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New York, 7:08 AM
Fri Nov 27
2 posts in the last 24 hours
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07/21/09
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i see a strong resemblance to isaac in children of the corn.
07/21/09
Because movies about demon sex and their spawn always inform my reproductive choices.
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/light-hearted comment about demon spawn.
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I don't think the issue is taking horror movies to seriously or just adoption, its the fact that adopting a child over 6 is exceedingly rare. I don't know anyone who was adopted or adopted a child that old and I'm sure I'm not alone. When people have no personal experience with someone and hardly ever see that situation portrayed in the media, its easy for ideas to seep into your unconscious. Its why Borat bothered me a little but Bruno didn't. Kazakhstan is a small, isolated country that most people aren't familiar with. The image of Bruno is probably the only thing many people know about Kazakhstan and even though it is obviously a farce, that image can seep in as what Kazakhstan is. While Bruno could be used to support some vile stereotypes about gay men, there are lots of other images and lots of real people to contradict it.
The idea that I think the movie furthers isn't "demonic adoptee," its the idea that it is a mistake to adopt an older child because they are already who they are going to be. I don't think anyone will walk out of The Orphan saying "Well, I was going to adopt an 8 year old, but now I won't," but I do think it supports a stereotype that discourages the adoption of older children.
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I don't take either too seriously. The orphan thing usually weighs in the opposite direction anyway - the bright sunny orphan girl who brings joy to everyone's life (Little Oprhan Annie, Pippy Longstocking, Pollyana, The Secret Garden, on and on...)
07/21/09
By the way, I'm 21 and in graduate school. I'm not magical. I'm not wicked. I didn't grow up to be a wizard or a serial killer, and despite my red hair, will NEVER rely on a Daddy Warbucks. Can't people have their parents die and then just turn out... normal?
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07/21/09
1. Stop freaking out about horror movies and books. They're not real. They're movies. They're fiction. What do you think we are, idiots?
2. Start giving Stephen King the respect he deserves. If you think this probably-crappy horror movie could actually make people stop adopting, then you better start kissing the feet of the man who convinced most of the world that Captain Tripps would wipe out the earth leaving two factions to fight a war between good and evil, that people-eating monsters that look like clowns hide in our stormdrains waiting to feed, and that you best be careful in high school lest you piss off the one girl who's a telekenetic and thus find yourself locked in the school gym on prom night burning to death.
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After reading this article I felt like a huge Really? needed to be thrown in their.
A movie is a movie people, if this really has the ability to scare off potential parents those same people would not have dogs (Kujo) or live in houses (about 5 million haunted house movies), or even shower (Psycho).
Would we really want these dog hating, homeless, dirty people raising children?
07/21/09
Have you ever met someone who won't go on a cruise ship after watching "Titanic"? I sure have, and the one who springs immediately to mind is one of the smartest women I know.
This is not just about scaring off potential parents. It's about continuing to foster the perception that adoptees (and older adoptees in particular) are "damaged." Will this movie have that effect? We'll have to see.
07/21/09
Also after seeing Titanic? Ummm, the movie was based on an actual event. I hope this women made her choice on the various actual disasters then a movie made 80ish years after the event.
Also Cujo was a Saint Bernard so that kind of makes the pit bull comparison a moot point.
Most of those people's fears are based on actual things that have happened. As far as I know there have been no demonic orphans in recent history.
I get the fact people tend to jump to conclusions, I'm just trying to point out that hopefully most people will get that it's just a movie and not get so upset about a silly B film.
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It all makes perfect sense.
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I've been told there's a twist that sort of negates the offensiveness, but it's something you'd only know if you went to see the movie, not something the casual viewer will pick up from the trailer.
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She takes that velvet ribbon off and her head falls off!
Sorry to post a spoiler, but I couldn't help myself.
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http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/ws3.html
I feel like horror movies have been spoiled for me when I left the Christian religion. All of those things are not very scary when you don't believe in a lurking evil like Satan.
Example: I was playing Castlevania last night and realized that Dracula, ghosts, Death, and many of the other bad guys are only to be feared if you validate the devil's evilness. Otherwise, your logical brain doesn't register that it can even be real and frightening.
Because of that, it's hard to take their concerns seriously, because I can't empathize with the emotions. How can I fear a "demon" child when that's all bunk?
Besides which, I hope to goodness that somebody isn't basing their adoption decisions on a few horror movie tropes.
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Though in truth, the plotline and blatant allegory from Final Fantasy X was the final nail in the coffin to my flagging attachment to the church. So maybe I have a penchant for finding philosophy in strange places, like games.