Summary:
B.1. Must differentiate between sin and sinner – a person who commits crimes may, in come circumstances, deserve sympathy, but never the sin itself.
2. Film is a highly influential medium of art
a. If film presents mankind as good, with heroic, moral characters, it can be a powerful force for the “improvement of mankind.”
3. Law shall not be ridiculed.
a. If crimes are presented, sympathy must be with the righteous
b. No governmental or religious organization, as a whole, should be presented as unjust.
Scarface:
Scarface is in violation of almost all the general provisions of the code. Although justice is served at the end of the film, his lifestyle is presented in such an alluring fashion that his latter condemnation would almost necessarily be lost on the audience. Besides this, the court system is presented as unjust when Tony is released from police custody by a writ of habeas corpus obtained by Lovo’s corrupt attorney.
Group Response:
The group unanimously agrees that the provisions of the code are biased in favor of conservative Christian moral standards, and we wholeheartedly condemn censorship as against American Values.
Tom Mason
Liz Jolly
Alex Bianco
Sebastian Awatramani