Tuesday, March 22, 2005Imax cinemas in several southern US states have begun to refuse screening of films that deal with evolution and the big bang, fearing they will drive away customers. This step follows pressure from customers claiming such films are blasphemous to the Christian religion and are counter to biblical teachings which fundamentalists take to be the literal word of God.

Some of the affected cinemas are located in science museums often visited by families. Carol Murray, the marketing director of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in Texas, commented that trial customers complained, “I really hate it when the theory of evolution is presented as fact,” a view reflected by several others. Conversely, a producer of an Imax film entitled Volcanoes of the Deep Sea, James Cameron, said that he was “surprised and somewhat offended” at some of the reactions.

Films suppressed by this controversy include Cosmic Voyage (which deals with the big bang), Galapagos (dealing with the development of evolutionary theory by Darwin) and Volcanoes of the Deep Sea (about deep-sea thermophiles).

Although this move only affects about a dozen Southern US cinemas, it has proved significant due to the manner in which Imax operates. Imax presentations are filmed and projected using specialized equipment in specially adapted theatres. Imax films also have tight production and marketing budgets. At any one time, an Imax film may be shown at only two dozen locations. As such, profits may be significantly reduced if just a few locations refuse to show a given film, swaying producers to avoid producing films on contentious subjects which may be construed by Christian fundamentalists as blasphemous.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Father Michael Sinnott, an elderly priest from Ireland, has been seized by gunmen on Mindanao Island in the Philippines. He was taken from his residence on Sunday at gunpoint. The gunmen fled in a minivan, and later boarded a boat.

Father Sinnott, who was a priest for the Missionaries of St Columban had heart surgery four years ago, according to friends.

“He’s a very robust man for his age, but he has had a heart bypass four years ago,” said director of the Columban Missionaries, Father Pat O’Donoghue. “The concern that I would have is that if he does not have his medication this would be very serious thing for him, especially given the shock.”

No group has claimed responsibility for the taking of Father Sinnott, but speculation suggests the militant group Abu Sayyaf was responsible. Police Chief for the western region of Mindanao, Angelo Sunglao, said that “Abu Sayyaf is known to be operating near the area.”

Despite being one of the smaller militant groups, Abu Sayyaf is also regarded as one of the deadliest and is known for kidnaps of foreign aid workers and tourists. They were responsible for the 2004 bomb attack on a ferry that killed over 100 people.

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Canadian community art group Visual Arts Brampton is looking for entries for its international entry mail art exhibit “Control”.

The exhibit’s entry information discusses the theme of the show: “Are you a control-freak, or more happy-go-lucky? What do you think of corporations’ control on the media and governments? Is your life quickly spinning out of control? Always hitting Ctrl-Alt-Del?”

The exhibition dates have yet to be scheduled, but the show will run in early 2006 at either the Fridge Front Gallery or upcoming World Art Gallery in Shoppers World Brampton, a mall in suburban Toronto.

While it prefers 4 x 6 inch artworks, VAB asks that entries are no larger than 6 x 6 inches. VAB’s address is “Snail Mail Central / 1 Bartley Bull Parkway, Suite 10 / Brampton ON / L6W 3T7”. Entries must be received by January 31, 2006.

This show will help Visual Arts Brampton to continue to build up a reputation in the mail art world. The non-profit community art group is in the process of opening up the World Art Gallery, which will be the first permanent display space to solely exhibit mail art. Over the past few years, the club has organized three general no theme exhibits, and “SAT: An Exhibit of Chairs”, which is running currently.