LEGENDmag

How Offensive Is the Word “Porno”?

Well… it looks like going from this:

to this…

…may have helped with the MPAA (read: smug, holier-than-thou, morons), but it fails to address the main issue for many who see this latest Kevin Smith movie as vulgar.  That issue– the title… actually the word “porno” that resides within the title.  This movie is running into trouble everywhere.  As its producers, The Weinstein Company, start the all important marketing push, mainstream media outlets are saying no to the marketing money, fearing a backlash from viewers.

Just last week, Fox Sports dropped all Zack & Miri commercials after the spots that aired between innings during a Dodger’s playoff game yielded complaints from viewers.  As always, the complaints are filed “to protect the children.”  Heaven forbid parents would ACTUALLY have to talk with their kids and explain the meaning of the word “porno.”  No, no… better those kids hear the definition from another kid on the playground! Hell, I’m certain the friendly neighborhood sex-offender would have no problem addressing the child’s query!  But I digress.

I applaud The Weinstein Company for standing firm in keeping the title, as is, under what must be enormous pressure to change it!  For every outlet that wants to drop the promo, there’s another that will happily pick it up.  Let’s face it, the puritanical, let’s-not-talk-about-sex-until-it’s-too-late, set weren’t going to go see the movie anyway.

As Mark Twain once said, “Censorship is telling a man he can’t have a steak, just because a baby can’t chew it.”