Ideology and Reviewing

By Isaac Butler

I really don't want to make too much of this, as it's not a lot of data to go on, but I was struck that The Book Of Mormon's three most negative reviews come from the three critics who are most openly conservative about their politics (Matthew Murray, John Simon and Terry Teachout). Meanwhile, at least one of the play's most ecstatic reviews comes from the reviewer who is most open about his liberalism (David Cote).  

Meanwhile, Andrew Sullivan (who is friends with one of the creators) loves The Book Of Mormon and thinks South Park is Conservative. Of course, at this point, Andrew Sullivan simply thinks things he likes are conservative and things he doesn't aren't, so I don't know if that counts.

Comments

[Terry Teachout]

It's funny that you should frame the critical differences of opinion in this manner. I don't really see the show--or my review--as driven by ideology. My biggest problem with "The Book of Mormon," as I think I made clear in what I wrote, is that I think the show is predictable and that its craft is amateurish. I have no problem whatsoever with the fact that it's "blasphemous," much less that it is full of "obscene" language. (You should see the play I just wrote!) I just don't think it does these things in an especially fresh or interesting manner.

As for the matter of whether or not the creators were in any way courageous to go after Mormons, or "conservative" religious belief in general, I think the rapturous critical response to the show makes it surpassingly clear just how safe "The Book of Mormon" really is.

[Terry Teachout]

By the way, John Simon is not in any way politically conservative.

[Josh]

John Simon is in no way politically conservative? The John Simon who said, "Another problem is men kissing each other and even indulging in violent anal intercourse." That guy is in no way conservative?

The quote is found here: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aFDd3lf9uCE8

[Terry Teachout]

I'm not talking about his sexual politics, which are the product of an earlier time (remember that he was born in 1925). Simon is and has always been an unabashed political liberal.

[Pete]

If Matthew Murray is a political conservative I don't see how that informs his review as he seems to be a big fan of Parker and Stone.

[Josh]

So "not in any way politically conservative" does not include sexual politics. Squares aren't rectangles. Got it.

[Jack Worthing]

Strike me down for defending Simon but I think his point might be that the play in question employs shock tactics at the expense of character, like much of the exploitative rubbish the Court did in the 90s. (ie Bond does not stone the baby just to show it can be done; he stones the baby because the play can't be done without it.)

[Jack Worthing]

I'm going on the context there. But he phrased it horribly. That review is full of half-baked ideas and needs a good editor.

[Jeremy M. Barker]

While I agree Sullivan is sort of all over the place, I actually do think that South Park is fairly libertarian minded conservative.

[moxie the maven]

I'm a dyed-in-the-wool liberal and I didn't find a lot to love in Book of Mormon. I really wanted to love it, but Terry's review hit the nail on the head.

[sale purse outlet]

I "like" you on Facebook. Would love these for my oldest boy!

[hairdo]

You thoughts are pure and honest.