No Love for "Big Love" Column at the Deseret News
It's not often I feel compelled to write about the newspaper across the valley, perhaps in large part because my wife works at that paper, and I don't want to be exiled to "The Couch." I hate "The Couch."
But after reading Mormon Times' columnist Joel Campbell's essay about the "ethical" lapses by HBO and the creators of "Big Love" over their representations of Mormons in the controversial drama, I cringed. Then I shook my head. Then I realized I had to say something.
Campbell takes the creators to task for the show's seemingly uncaring use of sacred practices in the LDS church for an upcoming scene to air this Sunday. Namely, there will be a scene in which one of the characters goes through an endowment ceremony within an LDS temple. As you may have read, it has created a firestorm, so much so, it prompted a statement from the LDS church.
Campbell's Complaint No. 1:
He argues that the show's producers promised, quoting only the church statement saying so, that they would make a clear distinction between mainstream Mormons and the fundamentalist polygamists in the series.
"They obviously don't get it. In this case on two fronts - an excommunication proceeding and temple ceremonies - they are using LDS Church practices as the portrayal of what polygamist groups do. Producers may understand the difference between the two groups but don't seem to care if viewers are confused and, in fact, their statements sound like they are unapologetic for their choices."
First of all, no one has seen the episode outside the network. How does he know how the episode portrays "LDS Church practices as the portrayal of what polygamists do"?
In the scene in question, sister wife Barbara (played by Jeanne Tripplehorn) attends an LDS endowment ceremony after she convinces her mother and her sister - both members of the LDS Church - to borrow their temple recommends. It is not supposed to be a polygamous ceremony.
I also can tell that Campbell hasn't seen the rest of the series either. Because had he, he would know the producers have done a very good job of making sure viewers are not confusing the polygamists with the mainstream church members. This season, Bill Henrickson's (the polygamist played by Bill Paxton) brother in law is an LDS stake president and clearly at odds with the polygamous sect. Another LDS character is a loyal and understanding friend of one of Bill's daughters who does not condone the practice of polygamy despite her strong friendship.
Campbell's Complaint No. 2:
I find this one hilarious. The columnist says what the producers are doing in opening up the sacred temple ceremony to the public is akin to "religious pornography."
"What the producers don't get is the 'context.' Temple blessings are understood by those who are worthy and spiritually prepared. The spirit of God inside the temple helps people make and keep sacred covenants with God. What Olsen and Scheffer have created amounts to religious pornography. It takes something that is sacred and meant for personal reflection and commitment and throws it before the masses."
First of all, HBO has not and should not make promises to the LDS Church or its members that it will portray Mormon characters any other way than what they see fit for the sake of the story. Filmmakers - any artists for that matter - are under no obligation to satisfy any group other than themselves for the purpose of their art.
I argue that anything, anyone, any organization, even the sanctity of religion, is not above parody, satire, open discussion or serious analysis. Just because it's deemed private by one group doesn't mean it's not worthy of inspection and discussion by another.
Should such examinations be done in a responsible and respectful manner? For the most part yes, and I have little doubt based on the episodes before that "Big Love" creators Will Scheffer and Mark V. Olsen will not approach it with sensitivity.
But even then, some of the most biting and worthy comments in entertainment have come from shows that don't worry about offending other groups, namely "The Daily Show" and "South Park."
"The 'Big Love' producers are abandoning such responsibility to shock value," Campbell writes. Again, how does he know that if he hasn't seen the episode? And if he had watched the show, he would know that the writers have taken their approach to the material more seriously than he is led to believe.
As I've blogged before, "Big Love" is having an outstanding, compelling and emotionally satisfying season in which the characters are facing important and complex dilemmas.
Before anyone cries foul and suggests that the writers are doing nothing but shocking viewers for the sake of ratings, I argue the creators of "Big Love" really only have one responsibility - to make as good a series as possible.
9:29 AM
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8 Comments:
Testify, Vince, testify!
Excellent comments. I am an active member of the LDS church and honestly don't understand why people freak out BEFORE they see something. Remember how many people banned Passion of the Christ without seeing the movie? It was that movie that brought me back to the LDS church and rekindled my faith. So . . . just because something sacred is depicted does not take away the sacredness of the act when it comes to the individual. The temple is still sacred, respectful, and a holy place no matter what television writer say or do. I enjoy the show and have never really felt there was a question between the LDS church and the polygamists in the show. The differences are clearly defined.
As another faithful LDS fan of Big Love, thank you for responsibly responding to Campbell's very unfortunate post.
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I am LDS and do not watch Big Love, but I think you make some very interesting points. I think many LDS members are afraid that the exposing of the temple cerimony to the public, whom may not be understanding of the sacredness of the ritual, will in some way expose a side of the religion that might hurt the LDS church's reputaion. I do not feel this way. The reaction to this episode will in no way be influenced by the airing of this episode, but rather, by the built up prejudices that the public had long before the airing of the episode. Access to the temple cerimony has been available to the public long before the creation of Big Love, and it has in no way tampered with Church affairs. Latter-day Saints have nothing to worry about.
Big time fan of Big Love and card carrying Mormon. I've liked the episodes of Big Love this year, but I have noticed that they are trying to make the Mormons out to be the bad ones. Not sure if this is related to Prop 8 or not. I wouldn't doubt it. There is a lot of hate for the Mormons running through Hollywood.
For example, the whole document from Wilford Woodruff plot line is just stupid and tries to make the church look bad. It is sort of like what Mark Hoffman tried to do with his fake documents. I also noticed on the trip to New York, they changed the pageant to make the Mormons look crazy. They showed the Angel Moroni that descends at the end. In reality, it is Jesus Christ that descends. Something they left out so that mainstream religions think Mormons believe in crazy things. I'm sure they were too afraid to show Christ floating in the air. It could have offended someone. I almost feel like I should be their Mormon consultant, because they get a lot of things wrong for a show that just claimed that they pride themselves in accuracy.
The temple thing is hard for me. I find it very offensive as a Mormon that they would show something so special to me. The endowment ceremony isn't secret, just sacred. Most religions have sacred things that they don't like paraded around for entertainment purposes. The show has already used some things from the ceremony in past episodes.
I just wonder how they justify offending one group, when most of Hollywood spends so much time trying to be politically correct? Hypocrisy defines Hollywood. They can drive around in the Hybrids, yet fly around on private jets, have many large homes, and their carbon footprint dwarfs in comparison to the average citizen. But they expect us to do our part and lecture us when we don't.
The sad thing is that Mormons have made such a big deal out of this that the show will get more publicity from it. HBO's fake apology only added to a nice PR campaign to get more viewers.
i watched it and showed it to my 14 and 19yo. It was a way to let them see what I do in the temple.It took the mystery of it out.
Did I hear you say Vince that Mohammed was a pederast?
It was just a joke? Okay. But don't tell any Muslims.
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