The Celluloid Closet

 

Watching the movie The Celluloid Closet made me realize many things. The movie discusses the hidden depiction of homosexuals in Hollywood films. I have seen many of the old Hollywood films that the movie discussed, and I never realized the homosexual tension between characters. So therefore, it is completely understandable why the appointed censors would have missed the sexual tension. The power of filmmakers to hide such things is incredible as well as the ability to create an underling meaning behind scenes. Although it seems that if we truly lived in an unencumbered society, there would be no need for filmmakers to hid anything.

 I was infuriated while hearing about the power of church officials to make Hollywood remove scenes they didn’t see fit from movies. The church should have no say in what is viewed by anyone. As a person that grew up in Salt Lake City I have seen first hand the power of church officials to control something simply because of their views. For example, a few years back the LDS church bought part of Main Street and built an addition to Temple Square. So now the secular Main Street comes to a halt at the church instead of continuing on through town. It is ridiculous how much power churches have even in a supposedly free country like the United States.

Anyways the movie The Celluloid Closet just added to my disgust of the use of power by organized religion. While watching the film all I could think about was why we as people allow religion to control values, ideas, and expression that should otherwise be free for all individuals.