Comments on: The Polanski effect: great art conquers all

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:48:00 +0000

Sam, I’ve found this article very interesting, I came up with a similar theory (even the same name!) around the time of his arrest. I think this “effect” can be seen in other notable cases, for instance the difference in public reaction and acceptance of The Who guitarist Pete Townshend (Cautioned for paying for Child Pornography) and Gary Glitter (Convicted admittedly for more serious charges relating to Child Pornography) or Chris Langham (an actor who accessed Child Pornography for research reasons like Townshend, but has been made a pariah in British public life, unlike Townshend.)

I think more than whether a person is a creative genius (undoubtedly the majority of men mentioned here are, even Langham who is a gifted comic actor and writer) it’s more to do with public respectability. for instance Townshend is seen as a national treasure for his work with the Who who remain much loved, whereas Gary Glitter was seen as past it and his music as campy and a joke. I think if their roles had been reversed at the initial times of their arrests, we might have seen different outcomes for the men.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:36:34 +0000

I have to say, Greg Morelli’s article was hilarious and brought up some great points. I know everyone’s raving about Kate Harding’s essay over at Salon but Morelli nailed some hard facts that everybody should be examining more closely. Read the comments too – very sharp and very funny.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:36:00 +0000

By: Shitika

Shitika — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:52:10 +0000

Also.. Excuse my ridiculous number of Typos in the previous post. This font is hopeless to proof read in.

By: Shitika

Shitika — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:52:00 +0000

Also.. Excuse my ridiculous number of Typos in the previous post. This font is hopeless to proof read in.

By: Shitika

Shitika — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:45:55 +0000

Joyeeta : i agree with you that this guy deserves no sympathy at all. But i strongly feel that we as a society somehow love to blow the trumpet when a celebrity is involved in societal crimes/cases. And what i’m finding outrageous is, why blow the trumpet AFTER 32 years? Does the case still hold the same strength? The victim said that she wants to forget about the entire thing, just because she doesn’t want to be dragged in to this all over again. And look, she is being dragged into it. Each and Everyday!

In the 70′s or even the 80s; rape and sexual assault cases held a strong sense of shame and disgrace within them. Now the society is very shameless. Rape is just an everyday term (don’t misread me when i say, everyday! It’s a terrible crime and deserves a hefty punishment). The society today is sadly, attuned to these horrific crimes. And it only carries a meaning when performed by a BIG name.

Where do all the anger vanish when the girl living next to your house is assaulted in her house by a stranger? Or where the passion dissolve when something like this happens to a “nobody”! That is what is bothering me. By putting Polanski in the limelight, all the offenders out there will not really “learn a lesson” or feel immensely guilty about what they have done and intern, surrender! NO.. that will not happen… Even if the society that it may happen….

Just clarifying again… I am NOT supporting Roman Polanski… He did a crime.. and he should be punished. But will putting him behind bars and covering it on a 60-minute live telecast over a current affairs show change society’s and offender’s perception? Will it ring a bell in those disgusting and pathetic minds?

The way the case is being dealt with in the media and the certain areas of the society is what is bothering me!

By: Shitika

Shitika — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:45:00 +0000

The way the case is being dealt with in the media and the certain areas of the society is what is bothering me!

By: Michael Ian Kocwin

Michael Ian Kocwin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:43:49 +0000

I fail at html

By: Michael Ian Kocwin

Michael Ian Kocwin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:43:00 +0000

I fail at html

By: Michael Ian Kocwin

Michael Ian Kocwin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:42:45 +0000

Joyeeta: Hear Hear (here here? I can never figure out how to spell it). As for Samantha Geimer, (seen here) she isn't the victim here. The victim here is this little girl. -Edited, fixed your links. -Nick E.