I loved it so much I could never watch it again.

That dang History of Aesthetics class got me thinking again... This time about today's debates over representations of violence and evil. Of course video games is the topic that seems to come up the most, but then that leads to the discussion of art, literature and film. I guess I don't get why this is even an issue. Throughout history, masterpieces in both art and literature have focused on violence and the evil of humanity (Dante's The Divine Comedy, Picasso's Guernica). The beauty of human nature is that this duality exists, and that we recognize and challenge it. To show evil reminds us as to why being good and just is what we all seek, right? Just because technology has advanced in such a way that all this violence looks REAL, does that mean it should be censored?

I think today we see a lot more of the exploration of evil through film. And there are two films in my top 10 that fall into this category (both of violence and evil), that absolutely affected me - and yet I could never watch them again. Does that mean they should never have been made? Absolutely not. They had to me made. (Sorry... a lot of "absolutely"s. I guess I'm kinda passionate about this).

The first is Requiem for Dream. I watched this movie both horrified and captivated. It is a film about addictions, and forces the viewer to feel the pain, anguish and suffering that the characters go through. Literally. (I felt as if someone punched me in the stomach throughout most of the film). It was brilliant, brutal, intense and uncomfortable all at the same time. It's not until the ending credits roll (or even days after that) that you begin to see the beauty in such a dark, horrific story. Although I personally have never had an issue with addiction, I identified with the film in the sense that, it is through times of difficulty and despair that you truly find out who you really are. This movie is not for everyone, but it was a story that had to be told. And I can't imagine it being as powerful were it not as graphic and daring as it was.

The second film is The Green Mile (I realize this was a book first, but I haven't read it, so I can only speak to the film). It isn't often that a film is made of pure human emotion. That's the only way I can describe it. The story is told through the eyes of a man who experiences evil and violence within the walls of a 1930's prison. But in a world of cruelty and hate, he comes into contact with a truly GOOD man. I left this movie absolutely (there is is again!) heartbroken. It affected me in such a way that I cried when thinking of the characters for days afterwards. Like, tears. Streaming down my face. For days. An incredible film that I could never put my emotions through again.

Would I have been affected if these films were not as violent as they were? Doubt it. I needed to be put into those dark places - as harrowing as they were - to remind myself that even in the darkest moments of life, there is always hope.

And when you have someone like George Bush in power, hope is what gets you through the day.