AspergerSadie has tweeted the trailer for 21 JumpStreet.
What you find in one of the scenes is a character attempting to denigrate someone by calling them "autistic." I suppose since it is not politically correct anymore to call people the "r" word, the lamebrains that run Hollywood, decided to substitute "autistic." And of course Hollywood is nothing if not politically correct. Right?
Heaven forbid that they just not use negative stereotyping, derogatory statements and obnoxious idiocy in movies. Heaven forbid that the movie studios actually have some respect for the people they market to and use these movies to not add to the atmosphere of bullying throughout the country. Too had that Hollywood is so self-enamored that they think they can do anything without consequence and call it freedom of speech and artistic license.
Yes I am all for freedom of speech. But just because you have a right to do something doesn't mean you should. Just because you have a right to be an ass doesn't mean what you do isn't hurtful and doesn't have consequences. Those who live in their own little worlds, in those small enclaves called Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Malibu, should be held to account for their malfeasance just like anyone else. These celebrities like to tell us all how to live and who to vote for, its time we did the same to them and pointed out when they "bite the big one."
I have to be honest. I was looking forward to this movie, not because it was a comedy. I had no idea that it was supposed to be a comedy. The show itself was a drama. But 21 JumpSreet was a television show from my younger days and one in which two very famous stars got their start, Johnny Depp and Holly Robinson-Peete. So I thought perhaps, in some way, they were gong to do something quite fun with this idea. (The irony here is that Robinson-Peete is a major autism advocate.)
Too bad. Hollywood blew it big time. They went for crude, ignorant and disgusting, as opposed to entertainment for a purpose. Use comedy to teach. Use comedy to inform. Use comedy to show us ourselves and turn us into better people. But instead Hollywood uses comedy to allow another form of bigotry that crosses the line.
It is time to tell Hollywood..NO YOU CANNOT...just because you make movies like Adam..doesn't mean you can make movies like 21 JumpStreet with impunity.
BOYCOTT 21 JUMPSTREET. Let Hollywood know, they had better learn to respect our children and ourselves. If you don't, you can rest assured that while this may be the first time "autistic" is used as an insult, it won't be the last.
By the way, here is the trailer if you want to watch it. See for yourselves.
Until next time,
Elise
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
9 comments:
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Damn It! Up to that point, it was funny as hell and then they had to go and ruin it. :(
ReplyDeleteThis movie is supposed to be extremely funny!
DeleteTo defend it, because something is in the trailer doesn't mean that it made it in to the final movie. Oftentimes, things are cut out long after the trailer comes out. So, you don't know for sure that it is actually in the movie.
It appears that the word "autistic" was used so Jonah Hill's character could respond, "I'm not artistic." I think it was used to highlight how stupid his character is that he doesn't even know what "autistic" is.
In addition, the movie goes after blacks, gays, black and gays, and probably many other groups. It's meant to be raunchy and stupid and not taken seriously.
My opinion is don't boycott it. Watch it, laugh at it (or don't laugh at it), THEN go after it if you find the humor offensive. Use it as a starting point for a discussion.
But I don't think the movie is trying to hold itself to standards that people should emulate. Not by a long-shot!
Additional note: my husband did work on this movie as a music editor, so I am a bit biased.
Cheryl- Hi and welcome. I am sorry but my original post still stands. There is absolutely no reason that anyone should use the "a" word in substitution for the "r" word. And quite frankly all they had to do was call him an idiot or tell him he was being stupid, foolish or a jerk.
DeleteI also hold that the rest of my post stands as well. While you may not think that its supposed to create a standard let me tell you, kids that think this is funny will go back to school and use the "jokes" to bully and torment.
I do not think its funny in today's day and age with the rash of children bullied to death because they are LGBT to make fun of gay people. In fact I think it shows a callous disregard for the realities of the today's world.
I quite frankly do not see the humor in making fun of anyone. Having had a child that was terribly bullied and alienated in school I do think it is the responsibility of those that create our culture to actually think of the repercussion of what they do.
Truth is Hollywood brought this upon themselves. They are the ones continually trying to tell everyone else how to live their lives, what to think and what to hold important. So now we are telling Hollywood, that you can't have your cake and eat it too or better yet..its not do as I say not as I do. Time to live up to your own precepts.
By the way, I understand that your husband also needs to make a living and may not be able to pick and chose as he would like when it comes to projects. Or perhaps he thought it was a great project I don't know. My annoyance is with the Hollywood elite that produce these movies and write these screenplays.
But I think that your reasoning that this may not have even been on the final edit, so it can't be all that bad, but only in the trailer loses ground. If its not in the movie why is it in the trailer except to cause controversy or get people to see the film? I think the editors/producer/writers know exactly what they are doing when it comes to movie promotion and they purposefully are pushing people's buttons.What they may not have bargained for is what buttons they pushed.
a bit? It is extremely offensive to parents of kids with autism that do not want there to be a new trend of replacing the "r word" with "autistic".
ReplyDeleteMy son has Asperger's and at first it was offensive. But I think I might still watch the movie.
ReplyDeleteJim- if you go I hope you enjoy it. One thing that I learned being part of this community for so long is that you need to listen to yourself and noone else. Just becasue someone or a group of people say "boycott" doesn't mean that that is what YOU and YOUR family should do. BTW that goes for everything in the autism community and everything the doctors tell you too. Find out the info you want to know and then make your won decisions where your son is concerned. Truth is that is what we did. We did not listen tot he doctors or educators when they said the boys can't and I don't listen to the self-advocates when they try to tell me what to do either (hence some of the less pleasant posts in my past.)
DeleteAutism is a life long condition that people have no choice but to live with. Their families and those around them are deeply affected by it, sometimes to an horrific scale. Autism is not a joke, is it a very, very serious issue. Children are being bullied for being autistic everywhere in the world and as we know, most children look up to actors, particularly those well known. Whether it is meant to be 'funny' in the film or not, the fact remains that the term should never have been used in the first place. More sensitivity should have been realised by the makers of this film, and if pushing buttons is all they're interested in doing, then they lead pretty shallow lives in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteIce cube really your going to sell out on making fun of the autistic community?? Special needs is not a choice it's an everyday battle . It's not a joke. I can't believe you would make fun of Autism expescially because Holly Robinson who was a star of the original 21 Jump Street show has a son with Autism. My son loves movies they are not only comfort for him but they are something that is routine for him which helps him relate to everyday life. The world is already hard for them to process at times do you really have to make them feel different poking fun of Autism in this movie? Support Autism awareness dont bash it..... As for myself and my family we will be boycotting this movie unless they take this out
ReplyDeleteTrust me they didn't use this word because they wouldn't use the R word. We are so far from getting anyone to consider this or the r word offensive. We need to work together and get our national groups to stop giving a pass to Hollywood in exchange for an appearance or a nod.
ReplyDelete