Comments on: big controversy over “big love”

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 17:43:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I'm not LDS but went to college at the U in Salt Lake. I have many mormon friends, am farmiliar with the religion, etc. I have also watched the entire first season of big love.

People who actually watch this show are not going to mistake this family for an actual LDS family. Their differences with church is a HUGE part of the show. The entire concept in one episode, for instance, revolves around a non-polygamist aunt trying to make sure the family's children don't become polygamists.

Nobody is going to hear about this show and suddenly thing, "Wow! Mormons are polygamists? I've never heard that rumor before!" They have probably already heard that rumor, and if they actually sit down and watch the show, it might actually help dispell it. And by the way, the episode where they show the LDS sign up close was not put in the context that was described in the earlier response.

By: Nicholas D.

Nicholas D. — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 07:54:00 +0000

The central characters of Big Love are not “Mormons,” or, more properly termed, Latter-day Saints. HBO has said the script makes it clear that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints don?t practice polygamy. Still, placing the series in Salt Lake City, the international headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is enough to blur the line between the modern Church and the program?s subject matter and to reinforce old and long-outdated stereotypes. In the latest episode I watched briefly a bit of it. I saw the husband walking out of the church from a priesthood meeting and what do you know the sign said “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints” and HBO definately zoomed in on the sign. So I really don’t think HBO is trying to distinguish between the two at all.

By: Agnes Varnum

Agnes Varnum — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 22:13:00 +0000

I’m not Mormon, nor have I seen the show. However, I thought I would mention that a day or 2 ago there was quite a long article in the NYTimes. Apparently, they got together some women who were either currently or previously living in plural situations. They put them up in a hotel room and asked them to watch the show and then talk about it. According to the article, they responded that for the most part, the show was fair. The drama stems from the setting up of obvious conflicts, but that’s why we watch TV afterall. It also noted that Tom Hanks and the other executive producers spent 3 years doing research for the show, which seems to imply a desire to be accurate as much as possible.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:54:00 +0000

Yeah, I want to see it. It’s sad that I don’t even care about this show. People can think what they want to think. This is what I’ve learned living in Utah: People are easily offended. They are mad if they don’t feel the spirit at a fireside. Um yeah, I don’t know what my point is. I guess I don’t have one…except that, eh? It’s a show…and people can think what they want to think…yeah….

By: ventingzebra

ventingzebra — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 04:30:00 +0000

I want to see an episode of the show. Just to see. It’s a great thing I don’t have HBO. I continue to stand firm in my belief that this show will open opportunity for people to talk about the church that maybe wouldn’t have otherwise even approached the subject. Yes, it will bring with it negative media, and it’s a shame that Utah will no longer be looked at as “white bread,” but we can’t fight this, and if we do, we will end up looking like we trying to hide something, so I say try and use it as a conversation-opener if nothing else, and try to get something positive from the media hype. Wow…I almost sounded optimistic there…crazy!!