How Saturday's Warrior and Johnny Lingo Hurt the Church

[_Everybody Wang Chung]

in my opinion, these things have inflicted long term damage to the Church:


SATURDAY’S WARRIOR

Who could forget this masterpiece about a young man’s struggle with temptation, that features an evil “Zero Population” street gang who looked like "Solid Gold Dancer" rejects. Also, a wheelchair-bound dancer, an extended dance number on the size of the father’s nose and the lamest Dear John letter ever written.

30 years later, the Church is still working to disaffect people of the notion of soul mates, parents choosing their children, being the most righteous generation, among other things.

The notion that we are members of the most blessed and awesomely righteous generation that has ever lived — certainly has its appeal among narcissists. Indeed, it is so pervasive that Pres. Packer actually made a public statement against this notion: http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/39791/Pres-Packer-refutes-quote.html


JOHNNY LINGO

Let’s face it, Mormonism is viewed in many parts of the country and world as being all about polygamy and treating women like chattel. Johnny Lingo certainly didn’t help dispel this myth.

What is really shocking is that Mormons can watch it today and not see that there's anything morally suspect about the whole trading a daughter for 8 cows scenario. They're so caught up on "But it was 8 cows!!" and "I'm an eight-cow wife too!" that they don't seem to ask "Hey, is there something questionable about teaching morality lessons using stories in which treating a woman as property is romanticized?". I mean, you'd think there'd at least be a conversation to be had there.

I know the LDS like to hold this theme up as feigning the way Johnny Lingo saw Mahona's potential, but it sends so many other terrible messages to little girls. It's insulting to their intellect, limiting to their potential, and the most misogynistic movie ever foisted on LDS women (I am willing to bet that WS loves this movie).

Cow and wife should not be uttered in the same sentence. I would love to see what a feminist movie critic would make of this.

Finally, the scene where Mahona finally gets a hand mirror and sees herself and she is now a Polynesian Barbie Doll, sends so many sick messages to little girls about their value and ownership by men.


TOM TRAILS

Yes, for many who attended seminary, this was a staple. Who can forget the tale of Tom Trails, a young modern day Lamanite coming to terms with himself and what it truly means to be a Lamanite in the Church today.

I’m sure modern day LGT proponents like Michael Ash wish this film would just go away. However it is available in its entirety for your viewing pleasure: http://www.tomtrails.com/films.htm


AFTERGLOW and JANICE KAPP PERRY'S MUSIC
(coming soon in another installment)

[_Quasimodo]

TOM TRAILS

Yes, for many who attended seminary, this was a staple. Who can forget the tale of Tom Trails, a young modern day Lamanite coming to terms with himself and what it truly means to be a Lamanite in the Church today.

I’m sure modern day LGT proponents like Michael Ash wish this film would just go away. However it is available in its entirety for your viewing pleasure: http://www.tomtrails.com/films.htm
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Thanks for the link on "Tom Trails", Everybody Wang Chung! Never having attended seminary, I had never seen it. I understand what you mean.

While I was watching it, I kept thinking of this image:



It's a before and after image of a Navajo boy taken by the Carlisle School (boarding schools set up to "tame" Native American children into being "Good Indians").

In the first image he looks spectacular! You can tell that his mother must have dressed him up in all his best stuff to go to school. Native Americans sure had a sense of style!

The second image is of him after three years in school. He looks miserable. Robbed of all his majesty. Tamed.

These two photos always make me feel very sad.

[_The Nehor]

SATURDAY’S WARRIOR

It was meant to just be fun. To see a worse version of this kind of thing look at MY TURN ON EARTH.

JOHNNY LINGO

I think someone is bitter about inflation in the cows to quality wife market.

[_Everybody Wang Chung]

I think someone is bitter about inflation in the cows to quality wife market.

You mean someone like Heber C. Kimball?

"I think no more of taking another wife than I do of buying a cow."

It's too bad that Johnny Lingo did nothing to help dispel the myth that Mormons view women as chattel.

[_Buffalo]

I think someone is bitter about inflation in the cows to quality wife market.

You mean someone like Heber C. Kimball?

"I think no more of taking another wife than I do of buying a cow."

It's too bad that Johnny Lingo did nothing to help dispel the myth that Mormons view women as chattel.

Oh snap

[_Blixa]

Thanks for the link on "Tom Trails", Everybody Wang Chung! Never having attended seminary, I had never seen it. I understand what you mean.

While I was watching it, I kept thinking of this image:



It's a before and after image of a Navajo boy taken by the Carlisle School (boarding schools set up to "tame" Native American children into being "Good Indians").

In the first image he looks spectacular! You can tell that his mother must have dressed him up in all his best stuff to go to school. Native Americans sure had a sense of style!

The second image is of him after three years in school. He looks miserable. Robbed of all his majesty. Tamed.

These two photos always make me feel very sad.

Also, the second picture has been artificially lightened.

I can't remember if this instance is discussed in this book or not, either way, it is a must read: Print the Legend: Photography and the American West.

[_Morley]

Also, the second picture has been artificially lightened.

And artificially delightsomed.

[_Blixa]

Also, the second picture has been artificially lightened.

And artificially delightsomed.

Of course! It was not a completely Mormon idea.

[_Morley]

And artificially delightsomed.

Of course! It was not a completely Mormon idea.

Nor even a completely American one. They did the same thing in Canada.

[_Quasimodo]

Thanks for the link on "Tom Trails", Everybody Wang Chung! Never having attended seminary, I had never seen it. I understand what you mean.

While I was watching it, I kept thinking of this image:



It's a before and after image of a Navajo boy taken by the Carlisle School (boarding schools set up to "tame" Native American children into being "Good Indians").

In the first image he looks spectacular! You can tell that his mother must have dressed him up in all his best stuff to go to school. Native Americans sure had a sense of style!

The second image is of him after three years in school. He looks miserable. Robbed of all his majesty. Tamed.

These two photos always make me feel very sad.

Also, the second picture has been artificially lightened.

I can't remember if this instance is discussed in this book or not, either way, it is a must read: Print the Legend: Photography and the American West.

Good catch, Blixa! I thought he looked a little pale. Maybe it was his new, Christian education that enlightened him.