courtesy of the LA Times
For those of you who have listened to us chat about Zero Dark Thirty already, you know we address the criticism regarding the film’s torture scenes. Yesterday, in the LA Times, Kathryn Bigelow herself talked about the film and addressed the criticism it’s received. Here’s a sample of what she had to say:
“First of all: I support every American’s 1st Amendment right to create works of art and speak their conscience without government interference or harassment. As a lifelong pacifist, I support all protests against the use of torture, and, quite simply, inhumane treatment of any kind.
But I do wonder if some of the sentiments alternately expressed about the film might be more appropriately directed at those who instituted and ordered these U.S. policies, as opposed to a motion picture that brings the story to the screen.
Those of us who work in the arts know that depiction is not endorsement. If it was, no artist would be able to paint inhumane practices, no author could write about them, and no filmmaker could delve into the thorny subjects of our time.”
We talk about our opinions regarding both torture and the depiction of it in the show, but what are your thoughts? We’d love to hear. Let us know!