother.”

I appreciate Seldman’s support for the very important “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign. My first job was at a school for developmentally disabled children that had the r-word in its name. That was a long time ago, and as with other words we now understand to be unacceptable, this one should be recognized as offensive and inaccurate. Parents should make sure they never use the word, even jokingly, and make clear to their children that they will not tolerate it.

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Understanding Media and Pop Culture

What Facebook Does to Kids

Posted on August 9, 2011 at 8:27 am

Atlantic Wire has a good post on the impact of Facebook on the brains of the teenagers who use it, based on a presentation to the American Psychological Association by psychologist Larry D. Rosen’s called “Poke Me: How Social Networks Can Both Help and Harm Our Kids.” Facebook has been so transformational that it is hard to remember it has only been around for seven years and only been available outside of college campuses for five, almost hard to remember life before status updates and likes. Our son went to college before social media. Two years later, our daughter arrived on her campus feeling as though she was already friends with some of her classmates by meeting them online.

It hasn’t been around long enough for long-term studies of its impact, but Rebecca Greenfield rounds up some of the research so far, finding that Facebook can promote “virtual empathy” and strengthen social skills. Perhaps most interesting, “When making friends on the social network, kids are more likely to overlook race and make friends based on interest, a UCLA study found.” But she notes that Facebook breeds narcissism and “doesn’t prepare kids for real-life talking.”

What to Watch for in ‘Rise of Planet of the Apes’ Reviews

Posted on August 4, 2011 at 3:55 pm

Of course the reviews of this week’s prequel, “Rise of Planet of the Apes” will refer to the previous movies and I look forward to seeing how many references to the earlier films they find in this one. I’m guessing it will be just about impossible for anyone to review the film without mentioning the current (and superb) documentary, “Project Nim,” the sad true story of a chimp that was raised by a family and used in language experiments and then subjected to unspeakable treatment in medical testing and then condemned to miserable solitude in the animal refuge that was supposed to be a loving home for him.

I’m going to keep an eye out and if there is a critic who does a particularly good job of bringing in these references (extra credit for bringing in the non-canonical Tim Burton “Apes” movie with Mark Wahlberg), I’ll put in a link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HEyPFezJxk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKdSXfPl8vY

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Understanding Media and Pop Culture

Joe Queenan on Movie Plots that Technology Killed

Posted on August 1, 2011 at 8:00 am

Brilliantly funny Joe Queenan has a great piece in The Guardian about how today’s technology would have saved some classic movie characters a lot of misery — and eliminated the plots for the movies and the enjoyment for the audiences.

Imagine Janet Leigh, driving around with that stolen money, looking for a place to spend the night. She’d check Trip Advisor on her iPhone and end up bypassing the Bates Motel. And Clint Eastwood could use caller ID to block those “Play Misty for Me” calls from Jessica Walter. The mistaken identity in “North by Northwest?” Not after Google!

You’ll think of some of your own examples when you read his list. “Casablanca?” You could print out fake letters of transit using Photoshop. “Citizen Kane?” He wouldn’t have to spend all that money on the newspaper; he could be a blogger!

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Understanding Media and Pop Culture