In Skip Ender's Game vs. Orson Scott Card, Money Wins

“Those who flagrantly violate society’s regulation of sexual behavior cannot be permitted to remain as acceptable, equal citizens within that society.”

 

--Orson Scott Card in “The Hypocrites of Homosexuality” (full text here)

The numbers are in and it appears Ender’s Game, the big-budget film adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s novel of the same name, has topped the weekend box office. According to AP, it earned $28 million, meeting Lionsgate’s expectations (article). The story of this film and the controversy surrounding Card’s homophobia has ended the way so many do: Money wins.

The controversy stems from the author’s opposition to LGBT lifestyles. The organization Geeks OUT (website) started the Skip Ender’s Game boycott of the movie (website), and offers the following as a summary of its position:

“Orson Scott Card is more than an 'opponent' of marriage equality. As a writer, he has spread degrading lies about LGBT people, calling us sexual deviants and criminals. As an activist, he sat on the board of the National Organization for Marriage and campaigned against our civil rights. Now he's a producer on the Ender's Game movie. Do not let your box-office dollars fuel his anti-gay agenda.”

I evolved on the issue of gay rights a long time ago, so I signed the Skip Ender’s Game pledge, but many, even supporters of marriage equality, take the position that Ender’s Game, about humankind at war with insect-like aliens in the future, has nothing to do with gay rights and is just cool sci-fi.

And I can understand that. I read the novel over a decade ago after a fellow teacher on the JET Programme pressed a roughed-up copy into my hands and urged me in hushed tones to read this book because it was awesome. It was indeed awesome, mind-bending even, so I can understand why many would prefer to ignore the controversy and just enjoy something for crying out loud.

One unfortunate aspect of that view is that it plays right into the hands of the movie execs. All along, they have tried to diffuse the situation by saying, in effect, “It’s just a movie.” (article) Which is another way of saying, “Whatever you do, close your eyes to all else and give us your cash.” As good Americans, we usually oblige.

The politicians, the corporations, the interests and the monied elite, including those in Hollywood, do not care one whit about what we say or do as long as we keep buying. I’m reminded of a rant by George Carlin:

 

In a capitalist society, one of the few voices any of us have left that makes any difference is the power to buy or not buy. By not buying a ticket to Ender’s Game or another book by Orson Scott Card, I do make a statement--which is to say, a difference in someone’s bottom line--even if it is a small one doomed to failure. As the box office reports show, Ender’s Game is getting a lot of dollars and the boycott hasn’t been able to mar the movie’s opening weekend.

Some would say that in addition to money winning, good science fiction has won, and that is at least something to be happy about. Nonetheless, I will stick to my boycott--unless someone gives me the DVD/Blu-Ray Special Combo Pack for Christmas. Then I’ll consider the battle lost and watch the hell out of it.

Money wins again.