Discriminating Tastes
Brian sent me this story (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=granderson/060116) and it made me think, dang (can I curse on this blog?). While unnecessary thinking is not something I aspire to often, since I was already at it I might as well subject the rest of you to my ideas, I had to listen to them. So good old Larry H. Miller doesn't want to show the gay cowboy movie. For some reason he thinks that in Sandy, Utah this is a wise idea, think of all the lost profits!
My first reaction is that it is his movie theatre and he can show whatever movies he wants to. If people want to see Brokeback Mounbtain they will go to other theatres and it is his loss. Than I thought that in the fifties the diner owners in Alabama probably thought that it was their diner and they can serve who they want.
Where is the line, where does the business owner's right to run his business how he wants end and descrimination begin. Lots of theatres didn't show The Work and the Glory, I didn't feel descriminated against. Personally I would like to see Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure back in theatres, do the theatres owe me that? Had Miller refused to let gay cowboys go to the movies I could see the point, this just seems over sensitive.
I do think that this article is nuts though. The NBA has nothing to do with Larry's movie theatres and this is very different from Fortson saying to the media that he didn't want to play with a gay teammate. Anyway, be excellent to each other and party on dudes.
posted by Chris M. G @ 1/17/2006 07:29:00 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
That's ridiculous. So it's not ok to show gay-themed movies, but it is ok to show every other horror or quasi-porno R-Rated movie out there. That's a double standard for you. I don't mind the guy deciding to take a moral stand. I'm just bugged that he singles out one particular type of "sin" to not show. As if all the other ones were ok.
Indeed, Chris. I saw "Hostel" on the billboard behind the news coorespondent covering this story.
The 1950's analogy breaks down in that there is a difference between selecting the service you provide and selecting the people to whom you provide it. However, it does begin to thwart the basic capitalist defense.
This is a tough case for me. I wouldn't have done what Miller did, but I can't say he shouldn't have the right to do it (potential breach of contract aside).
Posted by Mark
I fail to see where discriminating tastes and Bill and Ted's excellent adventure have anything to do with each other.
Posted by Eric
I fail to see the B&T connection as well.
Also, at almost 2 weeks old I was beginning to think (hope?) that the Miller controversy would pass under LYMA's radar.
It seems to me that Larry Miller just wants other people to think he's a good Utah Mormon. I think his stance against Brokeback is a calculated facade. It reminds me of the 1997 Finals when Miller didn't go to Games 1 or 4 because they were on a Sunday. He received a lot of press and praise for being an honest, active, church-going Mormon. Of course, he went to every Sunday game that season, including other Playoff matches.
Not surprisingly, criticism of Miller has galvanized his Utah fan base. There's a chance his "discriminating taste" will earn him even more revenue. You know what that means: more AutoMalls.
Miller: "Thanks to all of your support, I've decided to open a new AutoPlex in Spanish Fork. Now people in Utah County can have the same, inexpensive options when it comes to buying a car....unless, of course, you're a gay cowboy."
Okay, the Bill and Ted thing didn't really make sense when I read it again. It is a movie I really like and nobody is showing it in their theatre, it was really late and it made sense at the time.
The most offensive thing was the jab at the 19-17 Jazz. It so happens that the now 20-17 Jazz are first in their division, will be at least a three seed in the palyoffs and have won nine of twelve.