The distressing Mr. Flynt

[Alan Joyce]

On Thu, 23 Jan 1997, David Casseres wrote:

> Now, the way *I* would have done it is make a movie about a heroic
> civil-liberties activist lawyer who defends a scummy pornographer and
> thus saves the First Amendment -- but I wouldn't weaken my point by
> portraying the scummy pornographer as a Freedom Fighter.  On the
> contrary, I would portray him as a scummy pornographer. 

Random thought at the end of a long day: that asterisked sentence reminds
of something -- I want to say it was from "The Recognitions" but I could
be wrong -- regarding criticism based on whether something is done the
*right* way or whether something is done *your* way.  The implication, I
think, being that it's tougher and more admirable to step back and look
objectively at a piece of art within a larger context, and to make
judgements about its success or merit that way, than it is to praise or
knock something based primarily on how well it matches or diverges from
your personal values, morals, artistic vision, etc.  What I really want to
know, and I don't think anyone has fessed up to it, is whether anyone has
actually seen this movie?  And is it any good/though-provoking aside from
all the questions of how honest it is about its real-life protagonist?

Maybe.  Like I said, long day.  Not meant to be a slam at Mr. Casseres,
either, especially because I approach things the same damn way all too
frequently.  And anyway, I would really like to see a film based on the
alternatives he proposes... 

Alan Joyce
caj3+ at pitt.edu