Rational Insanity
The Da Vinci question
Nothing more is left to be said of Dan Brown's novel, 'The Da Vinci Code' or the movie of the same title. People have been fussing over the showing of the film to include one congressman who fumed over the decision of the MTRCB when it decided to gave the film an R-18 rating. Apparently, that congressman, whoever he was, was merely taking the opportunity to ride on the issue, grand stand, or make a fool of himself. Perhaps he was hoping that making himself into such a low life would help in his political career.
Since almost everything has been said about it, from its being an immoral novel and movie to its being very inaccurate when it comes to facts involving the history of the Catholic Church, we all need a lesson in creative writing.
Both the novel and the film are considered fiction. In creative writing, there are different kinds of fiction, and perhaps the 'Da Vinci Code' could be considered a work of historical fiction. Irregardless of the kind of fiction any creative work is one thing's for sure -- when one considers something fiction, then it is definitely -- not true. Now, for the entire populace to make such a big fuss of something that blatantly proclaims that it is not true in the first place, is merely validating my concept of the thwarted concept of Filipino entertainment. Filipinos are very empathic people therefore when we read novels or watch movies we tend to find something in the film or novel that would identify the story with us. While I am saying that there is nothing wrong with this tendency to materialize fiction in our lives, I should call for creative writing, literature, and film teachers to teach their students to become a bit less empathic or sympathetic with any kind of creative material and view (read) these things with more discretion and objectivity. The creation of fiction is a different matter. If the consumption of fiction demands that the consumers clearly draw a line between fiction and reality, the creation of fiction calls for the writer (be it novel or screenplay) to introduce more authentic elements into the work to make it more convincing. Considering these things, someone with enough technical knowledge of fiction would not really react violently at the lengths Dan Brown went through to make his novel more realistic.
The scholars of the Catholic Church have been doing their homework in this matter and I commend them for objectively deciding on the showing of the movie here in our country. I believe that the Catholic Church is quite confident in the faith of the Filipinos that it knows that no movie or work of fiction, no matter how accurate, could sway the Filipino into believing what he/she is not supposed to believe in. Let us trust the Catholic Church in this. If in itself, the institution which is under direct attack in Dan Brown's novel and the movie offshoot is mum and quite lenient about the matter of the movie's release in this country, shouldn't we, as good church followers in this country take heed and stop making a big fuss out of something that does not deserve a controversy in the first place?
On the outset, the movie is a work of 'hollywoodish' scale and like any other 'hollywoodish' movie it has all the elements of a picture that needs a hype to get it through the box office. The hype we gave it here in this country by shaking it up enough to mobilize local institutions and movements against its viewing is enough for the box offices to fill up with curious movie goers, perhaps with only one question in mind, 'What is it about this movie that everyone just cant shut up about it?'.
Well, if the producer of the movie earned millions after it was shown here in the Philippines, it's all because of the impressionable intellects of us Filipinos who don't even get a cent from its profits. We are the unofficial promoters of the movie.
As for Dan Brown, I commend him for his literary mastery -- anyone who could brew up a storm because of his/her novel is definitely a good fictionist, what with his ability to make people believe that a work of fiction is in fact actual and real history? Kudos to you Mr. Brown!
Be rational; be insane...every once in a while!TTFN!
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