Sunday, June 24, 2007

On the road and copyright infringement

On the road and copyright infringement



So, I'm in rainy London. Had a good day in the BL yesterday with LDW. Still trying to adjust to the time, etc.

In other news, I hope to hell that Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie sue the shit out of the Westboro Baptist Church for this little piece of perverted and twisted copyright infringement. I'm pretty much agnostic these days, but I wasn't always. As a person and as a medievalist, this kind of sick twisting of Christianity offends me deeply. I've actually read the Bible. Both Testaments. I always got the impression that Jesus was talking about a God who loves the world.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's kinda creepy the way all the women have the same hairstyle. They're like Amish in mufti.

Sharon said...

You're over here already? I thought it was July... Drop me a line.

Terminal Degree said...

Oh. My.

At first I thought this was a joke. But I don't think it is.

This is so sad.

Ahistoricality said...

There's pretty strong protection in copyright for parodies, and this qualifies. They're not trying to be funny as such, but they are parodying the original.

No, I only watched enough to be sure I knew what you were talking about, but the "fair use" law's pretty clear on this point.

Anonymous said...

i think they are trying to be funny, which is not to say they don't believe what they're saying. I'm getting the sense they do. but I can imagine a room full of like-minded people laughing hysterically. Followed by a sermon about how the sentiments embedded in the parody are true.

it's very offensive. and i'm a deeply committed christian of a fairly conservative sort.

Steve Hayes said...

Why is it always the Baptists?

I once heard a Baptist telling a group of teenagers "Have you seen those signs saying 'Smile, God loves you? They are lies. God doesn't love you. God is very angry with you because you are a sinner.'

Anonymous said...

I actually watched the whole thing. That poor adorable little girl. I feel sick. This is not any religion I recognize. And I'm also a fairly conservative religious woman.

Another Damned Medievalist said...

No, this is totally for reals. Yeesh.

Anonymous said...

well this is about as Baptist as any humanities department at an american university. these are the folks who protest at soldiers funerals ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church

"While its members identify themselves as Baptists, the church is an independent church not affiliated with any known Baptist conventions or associations. BBC Two claims there are 71 members.[10] A compilation of the names of Phelps' grandchildren and great-grand-children, combined with his nine "loyal" children and their spouses, though, numbers 90."