I don't have an online version of the article so I have included it here in full - it is not too long.
It raises interesting issues concerning censorship for religious purposes. In the USA religious censorship on manstream TV is rife, e.g. censorship of sex scenes and nudity, yet at the same time allowing considerable violence. Isn't this a very confusing message.
The Egyptian governments board of censorship has cited objectionable religious themes as the rationale for banning the blockbuster movie, "Matrix Reloaded."
The film, which employs state-of-the-art special effects and stars Keanu Reeves, follows on the success of the 1999 release "The Matrix." It tells how advanced machines have enslaved humanity by creating an artificial illusionary software environment. "Reloaded" has Reeves and his resistance comrades fighting to prevent the destruction of Zion, a human refuge inside the earth.
According to various news reports, Egyptian authorities fear that seeing the movie would subject theater-goers to "crises." Madkur Thabet, Director of artistic censorship for the government board, told Agence France-Presses that "Despite its excellent technical level, the film was banned because it deals with subjects like human existence and creation.
"And these are questions linked to the three monotheistic religions that we respect and which we believe in. These questions have in the past provoked crises and tensions."
Thabet, sounding like many westerners who advocate censorship of mass media, added that "the film has too many scenes of violence at a time when we are trying to fight this phenomenon."
A statment issued by the censorship board added that the movie "explicitly handles the issue of existence and creation." Other problems include that the "Matrix Reloaded" deals with "the issue of the creator and his creations, searching for the origin of creation and the issue of compulsion and free will."
Other films, including the original "Matrix" and more current fare like "X2: X Men United" and "A Man Apart" are drawing large audiences and enjoy large advertisements in the Egyptian news media. However, notes MSNBC writer Charlene Gubash, as with most Western productions, government censors remove all sex scenes, including those depicting something as innocent as a kiss.
"Matrix Reloaded" seems to be receiving special treatment, though, says film critic Mahmoud Kassem who screened the film along with a penal of experts in literature, psychology and other fields. He told reporters that while he personally disagrees with censorship of media, "Islam rejects presenting God in a human form." "Matrix Reloaded" includes a character portraying a creator interacting with Reeves.
"Most (censors) are of the opinion they don't want to allow the kind of movie which touches on creator and creation," says Kassem. "They felt that a movie portraying God in human form or voice would be destructive to moviegoers."
He added that the censors were concerned about other issues as well, including the fact that the "Matrix Reloaded" might "harm social peace."
It is an interesting contrast between Islamic and Christian notions of a deity. Although both religions share common monotheistic and Abrahamic roots, "God" is widely portrayed in Christian art and ceremony. Michelangelo (Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1475-1564) did numerous sculptures portraying leading figures in both pagan and the Christian pantheons including centaurs, the Madonna, the Risen and slain Christ, and even Jehovah imparting the spark of life at creation to Adam.
Such portrayals, however, would be considered sheer blasphemy in Islam, where any depiction of Allah and the prophet, Mohammed, is deemed profane. "The Message," a movie about Mohammed is being released after a 20-year ban.
It raises interesting issues concerning censorship for religious purposes. In the USA religious censorship on manstream TV is rife, e.g. censorship of sex scenes and nudity, yet at the same time allowing considerable violence. Isn't this a very confusing message.
The Egyptian governments board of censorship has cited objectionable religious themes as the rationale for banning the blockbuster movie, "Matrix Reloaded."
The film, which employs state-of-the-art special effects and stars Keanu Reeves, follows on the success of the 1999 release "The Matrix." It tells how advanced machines have enslaved humanity by creating an artificial illusionary software environment. "Reloaded" has Reeves and his resistance comrades fighting to prevent the destruction of Zion, a human refuge inside the earth.
According to various news reports, Egyptian authorities fear that seeing the movie would subject theater-goers to "crises." Madkur Thabet, Director of artistic censorship for the government board, told Agence France-Presses that "Despite its excellent technical level, the film was banned because it deals with subjects like human existence and creation.
"And these are questions linked to the three monotheistic religions that we respect and which we believe in. These questions have in the past provoked crises and tensions."
Thabet, sounding like many westerners who advocate censorship of mass media, added that "the film has too many scenes of violence at a time when we are trying to fight this phenomenon."
A statment issued by the censorship board added that the movie "explicitly handles the issue of existence and creation." Other problems include that the "Matrix Reloaded" deals with "the issue of the creator and his creations, searching for the origin of creation and the issue of compulsion and free will."
Other films, including the original "Matrix" and more current fare like "X2: X Men United" and "A Man Apart" are drawing large audiences and enjoy large advertisements in the Egyptian news media. However, notes MSNBC writer Charlene Gubash, as with most Western productions, government censors remove all sex scenes, including those depicting something as innocent as a kiss.
"Matrix Reloaded" seems to be receiving special treatment, though, says film critic Mahmoud Kassem who screened the film along with a penal of experts in literature, psychology and other fields. He told reporters that while he personally disagrees with censorship of media, "Islam rejects presenting God in a human form." "Matrix Reloaded" includes a character portraying a creator interacting with Reeves.
"Most (censors) are of the opinion they don't want to allow the kind of movie which touches on creator and creation," says Kassem. "They felt that a movie portraying God in human form or voice would be destructive to moviegoers."
He added that the censors were concerned about other issues as well, including the fact that the "Matrix Reloaded" might "harm social peace."
It is an interesting contrast between Islamic and Christian notions of a deity. Although both religions share common monotheistic and Abrahamic roots, "God" is widely portrayed in Christian art and ceremony. Michelangelo (Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1475-1564) did numerous sculptures portraying leading figures in both pagan and the Christian pantheons including centaurs, the Madonna, the Risen and slain Christ, and even Jehovah imparting the spark of life at creation to Adam.
Such portrayals, however, would be considered sheer blasphemy in Islam, where any depiction of Allah and the prophet, Mohammed, is deemed profane. "The Message," a movie about Mohammed is being released after a 20-year ban.
