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"Porn films" and popular tastes

Pornography or serious art ? This question is likely to occur to most viewers of cinema billboards and giant cut-outs in Colombo and in major towns of Sri Lanka. It is with utter helplessness that the more discerning sections of the public have, over the years, seen the relentless crowding-out of art films and family films, for instance, by cheap and debasing forms of "entertainment" on the country's Silver Screen. As a result, a family outing at the movies is no longer possible.

These issues have been given extra poignancy by a decision by well known film director, Priyantha Colombage, to withdraw his film 'Arumosam Wehi' from the country's film circuit. He said that the decision was a form of protest against the domination of the film distribution network by groups which were intent on screening low-quality sex films rather than higher forms of this art, including family movies, to which category 'Arumosam Wehi' belongs. Colombage said that a cinema hall in Avissawella had replaced his film by another titled "Top Model" - a cheap, sex film.

While all sections of the film and entertainment industry couldn't be expected to be paragons of virtue or scrupulous practitioners or promoters of serious art, what tends to befuddle is the seeming ease with which morally debasing and emotionally-stunting forms of "entertainment" get a screening in this country. Art is certainly not a vehicle of morality but what is expected most from art forms worthy of scrutiny is a searching exploration of important areas of human experience.

Ideal art enlightens and educates inasmuch as it entertains. Forms of "entertainment" which appeal to the basest human instincts, it is clear, cannot be included in this category of high art. But it is the latter which are, apparently, easily winning a screening today. How explain this anomaly in a country where religious institutions of various kinds abound ?

More pertinently, how do films which are overtly pornographic get past the relevant State authorities who are expected to ensure that the public is exposed to the very best entertainment ? Apparently, State institutions, such as the National Film Corporation, are no longer in charge of the distribution aspect of films. This area, it seems, is left at the mercy of those who are described as the "film mafia," whose sole criterion of the excellence of a film is the money it would bring. Small wonder that lurid, morally-debasing films are receiving a ready screening.

These are disturbing disclosures for those who care deeply for the formative influences on a people's consciousness. The quality of entertainment determines to a considerable degree the value system and world view of a people. If Lankans, particularly the younger generations of Lankans, are continuously exposed to debasing forms of popular culture, their tastes could turn out to be commonplace and vulgar. In these circumstances they couldn't be expected to be enlightened and noble in outlook.

We hope the Government would draw the correct inferences from the foregoing and take action to stem this steady rot in the local film world. There is no getting away from the need to impose a close screening process over the films which are screened. While narrow-mindedness and parochialism should be avoided in the selection of films to be screened, only those films which would prove to be beneficial, spiritually, morally, psychologically and socially should be approved for screening by local cinemas.

Only market principles, it is clear, cannot be allowed to reign in the cultural and entertainment spheres.

Works of art are products of the spirit and cannot be assessed entirely in monetary terms nor could they be left at the mercy of market forces. These areas need to come under the purview of the best minds in the country.

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