STUDENTS AT THE University of Maryland wanted to show "Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge" at their student union on Saturday. Then a bunch of politicians jumped in and forced the school to shut down the show.Turns out the politicians think the film is pure pornography.
Sen. Andrew P. Harris was so upset that, according to the Washington Post, he offered a budget amendment: Any public university that allowed the screening of a triple-X film would forfeit state funding -- about $424 million next year in U-Md.'s case.
Should the film be allowed on campus? Is this a free speech issue? Or is the film pure obscenity, and therefore not subject to first amendment rights?
Would you be OK with students showing a nudey film on campus?
(And, is it wrong for me to post a link to the nudey movie's website on a student-read blog?)
7 comments:
Reading this at first made me wonder how in the world the students would even think to try such a thing, but after reading what they were attempting to do made sense.
The whole idea of showing the film was to draw in students, and before and after the film hold discussions about safe sex and hand out condoms. They selected the film based on the popularity of, if I remember what I read correctly, the first Pirates XXX movie. The articles from NBC and Washington Post also point out the fact that other schools have held such events with no problem, and that UMD had showed a classic porn from the 70's, "Deep Throat" a few years ago.
Another point that was made is that the event was not being funded by the state, however by students themselves through fees paid to the student union through ticket sales and what not. So I really don't see the problem. I have a feeling plenty of people are going to disagree with me on this but if the students are organizing the event, paying for the event and they're the ones attending the film, what's the issue? The point of showing the movie was NOT to just get a bunch of horny students to watch porn in a large group together, (which sounds really weird actually, and was part of the point) the students were trying to advocate a legitimate cause (safer sexual practices) and also generate discussion among students about what constitutes art. But, I guess the stuffy, scared of sex talk government officials were worried that the students might have too much fun with such an event.
Of course the students should have been allowed to screen this film. It sickens me how the government tries to intervene when it isn't their place. The government wasn't funding the screening, the group was trying to generate an audience to teach about safe sex, and since when is it illegal for a group of students to screen a xxx film?
Even if they were just a bunch of horny students who wanted to watch a porno with lots of other horny students, I don't see why the government cares. Is it really their duty to uphold the moral fiber of public university students?
Maybe they should get a little more upset about the chronic violence on television and in movies. I think this country is very backwards when it comes to what people think is appropriate and inappropriate. The fact is, whether or not you think promiscuous sex is unholy or immoral, it's still legal and at least sex is a natural part of life that most people do (a lot do it out of wedlock "immorally").
Oh, but murder and violent crimes are acceptable for everyone to watch? I bet that senator wouldn't have given a damn if they tried to play Pulp Fiction or Saw even. This country loves to glorify violence and sadistic criminal minds but put the blindfold over our eyes the minute a boob pops out...and god forbid we try to show a penis.
I don't think its totally wrong, I haven't seen the movie so I wouldn't know anything about it. Im sure a bunch of horny guys and or slash lesbian girls were the only ones to go watch it.. It is a porno basically, no they shouldn't be showing it in at the school at a meeting or whatever, maybe in someone's dorm room, and no the gov. shouldn't be intervening but thats a waste of breath kind of arguement.. and yeah, were all grown ups here we can post stuff about sex
I don't understand why politicians have the right to say what MOVIES can and cannot be viewed on a college campus. That seems really silly! Do these politicians that freaked over the movie even participate regularly with the college? If not, they definitely should not have any say in what types of student activities are organized on campus.
Christina Warrington
This movie is hardcore porn. They did a Blockbuster friendly edit of the first one cutting out all the sex, but I'm unsure if they did one for this one and if that's the version the kids are trying to show.
If the version is edited then they should be able to show it. It's not much different than showing Boogie Nights.
I may hate censorship, but this movie has no artistic value. Many other movies have sex in them but ultimately thats not the only message included in the movie. So I do not think the movie should have been shown.
Cynthia Gallegos
I am kind of confused as to WHY these students wanted to show this video? But I feel that if their reasoning was sufficient enough, then they should be allowed to show whatever they want. As long as they give proper warning as to what the film is about to show, or what it is rated, then their freedom of speech should grant them the right to show the video.
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