: To fully understand this report you should first visit the topics suggested by the CAP Table of Contents.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:
"Down in the Delta" was probably the finest definition of 'family' I have ever seen onscreen. Acting was powerful and commanding. Too bad there had to be a bunch of ignominy in the movie.
Violent and criminal aspects were presented by, among other things, an adult promoting that a school-age child should carry a gun as necessary for survival and by an adult teaching the child to use guns for that purpose. The black-n-white darkness, helplessness, and dirtiness of the nihilism -- the 'I don't care, existence is useless anyway' attitude of the world of crackhouse drug and alcohol addiction was bold and possibly alluring for those who wish to 'try it for themselves just to find out...' Hatred reared its ugly head in such selfish expressions as calling an infirm child "trash." Beer consumption and exposure to adult underwear as well as brief partial nudity took their toll on the CAP score. And to lock in the relatively low CAP score were three flashback presentations of human slavery and three instances of a boy watching his father being sold into slavery. Granted slavery was real. But as dishonorable slavery was, the actors were not slaves and this is 1998, not the mid 19th century -- no movie is real. Let the parents teach, and let them decide WHETHER to teach, our kids of the inhuman and evil horrors of slavery, not the big screen.
FINDINGS / SCORING:
Wanton Violence/Crime (W) lost intermediate level points once due to teaching a child how to use guns for inner city self-defense. Wanton Violence/Crime lost maximum level points once due to teaching a child that carrying guns by kids in school is necessary for survival.
Impudence/Hate (I)(1) lost no intermediate nor maximum level points.
Sex/Homosexuality (S) lost no intermediate nor maximum level points.
Drugs/Alcohol (D) lost intermediate level points twice due to smoking dope. Drugs/Alcohol lost maximum level points four times due to a crackhouse scene of at least four examples of group drinking and taking drugs.
Offense to God (O)(2) lost no intermediate nor maximum level points.
Murder/Suicide (M)(3) lost no intermediate nor maximum level points.
Other examples of entertainment ignominy, each warranting the loss of the minimum point level, included
drunkenness
exposure to adult underwear
partial nudity
gang/police gunfire in background causing fear
anger against/hatred of mother
five uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary
one use of God's name in vain without the four letter expletive
calling a infirm child "trash"
consumption of beer
fall of an old woman causing injury and grief
three instances of human slavery
three instances of a child watching his father being sold into slavery
blase attitude about having children out of wedlock
hard concept of providing care for infirm family members
(2) The use of the three/four letter word vocabulary without God's name is incorporated into the Impudence/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's name with or without the three/four letter word vocabulary is incorporated into the Offense to God Investigation Area. There is no duplication. As required of the Holy Scriptures, unless God's name is used with reverence to His glory and praise, its use is considered in vain, whether literal or euphemistic.
(3) Only portrayal of successful murder or suicide are incorporated into Murder/Suicide. Presentation of attempts to commit murder or suicide and deaths by police action or war are incorporated into Wanton Violence/Crime.
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In the name of Jesus:
Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God.
Thomas A. Carder
President
ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)
