A well-known fact is that controversy usually gets major publicity - especially when it comes to entertainment or politics. Remember when Marilyn Manson released the "Antichrist Superstar" album? During his tour for that album (and many subsequent albums/tours as well), there were large numbers of religious groups outside the concert venue with bullhorns and picket signs protesting the show.
Who showed up at each of these protests, furthering Marilyn Manson's popularity?
The media.
That's right. The media was always there - documenting, filming, broadcasting live, spreading the word about Marilyn Manson. During all of this controversy, his fan base grew.
Right now, Michael Moore, the award-winning director of "Bowling for Columbine" and author of the best-sellers "Stupid White Men" and "Dude, Where's My Country", is experiencing this "Marilyn Manson effect". He has a new film coming to theaters on June 25, 2004 called "Fahrenheit 9/11", and it has been receiving international publicity.
If you haven't followed all the controversy so far, here's the quick version:
Miramax, owned by Disney, puts $6 million into the film. Disney's CEO, Michael Eisner, said that neither Disney nor Miramax will release the film because of multiple excuses (depending on what day you read about it). "Fahrenheit 9/11" debuts at the Cannes Film Festival and wins the top award - the Palme D'or. Film is bought from Disney and will be distributed by Lions Gate Films and IFC Films in the US.
Now, an organization called "Move America Forward" is actively boycotting the film, asking their members to send emails to movie-theater owners (email addresses provided on their site), asking them not to show "Fahrenheit 9/11", calling it a "Bash America" film.
Just like Marilyn Manson, this boycotting will increase Moore's popularity, and more people will see this film.
Here's a quote from the "Move America Forward" web site:
"After it was pre-screened, one Blame American First viewer cried, 'It made me wanna burn my passport.'"
Conservatives love to call their opponents the "Blame America First" crowd, but it doesn't make much sense when you think about conservatives like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.
September 13,2001, Jerry Falwell goes on Pat Robertson's 700 Club and makes the following statement regarding the terrorist attacks of 9/11:
"I really believe that the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way - all of them who have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face, and say, 'you helped this happen.'"
Pat Robertson's response: "Well, I totally concur."
Sounds like these conservatives were blaming certain groups of Americans for 9/11. So who is the "Blame America First" crowd again?
On the Laura Ingraham show today, she actually said something that I agreed with (imagine that) regarding the Michael Moore boycott. She was saying that this boycott was helping Michael Moore...and she's actually right on this one.
One thing that is taken for granted in this country is the First Amendment, guaranteeing the right to free speech. Attempting to stifle free speech sounds like an attempt to move America backwards, not "Move America Forward".
More info:
Michael Moore
Fahrenheit 9/11
Move America Forward
Michael Moore's book and films
Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson's 700 Club
Jerry Falwell
Falwell eats his words
Laura Ingraham
Lions Gate Films
IFC Films
Marilyn Manson
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