Fifty Shades of Entertainment
I recently read an open letter a woman wrote to her children about Fifty Shades of Grey and how disturbed she was by it. She wrote the letter to her children because she doesn’t want them to confuse what they see in that movie with love. And I wondered if I should be doing the same. I confess, I didn’t think it was necessary since A.) My children are eight and eleven years old . . . I thought I could put off the BDSM conversation for a few more years; B.) I think most people understand that this is just a movie and not a relationship “how to” guide; and C.) Since the first time they saw Jerry hit Tom in the head with a frying pan, I’ve had ongoing discussions with my kids about how the majority of media they consume is pretend and for entertainment purposes only.
But maybe I’ve missed the boat and I should write a letter, too. However, why stop at FSoG? Why not warn your kids about Gone Girl? I mean, those folks are more f****d up than Christian and Anastasia. What about the movie Secretary? Talk about a twisted relationship. Not to mention an ironclad sexual harassment suit. The truth is, in almost every movie you see, someone will make spectacularly bad decisions. If they didn’t, it probably wouldn’t be worth seeing. And, by the way, if I’m warning my kids about FSoG, shouldn’t I be warning them about LITERALLY everything else? So, here’s my letter.
Dearest Precious Angel Babies (because, apparently, that’s how you start a letter like this),
Please don’t use movies (or any media) as a guide for how to live your life. They are pretend. Here are a few examples:
If you are in a museum and there is an explosion, don’t steal a priceless painting. But if you do, please let what happens to you be more interesting than what happens in The Goldfinch.
If terrorists try to take over a building, bus, boat, or kidnap your daughter, don’t be a hero. Even if you’re a cop. Or an ex-cop. Or FBI, CIA, special forces, etc. Even if you have a special set of skills. (Okay, maybe you go after them if they kidnap your daughter.) (Die Hard, Speed, Taken, all the sequels, and every other cop-action movie ever made.)
If your house is haunted, don’t look into the light. (Poltergeist.) Unless you are already dead, in which case, definitely look into the light. (Ghost.)
It’s good to be close with your sibling. But not that close. (Game of Thrones.)
When you shoot people in real life, most of the time they die. (Pretty much anything that has guns.)
So, my dearests, when it comes to movies and other entertainment, watch them, read them, play them, enjoy them, but don’t emulate them. Unless it’s a musical. I think dance-fights are seriously under-rated and breaking out into song randomly should be incorporated into everyday life.
Love,
Mom
Christina Surretsky wanted to be Wonder Woman, Princess Leia or one of Charlie’s Angels when she grew up. However, after the realization that none of these would pan out, she decided to pursue a career in advertising, and then moved on to a gig as a mother (a field in which she currently still dabbles). Eventually she heard the siren’s call of the pen (or, really, computer) and began writing. A freelance writer and blogger, she recently released her debut novel Divine Bloodlines. Besides writing, she is an avid local volunteer, a lover of good (and some would say bad) books, a yoga enthusiast and a student of the art of sarcasm. She resides in New Jersey with her husband and two sons. She can be found on Twitter (@ChrisSurretsky), Facebook, and at Christina Surretsky.
Related Articles
