I realize that at this time the concept of abortion was being heavily debated. in the 1960's woman's movements where trying to repeal an abortion law on the grounds that woman had the right to chose for them self. There where also many medical professionals that where in agreement. I thought about it for awhile because its something i really haven't put a lot of thought on. For me personally i feel it is a woman's chose. But behind that what happens if a women get raped or she die because of the pregnancy. How then can you tell someone that they shouldn't have an abortion. The major problem that i see is that the major groups that where against abortion where conservative religious nuts that are moral against abortion for any reason weather it save another life or for any reason at all. After watching the film i think that the use of this major social issue was intentional.The use of God, Satan, and religious ties would grab the attention of the opponents and show them a little reason. The makers use horror to obscure the direct commentary their making. And this allows any person to watch the film and have empathy for the woman and wish she had a way to get rid of the devil baby.
So when i started watching this movie I was very skeptical of how it had anything to do with the overall concepts from our class. I mean a horror film is mean to scare people and really play with peoples primal fears. Like a mothers fear of losing a child witch was plainly clear in this film. I personally feel that when it comes to film criticism sometimes people go overboard trying to think of over the top subplots and hidden meaning within films. I will admit what ever is going on in society will often be mirrored in our media; but i strongly feel that sometime we go to far when the explanation might be a simple as trying to scare someone or to entertain. I felt after our in class discussion that the ideas where being pushed a little farther and abstract then the makers most likely intended.
I think the most interesting part of this discussion deals with the modernization of the the pregnancy. At this time technology was progressing and the medical profession was turning to drugs and modern medicins to help deal with the problems and complications of woman's pregnancy. Even in the early sixties infant and mother deaths where happening. I feel that the movie does a good job of making a commentary on the use drugs and new medicines in pregnancy's. Its scary to know that there where a lot of baby's being born with birth defects due to poor medical practices and doctors giving woman median that they them self's didn't know if they where any good. I can see that this idea would scare woman to know end. Think about it, you want to have a better change of having a healthy pregnancy so you take pills and medications and then your baby has defects because of the drugs. That's something no mother would want to deal with.
I guess its just crazy to think about someone trying to make a horror movie that's at its core deals with social issues that where such a big deal at this time. I wish at i could have been alive at this time in order to see if these ideas where really such a big topic on peoples mind. But i guess i never I'll so i have to say that for the most part people most likely saw this for a scary horror film and not much of a social commentary on woman's rights, abortion and pregnancy.
