Filmmaker magazine, which recently gave the "Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You" Gotham award to "I Am A Sex Addict," has an agreement with myspace whereby they supply editorial content which runs underneath Filmmaker's banner on myspace's film page. This Wednesday, Filmmaker submitted "I Am A Sex Addict" as their featured film of the week, along with a one paragraph description of the film (which is opening at the IFC Theater in New York City this Wednesday). When myspace failed to post the listing on their site, Filmmaker contacted myspace to see what had happened and were told that myspace had rejected the listing, because of the film's title.
Myspace's refusal to publish Filmmaker magazine's pick of the week because of the film's title is the result of a recent witchhunt against myspace by Conservative political groups who are attacking it because of internet sexual predators who have used myspace in the past to try to solicit sex from minors. That myspace would try to make changes to their website in order to minimize such solicitations is entirely understandable and even commendable. But that they would be so paranoid as to ban the mere mention of a film entitled "I Am A Sex Addict" from their film page, despite the fact that it was given an award by Filmmaker magazine with whom they are partnered, and despite the fact that is being disributed by IFC films and is already playing in theaters around the country, is lunacy.
What is happening here? It's a film for Christ's sake. It's the title of a film. And ironically, the film is an attempt to address some of the core issues behind what the Conservative political groups in question are up in arms about in the first place. That myspace would censor the mere mention of a film entitled "I Am A Sex Addict" on their film page is not only paranoid but also reactionary and dumb. Art necessitates free speech, and must, by its nature, be provocative if it is to seriously address important social issues. "I Am A Sex Addict" does just that. Myspace, unfortunately, has decided to side with the forces of reaction. Who will they censor next? And when was it that the first amendment to the constitution (the right to free speech, for those who don't remember) was annulled?
posted by Caveh Zahedi at
9:55 AM
