But the point of V for Vendetta is that people shouldn’t fear their governments. Governments should fear their people. At times I felt like I was watching a propaganda film for the French Revolution. Although the character, V, does acknowledge that people are the ones who put the evil regime into power in the first place, doesn’t this go against the main point about how everything would be better if the people took back their power?
The only way this radical revolution would work is if the people could be trusted to make proper decisions about who governs them. The people need a change of heart. V’s solution to this is to give the people real terror so that they can overcome their fear—it’s just insane! I guess what bothers me is that many of these films can’t seem to get out of this cycle of fear. Maybe it’s just what films do best, scare people so attention is called to some problem or another in our society. It’s the method that I’m against. And the content too. I may be wrong, but these recent films seem to be based on some neo-Marxist idea of a monster system that cannot be reformed without massive destruction to the whole system (V for Vendetta is clearly touting radical democratic principles, but….).
I much prefer the Christian alternative, which is embodied in people like Martin Luther King Jr. This method, based on Paul and ultimately Christ, promotes a humanity and freedom from fear of any system. Paul’s intentional march to gain audience with Caesar is a good example. God’s raising Joseph to the highest leadership position in Egypt. Daniel’s achievements in Babylon. Etc. There are more ways than revolution to prevent or counter evil regimes. I disagree with the makers of V for Vendetta (the film and the graphic novel) that this is the time for revolution. Before a successful revolution there must be confessional people who recognize their own short-comings and learn to depend on God’s power—this will also help prevent the kind of "God’s Always On Our Side" talk we saw in V for Vendetta’s "evil regime".
grant
Oct 21 2006
12:00 pm
But the point of V for Vendetta is that people shouldn’t fear their governments. Governments should fear their people. At times I felt like I was watching a propaganda film for the French Revolution. Although the character, V, does acknowledge that people are the ones who put the evil regime into power in the first place, doesn’t this go against the main point about how everything would be better if the people took back their power?
The only way this radical revolution would work is if the people could be trusted to make proper decisions about who governs them. The people need a change of heart. V’s solution to this is to give the people real terror so that they can overcome their fear—it’s just insane! I guess what bothers me is that many of these films can’t seem to get out of this cycle of fear. Maybe it’s just what films do best, scare people so attention is called to some problem or another in our society. It’s the method that I’m against. And the content too. I may be wrong, but these recent films seem to be based on some neo-Marxist idea of a monster system that cannot be reformed without massive destruction to the whole system (V for Vendetta is clearly touting radical democratic principles, but….).
I much prefer the Christian alternative, which is embodied in people like Martin Luther King Jr. This method, based on Paul and ultimately Christ, promotes a humanity and freedom from fear of any system. Paul’s intentional march to gain audience with Caesar is a good example. God’s raising Joseph to the highest leadership position in Egypt. Daniel’s achievements in Babylon. Etc. There are more ways than revolution to prevent or counter evil regimes. I disagree with the makers of V for Vendetta (the film and the graphic novel) that this is the time for revolution. Before a successful revolution there must be confessional people who recognize their own short-comings and learn to depend on God’s power—this will also help prevent the kind of "God’s Always On Our Side" talk we saw in V for Vendetta’s "evil regime".