Pretty mild stuff though, someone should tell them to suck a bowl of dicks and never be a part of any film competition, what a retarded concept, basically a sport event where piece of art = a sweaty jock.
@House — totally. Between that and the Schwarzenegger “scandal” (whoa that was a surprise), we’ve got some super important news to deal with here. Forget wars, starvation, all that jazz.
The controversy is easier to write about than the film.
Hmm. Did they really ban him? As I said before, what LVT said was stupid and offensive but clearly different in tone from Mel Gibson or John Galliano. The latter were abusive, indicative of their real attitudes and hate speech, the former was just really irresponsible. I definitely don’t see the point in banning him, in fact it just gives him what he clearly wants by doing the stunt in the first place.
On the other hand some people on here think that people are stupid to be offended or take it seriously because “he was joking” but I think everybody understands that LVT made an either offhand comment or an entirely engineered one for response – neither of which were in line with his personal beliefs. Someone can tell a racist/sexist joke and not “mean” it but it’s still valid for someone to find the joke itself offensive. And it’s entirely inappropriate to dictate what others should or shouldn’t be hurt by especially if they are a member of the group in question.
^ Exactamundo!
I don’t think it’s stupid to be offended by the garbage that Von Trier said. He was totally offensive, in a very obnoxious way. Do he and his film deserved to be banned? His film too? What is the appropriate punishment for someone who says something idiotic like that?
Did anyone say it WASN"T OK to be offended?
By the way, I think it was just him that was banned, the film is still in the competition, right?
“Did anyone say it WASN”T OK to be offended?"
Yes, a slew of people on the previous pages have explicitly said that people that are offended are “retarded”, “morons”, “boring”, “offensive” etc.
I’d be surprised if the film was banned, it would be horribly unfair to the other people who worked on it. I think poor Kirsten Dunst’s head would explode.
Probably if that happened, Von Trier would be on hand with his camera to film it…
“On the other hand some people on here think that people are stupid to be offended or take it seriously because “he was joking” but I think everybody understands that LVT made an either offhand comment or an entirely engineered one for response – neither of which were in line with his personal beliefs. Someone can tell a racist/sexist joke and not “mean” it but it’s still valid for someone to find the joke itself offensive. And it’s entirely inappropriate to dictate what others should or shouldn’t be hurt by especially if they are a member of the group in question.”
So it’s not appropriate to dictate what one shouldn’t find offensive? Yet, you seem to think its entirely appropriate to dictate what others should or shouldn’t joke about. Pot. Kettle. Black. Also, no. Not everyone agrees that he was just kidding. Many posts indicate that the comments have been interpreted seriously by quite a few.
In their statement, Cannes specifically cited how they give artists a “forum to present their works and defend freedom of expression and creation….” Isn’t barring a person from a festival for saying something offensive the opposite of defending freedom of expression? You have to appreciate the cognitive dissonance on display when they can talk about “freedom of expression” and then jump to saying that Von Trier expressed “comments that are unacceptable (and) intolerable,” within the same statement.
Yet, you seem to think its entirely appropriate to dictate what others should or shouldn’t joke about. Pot. Kettle. Black.
Nope. People can obviously say what they want but saying offensive things (on purpose especially) will provoke an offended reaction. I only ask that people have the testicular fortitude to stand by the drama they’ve created and not act like a victim afterwards or in this case have people treat him like he’s a victim to the PC conspiracy.
You’re confused about free speech that’s guaranteed by the constitution and how it’s actually implemented in private organizations. There’s a difference. Besides, it’s LVT that his been banned – which, I don’t agree either with as I’ve said – and not his film which is what is being submitted as his expression.
So someone can say what they want, yes? But if you get to call him a moron for saying it, then do you not understand how the same right is afforded to those who find your reaction to be equally moronic? I just think it’s completely hypocritical to to view the latter as “dictating” and giving no thought to doing the former.
“I only ask that people have the testicular fortitude to stand by the drama they’ve created and not act like a victim afterwards or in this case have people treat him like he’s a victim to the PC conspiracy.”
So you’d prefer a system where you you can call LvT a moron until you are blue in the face, but if he, or others, were to point out that you are being overly reactionary and getting worked up over nothing – then suddenly that’s indicative of a lack of balls? Uh, ok.
“Yes, a slew of people on the previous pages have explicitly said that people that are offended are “retarded”, “morons”, “boring”, “offensive” etc.”
Peabody said one was a “moron” if one did not recognize that it was a joke in bad taste (people can realize something is a joke and still be offended, right?). Mary said the thread was “a bore” and I have to agree that, even if one is offended by something, calling someone you’ve never met names via an internet forum that this person will likely never read anyway is not boring? One other person said he was surprised that people were so easily offended—this I’m not sure was even directed at people here, it may have just been intended as a general observation.
I never called LVT a moron – that’s the name of the thread which I didn’t create BTW. Are you really defending the fact that what LVT said in itself was NOT offensive? Or that no sane person could possibly view it as offensive? Specifically considering that it appears to have been said in order to provoke a shock reaction?
Yeah, I think it’s disingenuous to say something like that and feign ignorance at the reaction – which he didn’t by the way, he admitted in a weak way that it was irresponsible and careless – or simply dismiss it by saying others are too sensitive which YOU are doing. LVT has come to terms with his reputation as a controversial director as he said in his ‘apology’, he’s not blaming others for his actions.
And yes, I tend to think that responding to people’s hurt or offense by calling them reactionary is counterproductive and shuts down discussion as to how we as a society should and can talk publicly about marginalized groups of people, traumatic historical events,etc. These things are nuanced and there are valid reasons why some topics are touchy especially when being joked about by people outside of the group, particularly people that had a part in creating the conditions of those struggles.
As someone else said, if LVT had said this at a bar among friends in a different context then it’s no big deal but this was a public forum and at least it shows a remarkable lack of foresight and/or callousness of his part. But I know its a bummer to not be able to say any horrifically racist, sexist and homophobic thing that you want to in public and not be judged for it, what a horrible burden this must be for people. Chalk it up to that liberal agenda that wants to make the public sphere as inclusive as possible for people that don’t want to be degraded and harassed in their daily lives.
And I’m done. I’ve explained my complaints about this quite well imo. I don’t think he should have been banned. This horse is beyond dead. I’ll still go to see Melancholia at some point and LVT’s career won’t end.
If this festival does not protect its artists who really care about the bad and evil, it will sooner or later loose its artists.
Anti-Christ was born out of mid-eval witch torture, Nymphomaniac about a comment from his DP that older directors usually start to show younger and naked girls, but now I think he will concentrate on the effort how to attract masses to act self destructively. And to effectively do so, every artist has to sympathize with the morally “evil”. Otherwise you will never be able to use its methods, and seduce the audience. Zach Snyder or Rammstein effectively play the NAZI aesthetics and are very successful.
I prefer if liberal and intelligent artists like von Trier use these methods. So people can actually reflect on it. And may become immune against the daily fascism.
Anyway, Cannes is not attractive anymore and no-one will dare to speak up on topics which will get dangerously shortened and witch-hunted by the press.
Lost already. Thierry must step down immediately, and all artists and journalists should boycott Cannes.
^ Good point about Zack Snyder and others of his ilk. I’ve never seen or listened to Rammstein so wouldn’t know about them.
I’ve explained my complaints about this quite well imo.
I agree.
Lars Von Trier: Moronic Douchebag.
I came home from a long day at work and then read in the Guardian tabloids that he’s been banned from Cannes!
This is why you shouldn’t trust the French. Cannes isn’t remotely far from being Hollywood standard anymore.
A pompous circle jerk pretending they understand culture and Mike Leigh movies.
I think there is some deeply subversive irony going on here.
His name is not even Lars von Trier. He added the ‘von’ to make it sound more important.
The man does not understand romanticism. He should probably stay out Germany.
Ha ha! Lars Trier.
“This is why you shouldn’t trust the French.”
More irrelevant generalizations…
Stroheim and Sternberg added the von too.
“This is why you shouldn’t trust the French.”
More irrelevant generalizations…
So did Adam Von Sandler.
The “von” is a title belonging to the name and was only forbidden in Austria and the eastern block countries.
All other europeans were allowed to keep their aristocratic roots – and kings.
“Testicular fortitude” … yeah, I’m using that term sometime in the near future.
Well, now that he has got the publics attention he should start making some decent films.
Well, the execution was muddled, but it’s always fun to watch fussbudgets tripping over themselves to be “disgusted” and “outraged” over a bad joke.
voltaire!
House of Leaves
^ This is my take. Moron, douchebag, or prophet, this is all a bunch of trumped up media bullshit. They wanted a story to sell and everyone jumped at their bidding. Now the story is prolonged and they can continue their cycle of eat, shit, repeat.