Morally Complex Film Earns Comments from Both Planned Parenthood and Christian Conservative Groups
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22349329/
Does art imitate life? Or was it “life imitates art? Ask Tolstoy. But now art and life seem to be walking arm in arm. In both the hit film Juno and in the life of Jaymie Lynn Spears (Brittney’s younger sister) two sixteen-year-old girls become pregnant, consider abortion, but opt to keep the baby.
According to MSNBC.COM, “Juno” is the latest in a series of recent movies in which the heroine, faced with an unexpected pregnancy, chooses not to have an abortion. Others include “Knocked Up,” “Waitress” and “Bella.”
Conservative groups offer concerns that Hollywood is offering up role models from teenage or adult unwed pregnancies.
MSNBC.com continues:
“Dr. Vanessa Cullins, vice president for medical affairs at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said these story lines — generally with upbeat endings — oversimplify the tough choices facing real-life girls and women.”
and
“Demie Kurz, a sociologist who co-directs the University of Pennsylvania’s women’s studies program, noted that the “Juno” heroine and Jamie Lynn Spears come from well-off families and do not represent the many girls from low-income backgrounds who get pregnant.”
Kurz goes to suggest that the recent movies rejecting abortion are indicative of the US political climate.
…
This story leaves me with a few thoughts. The first is so obvious that I’ll barely mention it: Sex, outside of it’s God given context, is complicated.
But secondly, this story makes me wonder about how our society has come to relate to narrative. We seem consumed with the idea of “role models.” We want our stories to have neat moral endings.
When you look at our scriptures, particularly the OT, and especially when you consider sexual behavior, the Bible contains precious few “role models.” What we get are tales of rape, incest, polygamy, and adultery. Seldom does the narrator’s voice label the behavior as wrong (in Genesis anyway, moreso during the Monarchy).
I wonder if there isn’t room to appreciate these films (and I admit I haven’t seen one of them) for their ability to generate conversation, and to get teens and parents discussing sexuality, parenthood, and the sanctity of life.
I agree with your take on “role models” as an imprecise (and unhelpful) view of a protagonist that opts to keep her baby. I saw Juno the other day with my kids and feel the script is the best written thing I’ve seen all year. The “role model” approach presumes that narrative must be tidy. I’m reading the new translation of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy and frankly appreciate the human-ness of REAL LIFE. The dad, in Juno, says, “You didn’t wreck the Previa did you?” when Juno has to tell her dad and step mom about her choice. It is a classic typical line by a dad who is thinking the worst! Also note in Juno that she chooses to keep the baby because she cannot get over the statement by the asian friend of hers who is picketing (and doing so with a clearly nervous demeanor) that “your baby has fingernails” and Juno cannot get this thought out of her head. But beyond all that, it is more complex to have a child than to abort one and thus, I think , it is chosen as the option in the narrative.
Keith Johnson
December 30, 2007 at 5:19 pm
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December 29, 2008 at 2:24 pm