Blind Side: A word regarding it

By: American Decency Staff

Last evening after evening church service, I got together with family and friends to watch the movie The Blind Side. It was a compelling and heartwarming story, however, I am compelled to offer a criticism –a criticism that I have not heard others make.  And, it isn’t as if I am looking for a fight or desiring to be critical.  I’m not!  It would be easiest to just avoid this controversy. When I see a movie of highest quality, I am pleased to comment accordingly as with “Fireproof.â€Â And while Blind Side has much that is commendable, my criticism is this:  The portrayal of Sandra Bullock’s character as the well-to-do mother (Leigh Anne Tuohy) is unnecessarily hyper-sexualized. Sandra Bullock is a beautiful woman.  However, Blind Side is a family movie.  It was not necessary to show her with extensive cleavage shots, skin-tight clothing ad nauseum.   There were many scenes accentuating her cleavage, her body. Did this contribute to the story line in any way?  Absolutely not.  Did it send the message to untold numbers of vulnerable girls and women of all ages that showing your body makes you dynamic?  I think it does.  This is very unfortunate. Baring cleavage, advertently or not, sends the message of availability, sexual provocation.  Is this the message a Christian woman should send? If such tantalizing portrayals are not recognized as lust-producing then perhaps this culture is even more desensitized than I realize. I wouldn’t want my wife dressing that way publically. What would Jesus say? 1 Timothy 2:9 – "And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes." 1 Peter 3:3-4 – "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." As we approach the summer months, I would urge pastors and youth group leaders, and moms, dads, and grandparents to teach those under their love and care about what is pleasing and honoring to the Lord. One resource that we find particularly helpful is Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ “The Look:  Does God really care what I wear?â€Â https://secure4.afo.net/ada/main.php?f=store/display =============================================== Your support is important to our ability to make a difference: donate online at: https://secure4.afo.net/ada/main.php?f=donate/display9 American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org www.americandecency.org/twitter.com/billwjohnson

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