I was watching this movie “Music and Lyrics” yesterday, where the glamorous performances of Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore spelled a nicely woven love story in an accordingly glamorous manner. (For those who have not seen the movie) The plot involves the life struggle of a failed pop artist who tries to survive in the modern music industry by whatever means he seems fit and a young lady who has been deprived of her borne talent for words and lyrics by the wicked world (Well, that’s the best I could summarize it).
You thought this was a movie review??? Well, you’ve got me completely wrong. I’m the least qualified person for that category.
Here’s what I really wanted to discuss.
Towards the end of the movie, there’s a stage performance and the young girl (not Drew Barrymore (oh, I so much wished), but another girl who apparently plays the role of the most famous female artist at the time of the movie, named “Cora”) who performed the song comes out of the back of a large “Buddha Statue” and starts dancing half naked in front of it (Pretty much). It’s rather disturbing (not only because I’m a Buddhist) to see people screaming and cheering as the statue is posed out of the darkness in amidst of fire crackers and an amorous female appear within the statue only to exhibit her belongings with the Lord Buddha in the background.
Now, I’m not a hardcore Buddhist. If someone judges me to be a Buddhist based on my parents being Buddhists, well then, yes I am. Buddhist or not Buddhist, the idea of using a statue of a religious leader or insulting them in anyway should not be approved.
I don’t know whether the people who made this movie didn’t think of the matter seriously or whether they knowingly mastered such a scene. I wonder if they would think of doing the same thing with a statue of Jesus Christ or any other such religious leader (not that any of that would be acceptable: just a question).
However, I doubt that the movie has still gained enough popularity in
One other thing: Is it just me or has Buddhism become the easiest catch for such entertainment commodities. I’ve seen this trend (at least from what the media show us) in recent music albums, womens’ garments, book covers etc.
Oh… apart from that, the movie was great…
17 Comments:
The thing about Buddhism is it has a great philosophy which includes a path to enlightenment and the relinquishment of carnal desire.
It's in this context that you should see the film and the women's undergarments etc. It wouldn't really have same effect if Jesus involved in something like this.
FYI;I've watched the movie, I've read the article on the Times and the closest religion that I have some sort of respect is Buddhist philosophy. And frankly I don't feel offended in anyway.
Besides, in the film, Cora was a amateur artist that did all the wrong things to get famous. So why not this?
Mind you, I think it's a great marketing idea...
Coincidentally, I saw it as an in-flight movie recently.
What I read into it was the crassness and tackiness of the whole packaging of Cora. As I have mentioned earlier in one of my comments..appealing to the lowest common denominator. The scene in the movie in my opinion has been placed in this context; from a non-religious perspective this aspect of the marketing idea I think is pretty offensive to the sensibilites. I find it quite patronising when marketing people assume that I and other ordinary people don't have the ability to think or feel beyond a certain level.
Just to clarify, I think the movie itself clearly shows the tackiness of the idea and so does not offend.
Recently I saw a travel documentary on Jerusalem and there was a "Holy Cross" cafe along the pathway to the site where Jesus was supposed to have been crucified. I have also seen a church converted to a pizza parlour, called "heavenly pizza". So I think a western religion like Christianity is not exempt from this.
"Is it just me or has Buddhism become the easiest catch for such entertainment commodities."
perhaps you are noticing it more because you are a Buddhist? ie references to other religions in popular entertainment may have 'slipped under the radar', perhaps?
L,
When I meant 'marketing', I meant marketing the religion.. not the film.
I watched this movie last week and has similar thoughts when i saw Cora coming out from the back of the Buddha's head..
I'm a Buddhist... and I felt bad when i saw it... made me think of the lack of respect for the world renouned Buddha and the religion...
I too don't think it has gained much popularity.. but it was certainly wrong...
But then again, I'm with R on what he has said....
BUT i do not think it's a great marketing idea though!
R...I understand.
By the way to clarify further, I meant that the movie itself is not offensive because it actually in a subtle way exposes the tackiness and crassness of the image. If it actually was uncritical of it then it would be offensive. It is a satirical look at the crassness of the mainstream pop/music/entertainment industry.
For those who haven't seen it, in my opinion the movie was not bad. Wouldn't pay full price in a cinema to watch it though.
Maybe R is right about great marketing tool for the religion. ie it will superficially attract those attracted to that sort of image; the marketing of "Buddhism lite". But if it will attract stayers who actually want to study in depth and meditate on the Buddhist philosophy, is debatable. The stayers probably fall into what I suppose is called a niche market? Not a marketing expert.
Slightly related to Jack Point's comment...the modern american evangelists are known for packaging christianity in this sort way with sexy rock/hip hop bands etc. Kabala is being popularised by rock stars such as Madonna. The americans have the gift for this sort of thing. Note how they take the Kama Sutra and Tantra from the Indian culture without knowing anything about the vedhas.
Sometimes movie directors add buddha statue , Ganesh etc..to make the scene bit exotic , no need to worry , no one can harm buddhism like that
Lady divine,
//I'm a Buddhist... and I felt bad when I saw it//
Pick one:) You can’t have the both ways at the same time. If you feel bad then you are not a Buddhist yet. If you are Buddhist, you won’t feel bad.
//I wonder if they would think of doing the same thing with a statue of Jesus Christ or any other such religious leader//
They have been quite liberal when it come to Jesus too. You should see how Bill Maher or George Carlin runs their mouth on the stage regarding Jesus and God. If someone talks about Buddha like that in SL!!!!
We all know about how others parties behaves and any person with bit of intelligent do not want to go in that path.
Now my friend, you asked the wrong question. Ask not what other religions would do, ask what Buddha would do.
I think you know the answer – just follow it. You won’t feel bad, upset, and angry or offended any more. Isn’t it wonderful not to get offended.
R:
Thanx for ur thoughts, but i wouldn't totally agree on that whole "marketing the religion" idea. I think buddhism was never meant to be marketed. I'm not an expert on religions, but i don't see (or haven't heard of) the same level of marketing that is observable in other religions in buddhism. I don't think buddha intended to attract the largest group of followers into buddhism. In that sense, it would be wrong to justify the movie scene in terms of marketing, ain't it?
L:
i guess you were right on the fact that this was used in the movie exclusively to portray the crassness and the tackiness of the character cora. but then again, i'd still approve a certain level of censorship when dealing with religious icons. (By the way, thanx for your comment on my earlier post. I couldn't download the two songs but i found the lyrics of both of them, and you were right. They pretty much encapsulate what i wanted to say in my previous post)
Poojitha:
I'm not a very pious follower of buddhism though i try my best to mould my life through it's philosophy. Even then, i was troubled when i watched this scene. You may be true in saying that we should ignore this stuff. But until what level? what if they start abusing the religious leaders in a more aggravated sense than this, would you still bear with them?
Niro have a look under Amazon.com you can listen to snippets of each song on the album.
Interesting perspective from Sam I thought:
"If you feel bad then you are not a Buddhist yet. If you are Buddhist, you won’t feel bad."
Also agree, sometimes people get caught up with protecting a religion probably more than the founder of the religion would have considered.
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The west does not take Buddhism seriously, or hinduism or anything really. They tend to do things insulting christianity too. For eg i vaguely recall an add that featured a nun lifting up her skirt.... can't remember what for. However they'd stay away from annoying the Christians too much cos they cause a huge stink about anything supposedly sacreligious(did i spell that right?) and yeh... there's no one to do that for the Buddhists... we're too busy practising loving kindness...or too lazy.:)
Thanx amanthi, for ur comment in my earlier post as well
Buddhism is not a religion. it is the path that shows the truth.
The Buddhists never harm to other religions.
Because they full filled with humanity & kindness.
Don't do any this against to others...
Other religious should understand this....
hey i felt the same thing when i watched this movie. besides the involvement of Lord Buddha, the movie was quite well and had a good plot. i would feel the same thing if they had used any religious leader for such a performance.
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