Letter to the Editor

Engaging in culture

Sean Astin’s visit to Liberty University Sept. 21 revealed one big thing: Film is a massively important, emotional tool for engaging culture, and this semester Liberty has taken big steps in using it well. While so much of adult life feels like choosing the lesser of two, or a host of evils, Astin’s character Samwise Gamgee’s actions stem from his belief that “there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.” Especially in the field of film, great stories, the ones that really matter, provoke a proper sense of idealism, leading to action.

Film is the mirror culture holds up to reveal its problems, often with the goal of shocking complacent people into action or changed beliefs. And shock value has value: I cannot imagine anyone seeing “The Passion of the Christ” and just shrugging it off. “Boyhood” definitely had some rough spots but also provided fascinating, troubling insight into a “typical American childhood.’’ If we want to be a school about engaging the culture for Christ, we must be tuned in to the most thoughtful, widespread conversations, and those are happening around film.

However, until now, any steps Liberty could take in that direction were hampered by the movie rating policy. In my film analysis class, the professor continually referenced films we could not see, and the idea of graduating from a film program without having seen, for example, five out of the eight films nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture this year is absurd, like an English major graduating never having read Shakespeare. Removing the R-rated movie ban shows that we are committed to listening to culture’s big questions and joining the conversation with hope and truth.

Perhaps the rule change is just a symbolic one with no real effects. The best reason for having the ban in place – keeping on-campus dorms a safe, positive environment – is still upheld, since leadership can get involved if there is a genuine problem with a student’s “discretion.” The people who wanted to watch R-rated movies watched them when it was against the rules, and the people who think doing so is wrong probably will not change their behavior now. However, there is still a subgroup of students who value both engaging the culture well and honoring the authority to which they voluntarily submit themselves. Removing the R-rated movie ban demonstrates that our school values cultural interaction over insulation.

Kelly Kramer, Liberty junior