I could give a shit as to an entertainer's political leanings.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

They are entertainers.

When I watch one, I am not watching for political reasons, I want to be entertained.

See Dennis Quaid in American Dreamz. Voted for Bush, Plays Bush.

They aren't that important. Writers? Different form of entertainment. I doubt I'll go buy Ayn Rand or Ann Coulter ever.

I will watch Mel Gibson in Galipoli over and over again along with Braveheart.

An actor only presents a message. If they do it well, I will appreciate their efforts 99% of the time even though I may disagree with their politics.

This is a difference between many of us and the Freeps. We don't have to cut ourselves off from the arts.

Peace, Y'all!

[conflictgirl]

1. I both agree and disagree

I wouldn't stop enjoying the work by a particular entertainer just because I found out they were a raging neocon, fundie, etc. But I think it *does* matter what their politics are, the same way it matters about where I shop. If I support an entertainer whose political beliefs I seriously disagree with, they may turn around and use some of their earnings to donate to politicians I don't want in office. Of course they have every right to do so, but that doesn't mean that I want to be putting any of my (very limited) dollars in their pockets. I also don't shop at Walmart, and I am lucky enough to have other stores in my local area where I can shop instead. I don't fool myself for a minute into thinking that my non-patronage of such companies or entertainers will really impact their bottom line very much, but I do see the cause and effect that some of my money could in the end go to support things I really don't want it to support. There's no guarantee that other companies I deem "safe" wouldn't do the same things and my financial resources are limited enough that I can't shop exclusively with companies whose values I support.

But entertainers are still ultimately industries, and I don't lose sight of that. I think it's valid to ask if they are industries I want to be supporting.

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. But remember a movie involves hundreds, if not thousands, of people

So boycotting a movie because of one actor means reducing the money to what might be hundreds, or thousands, of people you DO agree with. Sure, the actor might be getting a huge paycheck from the movie, and royalties, but your ticket admission goes to an awful lot of other people.

Now, if we're talking stand up comics or singers, where your admission ticket (or CD buy) goes mostly to them, that's a different issue - or any kind of entertainment in which the entertainer's political leanings DO come out in the performance (be it art, sculpture, comedy, music, whatever), then of course, go ahead and boycott. I sure wouldn't go see a rightwing comedian just because I think the sound guy deserves a paycheck.

[conflictgirl]

24. I see your point

I rarely see movies in the theatre anyway, and I usually reserve doing so for the movies I really don't want to wait until they're out on video to see (ie. Fahrenheit 911 and Brokeback Mountain). The cost of renting a movie is minimal so I don't worry about that giving much money to the main star(s) anyway. The only movies I go out of my way to avoid are ones that I have no interest in whatsoever, but those usually are movies that would incidentally give money to people I don't want to support (I'm thinking like Passion of the Christ here).

There are some bands I really like and I have no idea what their political leanings are in many cases. I'm not concerned enough about what they stand for to seek it out and use that as the basis of my support of their work (or not). I can't think of many artists I've boycotted whose work I otherwise enjoyed, just because of their political leanings. It's probably not a coincidence that most of the artists whose work I have no interest in whatsoever are often Bush supporters as well. When I hear that, I just kind of roll my eyes and think "it figures".

Similarly there have been a few cases when I found out that someone whose work I admired was a big-time Republican. It never made me boycott them entirely, but it definitely gave me pause before loudly proclaiming my fan-dom. My initial point was just that, to some degree, I think the political leanings of various artists DOES matter, because we give them our money. I think where we choose to spend our money is indeed "voting with our dollars". I don't make myself insane over it, but I do use it as a tool to give more support to the artists/filmmakers/comedians who are saying something important.

[cascadiance]

38. I think I distinguish what the work is about before I boycott or support..

There are entertainers I support/don't support their views. They might or might not be talented too. When I go to see a movie or a concert, where there isn't any strong personal political viewpoint that is being espoused that I support or oppose strongly, then I go mostly there to be entertained, and won't pay attention as much to what politiccs those involved in making that work have.

However, if the work is something I strongly support in message (Good Night and Good Luck, Syriana, Fahrenheit 9/11), I will be that much more apt to go to it, no matter who's in it, and those that I don't support (Passion of the Christ, Fahrenhype 9/11, etc.), I will make a point of not seeing, no matter who's in it.

If the work is apolitical (and it's not being used to fund something that's political), then I'm more inclined just to go if I feel it's good quality entertainment/informative content.

An example of this is the TV series Babylon V.

Would conservatives boycott it because fo the many liberal positions that series creator J. Michael Straczynksi has taken over time, and because it's subject matter might be said to be a commentary on Bush and the Republicans now being like President Clarke (though arguably this was written well before the Bushies were doing their thing)?

Or should the progressives boycott it because it features right wing talk show host Jerry Doyle in the role of Garibaldi, and also because Bush and Karl Rove have been quoted to say that this show was their favorite at one point (which according to a Usenet post appeared to make J. Michael Stracynski ill upon hearing this).

For me it was neither. I've been a fan of it because I liked the story, no matter who made it or who starred in it. The story itself about potential global dictatorship happening here on this world is something that I want to understand.

The series 24 has similar concerns. Do you boycott it because you are concerned that it is drawing up too many false scenarios that would appear to justify torture, perhaps in some cases appear to point to those with middle eastern heritage as more apt to being terrorists, is liked by Rush Limbaugh, and is put out by Fox. Or would you support it because it shows a very real parallel with some of the presidential abuses right now in reality almost simultaneously to us showing the exposure of fictional abuses of power by the president on 24 too, and abuses of power similar to this administration in past seasons as well. Again for me, it is trying to look at the work as a whole and seeing if it offers good entertainment, and is balanced in its viewpoints if not supporting my viewpoints.

Music is a bit different. If an artist does put out a work I don't like from a political perspective, I probably won't buy it. Some newer works from Toby Keith, Charlie Daniels, Ted Nugent, might fit into this category. But there are old Charlie Daniels and Ted Nugent music works that I still will listen to. I will make MORE of an effort to buy stuff like Pink's new CD, Neil Young's CD, Dixie Chicks, etc. when they do take the risks they have in creating something the right might not buy. I feel we need to send a message that we want more content like that and to not have this sort of content censored, which these artists are taking the risk of having happen when they put out works such as this. Hopefully that will encourage other artists to also take these risks, if they ses folks like us reward them.

[TomInTib]

2. I do appreciate political differences in writers, both of song and prose

I don't watch movies, anyway.

But I sure understand what you are saying.

[LA lady]

3. Sheen

Even with all his political activities Martin Sheen said "You're mistaking celebrity for credibility."

[theHandpuppet]

39. The problem is not in mistaking celebrity for credibility...

... but in mistaking celebrity for art.

[MikeNearMcChord]

4. I agree, I don't agree with Tim Robbins

on some things, but I enjoy his acting, especially in Bull Durham, Shawahank Redemption and Mystic River(my favorite Clint Eastwood- directed movie)

[Zensea]

5. Wonder if Steinbeck would agree with you about writers

I don't really care either about an artist's political leanings when I am judging their art, so I am in agreement with you on that one, but I do think it is a false construct to say that a writer is an entertainer.
It's a peculiarly American perspective, I suspect, to denigrate the arts by viewing it as purely entertainment which is how I interpret what you are doing here.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

10. Dammit! There's a seriously good question!

And the fact that I had way too many courses in Literary criticism to know that it deserves a much better answer than I am prepared (or inclined) to give on a message board.

I will go as far to say that many writers do only fill the role of "entertainer" while many go eons beyond that particular nom. On the other hand, you have the political muckrakers (on both sides) that I could never call a writer but am at a loss as to what to call them.

[Zensea]

13. Call them journalists or hacks perhaps?

or journalistic hacks?:7

[theHandpuppet]

40. And unfortunately, it's contagious

"It's a peculiarly American perspective, I suspect, to denigrate the arts by viewing it as purely entertainment which is how I interpret what you are doing here."

Exactly. Art as junk food for the mind. Real art is dangerous, which is why despotic, fascist and repressive governments go to such great lengths to suppress it. BTW, I think you would find this page of interest:

http://www.artistsnetwork.org/quotes/artistquotes2.html

[Dutch]

42. Writers NOT being regarded as entertainers is more of a problem

The idea of reading for entertainment as something weird, nerdy or pointless is a problem, and not a peculiarly American one. the idea that soemthing intelligent and profound cannot be entertaining, and should be encountered only for academic value if at all. Calling something entertainment is not in any way intrinsically denigrating of it. Of course many good writers' works will be a lot of other things besides entertaining, but then so will those a lot of good musicians and filmmakers.

[Democrats_win]

6. The Freeps also like to paint people with a broad brush.

The Freeps are 100% propaganda. Propaganda involves such things as saying actors shouldn't speak out. (Remember Ronald Reagan?)

DUers are people of substance and good humor. I like the Lethal Weapon movies and think Mad Max movies are good too.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

7. I agree.

I happen to really enjoy Bruce Willis as an actor, but I know he's as red as they come politically. Big deal. I don't sit down in the evening to watch politicians- I sit down to watch entertainment.

[medeak]

8. THANK YOU!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2583522&mesg_id=2583613

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=210&topic_id=13665&mesg_id=13681

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. So you mean that you could NOT give a shit?

But I'm with you - I don't refuse to see a movie just because of the political leanings of one of the actors in it. That's fucking immature.

[tularetom]

12. Maybe but there are other factors - like hypocricy

When I was a kid I loved John Wayne movies. As an adult whem I found out what a chickenhawk he actually was I couldn't take him seriously anymore. Somehow I can handle Mel Gibson although I know he's looney tunes, but Tom Cruise is too over the top for me to take seriously. Even the "you can't handle the truth" scene with Jack Nicholson has been ruined for me. All I can think of is that fool jumping up and down on a couch on the Oprah show.

[earthside]

28. It's a Funny Thing ...

I still like to watch an old John Wayne movie now and then ... I mean the real old ones before 1950 ... and I don't care what his politics were.

On the other hand, I just cannot watch Rock Hudson in any of those movies where he's romancing Doris Day ... that just doesn't work.

But I'll watch a Montgomery Clift movie no matter what the story or plot.

Go figure.

Maybe it is the hypocrisy.

But mostly, the less I know about actors/actresses personal lives, the happier I am.

[bliss_eternal]

14. Everyone is entitled to their opinion--

thanks for sharing yours. :hi:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

15. LOL!

Yeah, I guess we are.

That's what keeps it interesting here!

[IsIt1984Yet]

18. Yes, enjoy your opinions while you still can.

They may go the way of the dodo with the rest of our civil rights.

[bliss_eternal]

19. Yup--

there's many, many things discussed here that I think are silly, but I don't bother to comment on them. ;) Everyone's entitled... :hi:

It's the evil, hateful shit that bothers me. But I've even stopped commenting on a lot of those. People are entitled to be evil and hateful, even on DU. :shrug:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

21. I've tried to stay away from those as well....

They usually get me kicked.

[Mr_Spock]

16. I threw away my Braveheart DVD today

That Gibson will not be seeing any of my money in the future.

He's like the WalMart of actors - evil to the core.

[RebelOne]

33. You just cut off your nose to spite your face.

That's like throwing money into the trash. Why not give it to someone else who might enjoy it?

[Mr_Spock]

45. I might pull it out and give it to my brother

He gave it to me because he likes the movie - I saw it once and don't want to see that RW psycho ever again.

[Kerrytravelers]

17. I did a search and can't find anywhere that points to Quaid as a *

supporter. He was on The Daily Show a few nights ago. He really didn't seem to be a * fan. And some of his other films, like The Day After Tomorrow, aren't exactly friendly to this administration.

Where did you hear that Quaid is a * voter? Not that my world revolves around what political leanings an actor has, but at the same time, if I were a famous celebrity, I would not want to be mistaken for a reich-wing * lover.

[noahmijo]

23. I agree with that, I just can't see Quaid as a bushbot

[bliss_eternal]

27. Maybe Kkkatie just needed someone to make her feel

better for her poor voting choices, so he went along with it in their interview? :shrug:

See it referenced in this thread/post.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x965593 :hi:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

36. I saw a thread or two about his saying (admitting?) he had voted

for Bush here in GD...

I did not check the source and didn't find it that hard to believe, as he has never struck me as an overtly political person.

[DanCa]

20. Toby Keith just sucks I don't care what his political bent is

Same as Bruce Willis and Ted Nuggent. I agree with you kelsy Grammer is a repub but I am not going to miss out on xmen three because he plays the Beast. What really makes a movie great or an artist great for me though is if they have talent and share my political views. For example I am so happy that the late Christopher Reeve, Bruce Springsteen and I are all on the same page politically.

[conflictgirl]

25. LOL! That's my point as well

I think Jeff Foxworthy and Britney Spears absolutely suck (no offense intended to those who love either one, of course) so I could care less that they're Bush supporters. It just seems to reinforce what I already thought of them. Like "well, there's no big surprise...they seem like just the sort of idiot who would be a Bush supporter".

But like the person who posted yesterday about the Red Hot Chili Peppers being really anti-Bush, that made me happy because I've been a Chilis fan for decades and I too really enjoy it when some of my favorite artists share my political views.

[bliss_eternal]

26. Check out the cd series Rock against Bush--

You'd be surprised by some of the artists that don't support the boy king. ;) and I agree about the Chilis, but I've read interviews with them for years and was already aware of their political leanings.

Here's a link to volume 2 on Amazon--you can even listen to samples of some of the songs.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002IQKDQ/sr=8-2/qid=1145760207/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-3312506-9504034?%5Fencoding=UTF8

[conflictgirl]

29. I have both of the Rock Against Bush CDs and they're great!

I think there are only two, right?

I am a very big fan of them and became a fan of some new bands because of it (as well as enjoying old favorites whose leanings I already knew about, like Bad Religion and NOFX). The Alkaline Trio song "Warbrain" on there is one of my absolute favorites on the whole compilation. :)

[bliss_eternal]

31. Awesome!

You're already on the same page, or should I say same cd?! LOL! :hi: I like the Green Day song, too. I thought there was another one out there, as I thought I heard that No Doubt did a single, too--or is that on vol. 2?

[noahmijo]

22. I think it was Helen Hunt who made the good point that since we don't have

a voice actors and actresses are in a way doing a duty by stepping up and putting their own necks out and bringing the needed attention to whatever issues they are talking about whether it be war, environment, whatever.

If you or I decided to step out on mainstreet USA with a megaphone we'd get no news nothin, but when a celeb does it the whole crew is there to air it.

I agree to a certain extent actors are just people and yes most of them barely have a high school education , however they do us a service when they say what's on their minds for us and get the attention for it. Also although I have never traveled abroad I have heard stories about how in a way people in other countries bring up how certain actors are vocally against the Bush junta and they see that as a representation of America and sort of lose the notion that ALL Americans are lemmings and followers of the bushco cult.

[rustydog]

30. Aren't they Americans also? don't they have the same rights

as you and I?
If you cut them do they not bleed?

[OneBlueSky]

32. art can -- and often does -- do more than merely entertain . . .

I've known Pete Seeger for many years, and he has my utmost respect for the way he used his art to educate and inspire people about civil rights, war and peace, and the environment . . .

and I can't wait for Neil Young's new CD . . . or Springsteen's "Seeger Sessions" . . .

[RebelOne]

34. I agree. There was a thread a few days ago

bashing Dean Koontz because he is a Republican. I don't care what his political stance is. I enjoy his books and will keep buying them.

[kiki]

35. When I learned that

Ron Silver is a Bushbot and heard him spewing the old "not all Arabs are terrorists, but all terrorists are Arabs" bullshit, I thought, "Damn, Ron Silver sucks."

Then I thought, "Hang on, Ron Silver fucking sucks anyway," so it was OK.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

37. What an epiphany!

I had the same one about him!

[mtnsnake]

41. Not that he does, but if I ever find out Eric Burdon has repuke tendencies

I don't give a shit...he's STILL my favorite all-time male vocalist!

And when I hear Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes doing Journey to the Center of the Mind, so friggin what if Ted's an asshole. Just listen to that old album and you'll see what I mean.

I couldn't agree more, Tom.

[NaturalHigh]

43. I usually roll my eyes at anyone wearing a Che t-shirt...

but I still like Johnny Depp's movies.

[RB TexLa]

44. agreed, it's no different than waiter's political thought

you are paying them for entertainment, who cares that they even have political thoughts.