Harvey Korman and Cloris Leachman, High Anxiety
I don't read a lot of fiction and I never read fan fiction.
I know vaguely what 50 Shades of Grey is about and that it is a best seller. One can't miss the fact that it is talked about incessantly, especially now that it has been made into a movie - which has been panned pretty much because it doesn't show much actual porn and no full frontal nudity - whatever that means.
Religious people are making their condemnations heard, and bloggers are picking up the hits by writing about it - me too - hence the title of the post. LOL!
I don't know - about 490 years ago St. Teresa's dad forbade her to read the racy romance novels of the day - but she did. Every era has its evil books. It is right to condemn them, but it also helps promote them when we all jump on the band wagon. Just saying.
Anyway - did you know Dorothy Day read Lolita? When I was in high school that was the dirty book to read. Before that it was Lady Chatterley's Lover and Tom Jones. Boring. I just thought it funny Dorothy Day read Lolita - I can't find the entry in her Diaries because the page listed in the index is wrong. I'll come across it another time.
I always had the understanding that women preferred to read eroticism, while men preferred the visual. Perhaps that's why the 50 Shades movie is not especially graphic - no full frontal shots - it's a chick flick - and deep down, girls feel threatened by a man's _____.
Oddly enough, I've never liked porn. It never became an addiction or something I sought out for itself. There but for the grace of God...
There is a classic bit of advice confessors always gave - "Never, ever have or keep porn in the house." Now with computers and smart phones, an added caution: never click on it. Someone used to send stuff to me in the mail and I threw it out as soon as I realized what it was. I understand its potential to arouse.
Bonus! Never watch Oprah or read Richard Rohr, Fran Ferder, or Chris West either.
BTW: I have comment moderation on because I've been getting spam comments from foreigners. What?
Hi Terry. The minute 50 Shades, etc, became a fan hit, I ignored it. Yeah, pretty much from the beginning. But now you have mentioned three writer who must be Oprah favs. Never heard of them. I think I must be lucky.
ReplyDeleteWhat kills me is all these married middle aged ladies into it! I understand the rich handsome guy falling madly in love with you fantasy..but what's with the spanking stuff? And contrary to you I think a little fantasy is good..it's when people go over board and that's usually freaks and religious fanatics..the most porn consumed online is the southern bible belt. I left my kIndle on the train and someone stole it..and the first thing the thief download was the Bible..the second thing was 50 Shades.
ReplyDelete50 shades of holiness?
ReplyDeleteWhat?
Lolita is literature, even if it gives one the creeps. I read it when I was too young to be creeped out by it. 50 Shades is supposed to be so poorly written that it makes popular teen fiction look like masterpieces. I read bad (undergraduate) writing for a living; I'm not going to read it in my spare time. I saw the latest Glamour magazine at the hairdresser's this afternoon. The issue's theme was 50 Shades.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about Lolita of course - I just snickered because as a high school boy we only read the salacious parts - but I can't even remember them and I doubt they were as salacious as wee imagined.
DeleteDorothy Day's diary account (1-31-59): "Last night I sat up all night reading Lolita, a truly terrible tale, a horrible picture of American life, a vicious tale, reminding me of Notes from the Underground."
DeleteThanks for filling that in Phil. Her commentary says it all.
DeleteThanks for filling that in Phil. Her commentary says it all.
DeleteTarget is selling "adult toys" based on the movie. Can't you see the kiddies asking, "Mommy, what's this for?" Target has moved to my boycott list.
ReplyDeleteTarget's not doing too well - just this week headquarters laid off 500+ employees after having closed it's failed Target Canada stores. Their marketing strategy is way off.
DeleteI think it would be kind of funny to see Suburban House Frau Cindy with her cart full of "toys," and Soft Scrub and Dawn and a Jonathon Adler feathered whip!
DeleteHahaha.. I just noticed the picture from "High Anxiety"! Mel Brooks is a groundbreaking film maker is he not..."Sweet mystery of life I finally found you!!!"
ReplyDeleteHigh Anxiety remains my favorite.
DeleteTarget has been off my shopping list since they apologized for support of something conservative then donated to big gay.
ReplyDeleteI shop Target. I don't usually boycott businesses. I have to pay taxes and that means I support a Government that kills all sorts of people, lets just about anyone get married, appoints corrupt liars to office, and gave women the vote. Sanctions and boycotts have never made sense to me. Like parades. You just sit alongside the street and watch people you don't know wave at you as they walk by. What?
DeleteI suppose you're right. What were they thinking? They let women drive too.
DeleteWhat?