Seares: Congressmen as tele-series ‘kontrabida’

Thursday, February 23, 2012

SHOOTING down the resolution of Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. asking film and TV producers to stop depicting House members as villains who dress badly and look funny was an act of mercy by his colleagues.

Co-legislators rained flak on Gonzales's Resolution #2140, joining other critics who believe House members have better things to do than worry over collective public image.

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Any restriction on artistic creativity violates right to free speech just as prior restraint on the press assaults press freedom. But Gonzales knows that already; that's why he filed a request, not a penal bill.

Like impeachment prosecutors who don't wish to be entangled in the "mess of law," let's just look at the merit of Gonzales's resolution.

First, there's no showing there's a conspiracy in the TV-film industry to portray House legislators as hoods and dolts. It's not like there has been a flood of movies and TV programs that were offensive to congressmen. (By the way, there's no congresswoman-villainess in those stories, is there?)

Stereotyping

Then, Gonzales can't claim stereotyping of House legislators as object of ridicule or scorn. Unlike house helpers and Visayans, whom entertainment movies and shows used to tap for mediocre humor, legislators as a story subject haven't reached the level of interesting staple to dream-spinners.

Most House lawmakers don't mind how some of their colleagues are portrayed on the screen. They must be sure they don't fall under the category of bad guys or buffoons--or, if they do, their public griping wouldn't do any good anyway.

(paseares@sunstar.com.ph or @gmail.com)