Morality

Dr. Andre Rushkowski, the director of communications at my graduate school in Toronto told me precisely how to evaluate morality in movies. What gets punished in the narrative is immoral, what is allowed or rewarded is moral.

Boston Legal is popular and sophisticated. But conservatives who see sex as the main sin while cool about violence to people, animals or the planet will see their worst fears realized. The people the drama has us love are eloquent in the defense of ecology, honesty in politics, fairness in economics and legal rights for all are simultaneously indulging in lascivious sex much of the time.
We grow to love Alan Shore, who propositions a new girl every other show and who defends every underdog and every liberal cause: honesty, fairness and compassion. He defends principle above the law, whether it is euthanasia, ecology, abortion rights, or the common good over private property. William Shattner is a lovely foil: he is the archetypal Republican: racist, bigot, gun fanatic, loves all wars and is equally sexually indulgent.

The cultural message is clear. Consensual sex of almost any kind is OK. Lying, cheating, stealing, racism, religious intolerance and bigotry is not.