Last night I went to school (the University of Maryland) to see a free preview of the new film Kinsey, starring Liam Neeson as the ground-breaking sexologist. I found it to be a well-made biopic and certainly provocative in its presention of Kinsey's findings that sexuality was much more prevalent and various in the post-(WWII)war America than most Americans (particularly prudish, religious Americans) allowed. But perhaps more provocative is the fact that fifty years after Kinsey's first published his work it still raises howls of execration. Especially from, I imagine, the denizens of "Jesusland," the evangelicals who seem to have America (electorally-speaking) by the short-hairs.
In fact, I just--as I usually do when reviewing a film--did a Google search. Usually I immediately find an official film website. This time I could not find one on the first three pages of search results. Instead I found a nearly-unanimous condemnation of the film from conservative sources. "Kinsey Film Honors Sexual Pervert," reads one entry/headline. Another conservative commentator compares Kinsey to Nazi Dr. Joseph Mengele. Dr. Laura has also weighed in, condemning the film out of hand.
The film certainly depicts Kinsey as a flawed man, scientist and methologist, but this is not enough, apparently, for those who want Kinsey, and those perceived as advocates for the "sexual revolution," as incorrigible devils. Well, I suppose, as a queer man, I must be counted with the devils.
I do think we need to avoid the scientific hubris and secularist arrogance that Kinsey exhibited at times (according to the film), and allow devout Christians their beliefs (and their havens from the over-sexed quadrants of popular culture), but at the same time we need to leave space for non-violent, consensual sexual variety in our society. And the virulence of secularists, at this date and time, hardly even approaches that of those who wish to continue harmful sexual repression and then some.
All that said (which I did not intend to say before seeing the Google results), I enjoyed, and was moved by, the film. The cast is impressive, and Neeson, in particular is quite commanding, as is Laura Linney as Kinsey's wife "Mac." And on the theme of new technologies and film, one of the most moving parts of the film for me was one that was decidedly hi-tech. That was when talking heads of Kinsey survey participants are superimposed over a U.S. map-circuit board, to show the ubiquity of participation and sexual variety. Not only was it a kind of filmic representation of a database, it also showed both variety and solidarity in a single image.
I just hope the controversy peeks curiosity rather than provokes fear and that many people go to see the film, at the very least to acquaint themselves with a debate that has been raging for half-a-century (if not longer), despite what the current regime of prudes would have us believe.
Posted by jeb at November 16, 2004 10:27 PM | TrackBack