It would seem that one cannot escape Fifty Shades of Grey. Our local cinema group this past week bragged of the biggest box office record for a single day since 1995. It topped that record by 47%. The majority of the Valentine’s Day bookings were made using the company’s smartphone app and made it the most pre-booked day in the cinema company’s history. I headed to the UK’s Official music singles chart, and at number 1? Ellie Goulding’s Love Me Like You Do, off the 50 Shades of Grey Soundtrack. The motion picture soundtrack is at number 1 on the iTunes Album chart too, and the movie itself is number 1 on everyone’s lips these days, whether they want to sing it’s praises, or rip it to shreds. What am I about to do, you’re wondering? You’re about to find out.
I have not read E.L James’ novel as I choose not to, and I haven’t seen Sam Taylor-Johnson’s film either as I choose not to. I am however very familiar with the plot and the general ideas around which 50 Shades of Grey is based. I’ve read, listened to and watched trailers, synopses, and reviews from mainstream and Christian perspectives. In no way am I in the dark. Knowing what I know I need to ask this question: What’s the big deal? We’ve had erotic books and movies for years, so what is the sudden craze? Society has been happy to deal with their own private and sexual idiosyncrasies behind closed doors for centuries, and mostly labelled taboo and now this liberal step forward has people filling seats and shattering box office records. I scratch my head. Is it because someone dared make it mainstream and collectively everyone has an ’emperor’s new clothes’ mentality, and if you frown at Ms Jame’s book you’re a prude with a ziplock-sealed mind who clearly has no hope? And everyone is just going with it. In between the Instagram pics of you and the ladies at the cinema and your Facebook comments on the film you just watched, you abhorrently frown at local news streamed to your phone of another rape or trafficked sex slave. It’s almost as if people simply cannot see that the very thing that has them cringing, has thrilled them for 2 hours, and they had popcorn and a Coke. It’s just that the wolf is dressed in Hollywood’s best and if everyone says it’s ok, then who are we to argue. Is it that there’s a love story there that hides the truth of what Mr Grey believes and lives to play out?
Huffington Post had an article saying that 50 Shades must not be seen as sex education because it is giving young people the wrong message. Even mainstream media is questioning whether this is a good idea, but then others are saying that the female lead, Anastasia, eventually ‘cures’ Christian Grey. But does she? This debate could go on for hours, and at the exact moment we all start stepping down off our soup boxes, the movie is still being sold out in cinemas and Amazon cannot keep up with book orders. People will do what they do, even if it’s not good for them. The consequences: now those are the problems we deal with long after the popcorn has been swept up and the movie house doors have been locked.
The truth is that there is the right way to love and to be loved. A kind of love that is patient and kind. Love that does not dishonour and is not self seeking. A love that is loyal and never fails. It’s not E.L James’ ideas of love, but it is God’s idea. You may have thoughts on what you’ve heard and seen around the marketing machine that is pushing 50 Shades of Grey. You might have very strong feelings for or against, but let us remember that our opinions remain just that, and can often just be little waves, only lapping up against the ship that is Truth. It cannot be shifted. We have a choice to base our principles and the direction on our lives on a here today, gone tomorrow set of worldly ideas, or you can set you life on a firm foundation of love, respect and faith, that is a guiding light, not just for 21st century living, but for eternity.