AMC has added a trigger warning to Martin Scorsese’s 1990 film Goodfellas for “cultural stereotypes.”
“This film includes language and/or cultural stereotypes that are inconsistent with today’s standards of inclusion and tolerance,” the warning reads, “and may offend some viewers.”
Now I’ve seen it all. AMC message before the classic film Goodfellas. pic.twitter.com/QxTXXz4tex
— ken lovett (@klnynews) May 12, 2024
While this might seem harmless to some, it represents a larger issue where a large corporation is dictating how audiences should interpret and react to a piece of art. Art is meant to be experienced without preconceptions. This approach can be likened to a museum telling visitors exactly how to perceive the Mona Lisa’s smile.
Such trigger warnings, also applied to classics like Gone with the Wind, undermine the experience of grappling with the inherent moral complexities of these films.
Consider this…
One of the brilliant aspects of Goodfellas is its ability to make viewers feel complicit. As Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) guides us through the world of organized crime, we become enthralled by the lifestyle it depicts. These characters seem fascinating and free-spirited, breaking away from mundane routines. They embody a certain allure, living without the constraints that most people face daily.
However, Goodfellas reveals its moral core when it shows the downfall of these characters, exposing them as ruthless criminals devoid of loyalty and genuine friendship.
Watching Goodfellas compels viewers to confront their own susceptibility to being enticed by such glamorous depictions and learn an important lesson from it. While Henry Hill loses his soul to the allure of crime, the audience is given the space to reflect without losing theirs, safely engaged from their seats.
Preemptively labeling the movie as racist or problematic deprives viewers of experiencing the narrative’s full impact. If informed beforehand that the characters are “bad,” the chance to critically assess and learn from the story is diminished.
Trigger warnings undermine the nature of art, insult viewers’ intelligence, and interfere with the personal growth that comes from engaging with complex moral narratives like those in Goodfellas. Through the emotional challenge of interpreting such films, viewers develop wisdom and maturity.
Goodfellas is not intended to offend; it serves as a parable illustrating the destructive consequences of a life steeped in crime and evil.
By dictating how viewers should interpret these films, trigger warnings stunt emotional development. This could be seen as intentional, as a less mature audience is easier to influence and control compared to independent thinkers.
Unlike content warnings about explicit material, trigger warnings impose a moral judgment, a task that should be left to the viewers themselves rather than mandated by industry elites.
