Temptation Tyler Perry's Parable on Fidelity in Marriage

[Troy 2,332]

 

I went to see Perry's film Temptation last night.

 

In general the critical reviews of this film (save the one I published on AALBC.com) were horrible; so much so I was reluctant to check it out.  

 

Considering some people, not me of course, can easily check out two or three flicks for the price of a single movie ticket the risk can be minimized ;-)

At any rate, the film was not bad at all.  Sure it was the typical drama laden "Tylerperryesque" flick, but it was also a story that relates the complexity of marriage, and is sure to resonate with many people.

Sure the situations were over the top, in the plausibility department.  But it was far more plausible than the movie "The Fall of Olympus" which happened to be playing in the theater next door ;-)

So if you can get the left hand side of your brain to take a hiatus for two hours, you'll enjoy the flick.  The more highly motivated might even learn from this Perry's parable and deal constructively with issues in their own relationships as well. 

 

Either Tyler Perry's film are actually getting better or maybe I'm warming up to him.  Sure I have complaints about the film but overall the merits out weight  any complaints that I have. 

 

I also appreciate the fact that Perry does not have his actresses engage in the on screen pornography.  He is able to convey the sexual passion without actually showing the physical act -- which in many ways is far more effective.

 

 

 

[Troy 2,332]

In one of the earliest scenes they showed this woman was a huge butt, obviously positioned and shot so the audience would not miss it.

 

Would you believe I had no clue what Kim Kardashian looked like prior to seeing this film. Her acting was just adequate to pull off her lines, mostly for comic relief.  But I'd imagine she was included to draw a more diverse (young white audience).

 

I also just recently learned Kim is the daughter of Robert Kardashian the attorney from the OJ Simpson trail.  This info was related to me when I asked someone to explain to my why Kim is a celebrity.  I also learned that her step father is the former Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner.  Wikipedia says Kayne West is her partner -- whatever that means.

 

Kanye West, Robert Kardashian, Bruce Jenner talk about 6 degrees of separation, wow.

 

Of course I realize this is not be "news" to most people but I admit my pop culture quotient is really low.

[Cynique 2,307]

The complaints of some of the movie's critics are that Tyler dumbs down his films, and in doing so, insults the intelligence of black women. This may be true, but the relevance of this accusation has to do with whether black women want to be entertained or educated. The soap opera genre on both the small and large screen enables empathy and fantasy, the 2 best friends of any woman. Who needs to be intellectually stimulaled when you can rest your brain and indulge your imagination.

When a movie has religious overtones, it is naturally going to appeal to women who are comfortable with familiar situations in which reliance on Jesus and adherance to biblical morals dispels troubles and restores happiness. Reinforcement of this belief is very satisfying to women who are not prone to exploring any complicated factors that may contribute to problems between the sexes.  And if the plots to these movies provide comic relief that prompts fans to nod their heads in agreement while chiming in with an "amen", then the cost of a ticket is well spent because the theater has served the role of a church and the movie has represented a sermon.

It has been my experience that the average black person is not big on abstract thinking or free thought. They love to attribute everything good or bad to God's will. They think that Jesus Christ is their personal savior and his father, God, cares about what happens to them as individuals. That He is responsible for them winning a basketball game, or an Oscar or a Grarmmy, or the Lottery, or for getting a good job or a new car or a good mate and that the death of a loved one, or a terrible disaster or a discouraging set-back is either God's will or the result of that ol bad devil at work.

All these film critics raggin on Tyler Perry's forumla movies need to accept that he has found something to capitalize on. Ignorance is bliss and laughter is the best medicine.

[Pioneer1 810]

Troy
 

I also appreciate the fact that Perry does not have his actresses engage in the on screen pornography. He is able to convey the sexual passion without actually showing the physical act -- which in many ways is far more effective.

((sighs))

Yeah, I guess.......

But I get kind of tired of the hypocrisy of many Black actresses who think it's so nasty and degrading to show a titty or pair of bare buttocks on the big screen but yet in every other movie they're dressing like hookers in tight miniskirts and leather coats smacking on gum, and although they aren't actually seen engaged in sex itself....sexual themes are constantly insinuated and often joked about in an immature way.


White women can't wait to get naked on the screen.
The men love it....and the women enjoy the attention they get from it.
Many Black women have been tricked into thinking that being naked is somehow "disrespectful" to them.


I mentioned this before..............
Black actresses NEED to get naked on the screen and young people NEED to see Black people in the sexual act making love to eachother.
If they never see people who look like them with their body types nude and making love to eachother they develop inferiority complexes and become ashamed of themselves because they see the way White people look as the "normal" way.

[anika99 11]

Troy

 

((sighs))

Yeah, I guess.......

But I get kind of tired of the hypocrisy of many Black actresses who think it's so nasty and degrading to show a titty or pair of bare buttocks on the big screen but yet in every other movie they're dressing like hookers in tight miniskirts and leather coats smacking on gum, and although they aren't actually seen engaged in sex itself....sexual themes are constantly insinuated and often joked about in an immature way.

White women can't wait to get naked on the screen.

The men love it....and the women enjoy the attention they get from it.

Many Black women have been tricked into thinking that being naked is somehow "disrespectful" to them.

I mentioned this before..............

Black actresses NEED to get naked on the screen and young people NEED to see Black people in the sexual act making love to eachother.

If they never see people who look like them with their body types nude and making love to eachother they develop inferiority complexes and become ashamed of themselves because they see the way White people look as the "normal" way.

 

Lord please spare me from what white women do and what men want to see, Amen.

 

Pioneer aren't you the one around here always quoting scripture, lol!

[Pioneer1 810]

I quote the Bible because it contains a lot of wisdom and good advice, but I don't see the book itself as the word of God.

I'm not suggesting that Black women simply imitate White women for the pleasure of men.

Actually, quite the opposite..........

Sexuality in the AfroAmerican community is pathological because Black people are too often trying to imitate Whites in thier sexual behavior even though our natures are different and this often leads to disaster and confusion.

[Cynique 2,307]

Where do you come up with all these ideas, Pioneer?  If black people were trying to imitate white people's sexual behavior, they wouldn't be in the shape they're in.  It's their wanton breeding that has contributed to the breakdown of the family, a situation that is not nearly as prevelant among whites. 

 

Are you saying that black playas and pimps are emulating white men?  And as far as oral sex goes, black women wouldn't be bogged down with all these fatherless children if they'd considered this alternative.    

[Pioneer1 810]

Cynique

 

Where do you come up with all these ideas, Pioneer? If black people were trying to imitate white people's sexual behavior, they wouldn't be in the shape they're in. It's their wanton breeding that has contributed to the breakdown of the family, a situation that is not nearly as prevelant among whites.

The breakdown of the family indeed comes from trying to imitate White people and their marriage/dating customs.

As I said before, most Black men weren't made for monogamy....we are polygamous by nature and trying to FORCE Black men to settle down with only one woman for the rest of his life often leads to him cheating and producing babies out of wedlock.

On top of that, Black people are SEXUALLY MATURE....
We don't need to date and hold hands and get goofy around eachother like a lot of Whites do to build up the nerve to have sex. We can get right to the sex and then go about our business. That's more natural for us.
But because that type of sexual directness is frowned upon in a prudish Puritanical based society founded by Northern Europeans, it leads to a lot of AfroAmericans having to suppress their true sexuality.
On top of that, we have a society where safe and effective birth control is too often considered a sin or is largely unavailable so unwanted pregnancies result just from doing what's natural.

This system of marriage works for Whites and Northern East Asians who have a lower testosterone level and are not as sensual and produce less babies anyway, it does NOT work for most AfroAmericans and Latinos who are known to be very expressive and sensual people who tend to be very fertile.

It's all about finding a culture intune with one's nature.

 

Are you saying that black playas and pimps are emulating white men?

No, but that lifestyle is actually FORCED on some Black men.

How?

OK...I'm not trying to sound funny,  but because our sexual power is so strong (and I'm not necessarily talking about the act of sex itself but the masculine energy) that it often compels women to do whatever some Black men ask of them good or bad.
When many Black men find out they have this kind of power, they often abuse it or mis-use it.
Only a man with strong masculine energy can be a pimp or gigilo.


 

And as far as oral sex goes, black women wouldn't be bogged down with all these fatherless children if they'd considered this alternative

Well I'm not a woman, but most women (including lesbians) tell me that no matter how much oral they get they still need some sort of penetration.
BTW, you should be ashamed of yourself talking about things like that at your age.... LOL

You have a problem with Halle Berry in a bikini showing off her baby-bump but can't wait to promote oral sex as some sort of safe sex alternative, lol.

 

[Cynique 2,307]

Oooh, puleeze, Pioneer, my problem with women, especially celebrities, flaunting their unwed pregnancies is because they act as though their shameless embrace of this fad is something to be proud of. Who gives a damn if they're knocked up by who ever happens to be the stud they're currently screwing??? And who thinks somebody with a big belly wearing a tight dress looks like anything other than a distorted eyesore?

 

You make the ridiculous claim that wanton breeding occurs among Blacks because black men are encouraged to be monogamous. Does that make sense??? How would indulging their  true nature  to be polygamous prevent them from indiscriminately impregnating any woman they have the hots for??? 

 

And even animals have mating rituals, but if you are to be believed,  unlike civilized people, Blacks are mindless over-sexed creatures whose natural inclination is to follow their primitive desire to copulate as soon as the urge hits them.

 

Oral sex can be an alternative to penetration without protection - for both sexes.  And all these horny black men who want to bang every woman they see and don't want take care of the bastards they spawn, should get vasectomies. 

 

What you fail to acknowledge when advancing your theory about the true nature of black people, Pioneer, is that implicit in your claim is the idea that black people think with their genitals instead of their brains.   Speak for yourself. 

[Pioneer1 810]

Cynique

 

Oooh, puleeze, Pioneer, my problem with women, especially celebrities, flaunting their unwed pregnancies is because they act as though their shameless embrace of this fad is something to be proud of. Who gives a damn if they're knocked up by who ever happens to be the stud they're currently screwing??? And who thinks somebody with a big belly wearing a tight dress looks like anything other than a distorted eyesore?

Well......
There are entire websites dedicated to pregnant pornography, lol.
Obviously the sexualization of pregnant women ain't sore on EVERYONE'S eyes!

 

You make the ridiculous claim that wanton breeding occurs among Blacks because black men are encouraged to be monogamous. Does that make sense??? How would indulging their true nature to be polygamous prevent them from indiscriminately impregnating any woman they have the hots for???
And even animals have mating rituals, but if you are to be believed, unlike civilized people, Blacks are mindless over-sexed creatures whose natural inclination is to follow their primitive desire to copulate as soon as the urge hits them.
Oral sex can be an alternative to penetration without protection - for both sexes. And all these horny black men who want to bang every woman they see and don't want take care of the bastards they spawn, should get vasectomies.
 

I see........
So what you're saying is, leave the protection alone and go ahead with oral sex because it's not enough to get an STD in the genitals where you can atleast hide it; now more people will have an opportunity to walk around with blisters and scabs on their mouths and noses!

 

 

 

 

What you fail to acknowledge when advancing your theory about the true nature of black people, Pioneer, is that implicit in your claim is the idea that black people think with their genitals instead of their brains. Speak for yourself.

Lol....YOU'RE the one who continuously accuses Black men of "wanton breeding" and being horny bastards who want to hop on and hump every innocent unsuspecting woman who wanders through their line of vision!

But you want to accuse ME of promoting a stereotype?????

I'm not "failing to acknowledge" anything.
I'm just not ashamed of Black sexuality and don't we should be pretending to be something we're not just to fit in and be accepted in a culture that clearly wasn't designed by or for us.


The truth be told......
Some of our people actually DO pay more attention to their biological urges than their rational minds.  Especially when they're young and don't have the maturity to acknowledge the full and projected consequences of their behavior.  Most Black men don't reach full mental maturity until they get to be about 40.

But a progressive society would understand and accept these facts and because they would expect this type of behavior, they would in turn design it's laws and cultural norms for it. 

You seem to suggest that we HIDE reality so as not to look like horny savages to White people.
I on the other hand believe we should ACCEPT reality, embrace who we are,  and make the best of who we are by proper preparation.


Since we know young people WILL engage in sexual activity we will try our best to contain and eliminate sexually transmitted diseases (instead of calling them "God's curse") and make contraception and other forms of birth control more effective and available.

Since we know our men are polygamous by nature, instead of plopping down in a chair with our arms folded and making silly remarks about the Black man's sexuality....lol.
We would make polygamy legal but regulated and make adultery a punishable offense.

That's the type of society a strong healthy Black family will develop and prosper in.

[Cynique 2,307]

Oral sex like anything other form of sex involves risk, Pioneer.  But it seems to be what black men praise white women for when comparing them to black women.  So since you think black people are guilty of imitating the sex habits of white ones, my observations on the subject are that black women imitating white ones can have the effect of birth control, and birth control should be practiced by single people.  BTW, I don't see white women walking around with a lot of blisters and  scabs on their mouths and noses. But I do see them hanging on the arms of grinning black men.

 

I'm just amazed how you can't see the contradictions in your "assertions", Pioneer.  What are you talking about????? Legalize polygamy and punish adultery????? In the first place, there are no laws forbidding promiscuity.  And adultery is legal grounds for a divorce already.  If polygamy is sanctioned because it's natural, then why punish a married man for following his true nature by cheating on his wife?? You can't have it both ways. You've got to be kidding with the ludicrous statement that legalizing polygamy is the key to a healthy happy family.  You seem to have no qualms about how demoralizing this could be for a wife who'd have to put up with a womanizing husband. Not to mention how miffed men would be if their spouses decided to become polygamous, too. 

 

When I speak of wanton breeding, I'm talking about both sexes.  Not just men.  And,  adhering to your standards, it's not stereotyping black men if I accuse them of being sex mongers.  According to you, they are doing what comes natural to them, so this is not a case of judging all by the actions of a few.  

 

Naked pregnant women may very well be sexy to some men.  But they look foolish in tight dresses, as does anyone who wears ill-fitting clothing.  

 

You continue to make these broad, sweeping generalizations about black people.  In this country, people of color are hybrids as well as individualistic.  You can't say for a fact what their sexuality is or is not.  Just as you can't put all white people in the same category. You can only express your opinion, an opinion which seems to be based on judging others by the way you are. 

 

You apparently have no use for romance.  With you, its all about the instant gratification of tappin' that ass.       

[Troy 2,332]

Wow Pioneer you have taken the racial stereotypes to a new high.

 

I serioulsy I believe you have been brainwashed by the media.  Like so many white people you have been taken hook, line and sinker on pretty much all of the sterotypes applied to Black people and have firmly integrated, unfortunately, them into your world view.  Of course you are not unique in this regard.  Many people, if not most, do this as well.

 

I just don't usually see these perspectives expressed by educated adults.

 

That is not to say that our culture doesn't have conflicting and hypocrital standards when it comes to sexuality.  It absolutely does,  I'm not sure embracing promiscuity or pologamy is the answer.  Perhaps for some individuals it might be, but for most of us it would make things far worse...

[Pioneer1 810]

Cynique

 

Oral sex like anything other form of sex involves risk, Pioneer. But it seems to be what black men praise white women for when comparing them to black women. So since you think black people are guilty of imitating the sex habits of white ones, my observations on the subject are that black women imitating white ones can have the effect of birth control, and birth control should be practiced by single people. BTW, I don't see white women walking around with a lot of blisters and scabs on their mouths and noses. But I do see them hanging on the arms of grinning black men.

Lol, I see less interracial marriage between Black men and White women today than when I was a kid 30 years ago. When I was young most White men didn't want White women who were overweight and many would pass them up if they weren't blonde with blue eyes. After seeing them with Black men they decided to change their tune and take them back....lol.

The media is actually promoting more White men with Black women than vice versa.

Let's be clear, Black people aren't actually imitating the sexual habits of White people.

They're TRYING to....

The problem is because of our biological make up, we can't.

When White people try monogamy it usually results in sound healthy families; too often when our people and Latinos attempt monogamy it results in adultery and broken homes.

The only non-White people who seem to be successful imitating European sexual and family habits seem to be East Asians. I suspect this is because their testosterone rates are similar to Whites.

It's actually quite scientific.

But the single biggest reason White women are able to practice better birth control and aren't walking around showing symptoms of STDs is becuase most tend to have access to better health care.

 

I'm just amazed how you can't see the contradictions in your "assertions", Pioneer. What are you talking about????? Legalize polygamy and punish adultery????? In the first place, there are no laws forbidding promiscuity. And adultery is legal grounds for a divorce already. If polygamy is sanctioned because it's natural, then why punish a married man for following his true nature by cheating on his wife?? You can't have it both ways. You've got to be kidding with the ludicrous statement that legalizing polygamy is the key to a healthy happy family. You seem to have no qualms about how demoralizing this could be for women who'd have to put up with a womanizing husband. Not to mention how miffed men would be if their wives decided to become polygamous, too.

Where is the "contradiction"?

Polygamy isn't the same as promiscuity.

Polygamy is MARRIAGE....a legally sanctioned contract that gives the spouses legal and financial benefits that simple "fucking around" (promiscuity) doesn't; not to mention giving children a more stable home to grow up in.

I said adultery should be PUNISHED.

Simple separation and even divorce isn't a real "punishment", especially when the offending spouse has no money to lose or no alimony to pay and therefor no real incentive to remain faithful in the first place.

When I say punishment, I'm talking about forced to community service or hard labor...something that makes a person not want to continue the behavior.

 

 

When I speak of wanton breeding, I'm talking about both sexes. Not just men. And, adhering to your standards, it's not stereotyping black men if I accuse them of being sex mongers. According to you, they are doing what comes natural to them, so this is not a case of judging all by the actions of a few.

But the difference is.....

I'm saying Black men are highly sexed by nature because most of our brothers were blessed with a high testoterone rate and I see it as a good thing.

You're demonizing Black men by accusing them of being oversexed for lack of discipline.

Only in a society where sex is considered sinful, demonic, and animalistic is a highly sexed man considered dangerous and bad.

 

Naked pregnant women may very well be sexy to some men. But they look foolish in tight dresses, as does anyone who wears ill-fitting clothing.

You continue to make these broad, sweeping generalizations about black people. In this country, people of color are hybrids as well as individualistic. You can't say for a fact what their sexuality is or is not. Just as you can't put all white people in the same category. You can only express your opinion, an opinion which seems to be based on judging others by the way you are.

Broad sweeping generalizations?????

Sort of like the way YOU accusing Black men of being horn-dogs.....lol.?

Society......indeed civilization itself...has always been built around known patterns of behavior.

AfroAmericans may be individuals but there is clearly a pattern of behavior found among our people and even if you don't realize this there are many social scientists who do. Corporations spend millions of dollars every year studying the patterns of Black behavior to figure out how to market to us and make money.

Black people are individuals but there is a similar thread of thinking and behavior the runs through the community and social scientists understand this.

 

You apparently have no use for romance. With you, its all about the instant gratification of tappin' that ass.

 

You may have meant that as a slight, but actually you're quite on point, lol.

I'm not the best looking man in the world.....

I'm an introvert.....

And I don't have a very high sex drive.....

So I tend to focus on work and pushing my program more than romance.

But when I want sex....I want it......but without the emotional drama that often comes with marriage in this society.  The good thing is there are still women in this society who respect a man who is honest about his intentions, lol.

But I'm NOT a married man so if I choose to screw around that's my business because I'm not hurting anyone in doing so, I took NO OATH to remain with one woman alone.

When you're married things are different and you vow to a commitment and that commitment should be enforced.

 

 

[Pioneer1 810]

Admin


 

Wow Pioneer you have taken the racial stereotypes to a new high.
I serioulsy I believe you have been brainwashed by the media. Like so many white people you have been taken hook, line and sinker on pretty much all of the sterotypes applied to Black people and have firmly integrated, unfortunately, them into your world view. Of course you are not unique in this regard. Many people, if not most, do this as well.

Lol, are you talking to me or Cynique?

She's the one accusing Black men of being oversexed creatures who walk around grinning with White girls dangling from their arms...not me.

 

 

 

I just don't usually see these perspectives expressed by educated adults.

Then maybe I should have gone to college.....lol.

But then again if I had....perhaps this conversation wouldn't be as lively.

 

 

 

That is not to say that our culture doesn't have conflicting and hypocrital standards when it comes to sexuality. It absolutely does, I'm not sure embracing promiscuity or pologamy is the answer. Perhaps for some individuals it might be, but for most of us it would make things far worse...

Well the status quo certainly isn't working so........

[Waterstar 90]

Hiya, Troy! 

 

I think that this movie was the best Tyler Perry movie that I've ever seen. The Madea character has its place, yet I was especially thrilled that it did not pop up in this movie, even in cameo form. The message was there without an overly preachy presentation. The HIV factor would have been a twist had the movie been almost anyone else's than Tyler Perry's. As it was said, if only some of us could shut off the left hemisphere for the duration of the movie...

 

Still, I can appreciate how Perry consistently strives to use art as a tool to uplift/increase awareness. 

[Troy 2,332]

A sight for sore eyes Waterstar!  Where you been?  I agree with your last post 100%  

 

My tune on Perry has changed over the years, becoming more positive toward him because I really see that he is trying to make a positive impact with his movies and entertain at the same time he is getting better at it and making a ton of money to boot!

Pioneer your contributions are certainly contributing positively to the discussion.  You bring a perspective that is probably in the majority, but rarely expressed.

 

If I could get you to; (1) stop using racial stereotypes in your reasoning; (2) stop using your personal experiences to generalize across entire group of people, I will consider my job done.