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Tell us what you think >>
Selected submissions will be posted here regularly, so visit again to read more comments.
04/21/2008
"in the process of putting the film together, I tried not to make judgments on either the practice of hunting or on the tradition of beauty pageants. I only hoped to explore how two disparate events&each with very polarizing theme came to exist on the same stage. I hope what emerges is a portrait of a group of closely-knit people with a strong sense of community who pride themselves on living off the land." if that was the case, you would have just done a piece on mountain men. what you did was further shame white america into hiding and giving up its ways.(as if it needs help) i have lived in cities all my life. Sao Paulo BR, Washington DC.New Orleans,LA,,Nassua,BA.,NY,NY.,Baltimore city. what you did was make fun of these people. i know you wont have the testicular fortitude to publish this on your page. i am a firm believer in free speech, what i do not believe in is unscrupulous activity and deceit. furthermore,i do not believe in looking down on others whos traditions dont fit with your lack of them.im glad you made your film. bravo. bravo. you wasted film. i am a tattooed,big earring holed black boy from the city, who has had nothing but love from these folks.
From filmmaker Amy Nicholson:
As the director of MUSKRAT LOVELY, I understand how viewers might find offensive the scenes of muskrat skinning in the film. I realize that while minimal, these scenes are difficult to watch. I was very careful not to exploit the subject matter for shock value alone, but to include the skinning (as well as other aspects of muskrat history, trapping and cooking) as the context for the main focus of the film: a tender look at a small-town beauty pageant.
In the process of putting the film together, I tried not to make judgments on either the practice of hunting or on the tradition of beauty pageants. I only hoped to explore how two disparate events�each with very polarizing themes�came to exist on the same stage. I hope what emerges is a portrait of a group of closely-knit people with a strong sense of community who pride themselves on living off the land.
4/27/07
Brian Schiffhauer
Harpers Ferry, WV
Thank you for an excellent little film. I smiled the entire time I watched it. Kudos to Amy Nicholson for capturing a piece of the Eastern Shore to share with all of us and to all of the contestants and participants. I found the candidness of the film refreshing and charming, and found it an interesting perspective on the marriage of two entities that most people might find ... shall we say ... 'mutually exclusive'. Bearing in mind some of the negative press I have heard concerning beauty pageants, none of the young women competing appeared to be bothered by not winning. I got the impression that they were all a bit tougher, stronger, and less petty than that, and that in itself might be serve as a beneficial lesson to all of us. As for some of the negative comments I've read concerning this film, I suppose that I can agree to disagree only with those that were composed by vegetarians that have never cleaned a fish or used a mousetrap;). I hope that the filmmaker continues to create non-judgmental, subtly thought provoking, and thoroughly enjoyable pieces such as this one.
1/19/07
Nerissa Young
Shepherdstown, WV
It's easy to judge Nicholson and the people featured in "Muskrat Lovely" as inhumane barbarians if you've never had to live only on the food you could harvest with your own hands. The film is an accurate look at how some people who still have to live off the land can do so. FYI: You don't skin an animal while it's still alive.
I teach a documentary class at a public university in a highly urban community. After watching this film, I added it to required viewing. Apparently, some people need to educate themselves on rural ways, and they need to find the sense of humor that people in Dorchester County have about themselves.
12/7/06
Andrew Smith
Brayton, IA
I have not seen the movie yet, but now I want to. I trap during the winter, and do skin some of my muskrats. Fur is a very good renewable resource. Trapping is in no way barbaric or cruel. Some say that people are not the center of the universe, and nature is. Well, in nature, other animals kill other animals for their needs. I see no difference in a mink killing and eating a muskrat than me killing, and skinning a muskrat. That would be a fun sight watching people skin muskrats that quickly.
11/20/06
anna helgeson
Milwaukee, WI
Muskrat Lovely is brilliant, since I saw it a few weeks ago I can't stop telling people about it. So funny. And as a vegetarian femminist who grew up in a small town in Wisconsin-that has it's very own Pickle Fest(with a Pickle Princess)I found nothing offensive in this film. Honest, yes. But life is full of crazy things, just 'cause I wouldn't personaly skin a muskrat doesn't mean it's not darn interesting that others do. Thank you Amy Nicholson for making me laugh.
11/7/06
Elaine Meyrial
Providence, ri
While I didn't enjoy the scenes of skinning muskrats, I don't agree with the negative reactions posted on this site.
It's no more inhumane to skin a muskrat (for food--which the locals seem to consider a tasty dish) than it is to kill a chicken or a cow. Not all of us feel a moral obligation to be vegetarians.
For those who have threatened to stop donating to PBS, be rational. PBS offers so many outstanding programs, it shouldn't be penalized for broadcasting one program you happen not to like.
11/7/06
Lori S.
Centralia, Wash
Ok now, maybe I am a small town girl where hunting and fishing are still a strong tradition, but I thought this film completely captured (no pun intended) small town quirkiness. This documentary had me howling with laughter!
Loved it!
11/7/06
Pauline Baba
New York, NY
This skinning of the muskrats festivity is appalling and to think that there are people who find this amusing is appalling. Using violence as a form of entertainment is not amusing, it is a sickness.
11/7/06
Dana Wood-Seifert
I'd like to recommend the film Peaceable Kingdom by Tribe of Heart as it expresses an opposite viewpoint of animal abuse.
11/6/06
Steven and Helen Rayshick
Barre, MA
PBS has reached a new low. We simply cannot believe that you are glorifying the skinning of helpless animals (Muskrat Lovely). Sheesh. That's it for us and WGBH/PBS/Independent Lens. Not another penny. Ever.
11/6/06
Houston, TX
Where does one start? I kept thinking that the show MUST be tongue-in-cheek. It was like an episode of Saturday Night Live! It might be humorous if it weren't true. As for the hunting aspect, even I, as a non-hunter, know that is not hunting. "If the trap doesn't kill the Muskrat, it'll drown in the tide." What disrespect for life. The beauty pageant was in so many ways devoid of good values for young women. Did you listen to the songs? "I'll be your good-time girl?" Now there's something to teach our daughters!
11/6/06
jbarnes
toronto
disgusting.
humans are not the centre of the
universe people!! we do not rule
the earth..nature does!
all life on this planet must be treated
with respect, not exploited for
vanity or so-called entertainment.
11/6/06
Nashville Tn
I love independent lens, but this is way over the line. Showing the skinning of innocent animals for fun and entertainment is not saying much about the society we live in. Where have our ethics and compassion gone to? Doesnt anyone know the difference between right and wrong anymore? Killing animals does not prove you are a real man, it just shows you have no heart and are a coward. As for the beauty pageant, its about time women stop allowing themselves to be treated as objects and learn to demand respect as an equal. Shame on PBS for showing this and shame on the filmmaker for allowing two negative issues to be shown in such a light hearted and unethical manner. This is a disgrace in so many ways and is not in the best interest of society!
11/6/06
Carla Madrigal
San Francisco, California
Muskrat Lovely is a truely wonderful film - a delightful, honest look at a small town. I so enjoyed it. Thank you!
11/6/06
Dana Wood-Seifert
santa monica, california
Oh My God....The horror experienced by these little animals....at the hands of such a "civilized" group...I will remain apalled. Shame on us all... Can we not glorify - wether it's journalism or not...what should be outlawed. Who knows who will see this activity. While it might further the case against animal cruelty I believe it will condone and even promote the popular thought our animal brothers are worthless and expendible. Bad news.....trash it.
11/6/06
Paul Fortin
I believe that other animals share our planet and that we must respect them. This stupid show has got to be the sickest thing I have ever watched. It will be a cold day in hell before I will ever support PBS again if this is where my money goes. I have a strong stomach but this show made me run to the bathroom to vomit. Surely you people cannot be this stupid!!! I demand an apology. How can you possibly support this crap by giving it air time. Have you no moral standards?
11/6/06
Wendy
NY, NY
To the Director:
You just don't get it, do you. What a poor explanation for bad taste and worse judgement. Its not what you showed, or how you showed it. The fact that this animal torture is being done at all, and the fact that that you filmed it acknowledges and broadcasts that this practice has value. You have given it value. Disgraceful - spare us the responses that clearly show you do not understand the issue PBS viewers have with the documentary.
11/2/06
Daisy Hardiman
Cordova, TN
I can't believe what people are willing to do to gain a minute of fame (if you can call it so)I feel disgusted and disapointed of seing people with such little compassion for animals and wildlife in general to make it a show where few stupid girls get notting better to do than to get a crown. And we wonder why is the world the way it is right now?
11/2/06
Leslee
New York State
This show is digusting! Glorifying the death and skinning of defenseless animals is horrible and I dearly hope that PBS would think twice before airing another show like this one. If I see anything like this I will stop watching, and will convince others to do so also.
11/2/06
Lauren
Im sure you probably think that Im some city folk who doesnt understand the concept of eating muskrats, and I dont,......I just wanted to say that I hope you are treating the muskrats humanely, killing them humanely, and NOT doing any of the skinning while they are concious and sentient.
11/2/06
Merrilee Cichy
Little Falls, NJ
I am writing concerning the "Muskrat Skinning Queen" story, which I was dumbfounded to discover on a PBS website. It is possible that PBS has explored absolutely every subject and topic known to human kind that it must now resort to glorifying an animal slaughter "beauty contest"??? This is appalling.
I will not contribute another cent to any PBS station until disgusting programs such as this are no longer produced with PUBLIC money.
11/2/06
Lesley Sloan
Toronto, Canada
This must be up there with one of the most sickening things I have ever read. It is absolutely pityful that the only way you can draw attention to this is by skinning these animals. Whether you are skinning the animal alive (for a better reaction from the audience) or strangling/electrocuting it first then skinning it is basically the same - horrendous cruelty to animals. I will be forwarding the email that I have received to the Humane Society of the United States.
11/2/06
Beauty pageants,trapping,hunting.Both for dimwits. Embarrassing. Atavistic.
11/2/06
Jack
Ottawa, ON
your whole beauty/muskrat skinning contest is really disturbing, not fun and enjoyable. there are so many fun things to do in this world, why would anyone pick the slaughter of innocent animals as one of them. it's not fun, and it's not fun to watch, and it's not funny. it's heartless
11/2/06
Natalie Broadfield
Toronto, Ontario
What an incredibly repugnant choice of subjects - to say nothing of barbaric. How can anyone find the murder and subsequent skinning of animals an acceptable form of entertainment? Not only is it digusting, it's completely unnecessary! No one needs to eat *or* wear animals in this day and age, and by promoting such cruelty, this film is DEFINITELY appealing to "one type of audience" - a violent, sadistic one.
11/2/06
Sandra Diaz
I think its inhumane to show thsi type of show. In this day and age, we should learn to show animals and women more respect!
11/2/06
Paul Figueiras
Toronto, Ontario
This is so absolutely disgusting it almost defies description. I can't believe that we still have people in our modern day society that think it's ok to torture, maim, and kill other beings for nothing more than their own entertainment. I wonder how these people would feel if someone treated a dog, cat, or them like this. That the filmaker would refer to her film as trying to "strike a balance between what one type of audience would find entertaining or humorous and what would flatter the subject matter" just is so indicative of the lack of ethics and compassion inherent in certain segments of our society.
11/2/06
A. Christenson
Redneck sports. And PBS, of all broadcasting stations, is trying to glorify it. A giant step for man-kind... backwards.
11/2/06
Houston Texas
I am absolutely appalled and outraged that you can glorify cruelty - this is disgusting. No man or woman need be commended for cruelty! It is repugnant - anybody who thinks that they are brave and strong for hurting an innocent animal are sick. I cannot and will never understand how people think they are great marksmen, great hunters, or great in any way for aiming a gun and killing an innocent animal in any way whatsoever. I think people who are capable of such behavior are killers not great skinners, hunters or fisherman or anything else they believe themselves to be because they can pick up a gun and shoot something that cannot defend itself. What type of person derives pleasure from killing anything?
11/2/06
Wendy
NY, NY
Entertaining? Humorous? Flattering to the subject matter? You've got to be kidding. How does one find skinning animals any of the above. It unfortunately proves that some American filmakers, audiences and PBS stations are desperate in their quest for an audience. If you're trying to prove that PBS is not a liberal elitist organization, you've done your job, and then some. Did any of you ever have a paper cut? Did it hurt? Shame on you all.
11/2/06
Mary McInerney
Brooklyn, NY
I grew up in a hunting and fishing community on eastern Long Island. I can appreciate the kinds of traditions that develop in close-knit bayside communities, traditions that are based on the requirements of making a living off the sea and wetlands. This one looks like something that has devolved into gross stupidity of killing for the sake of entertainment.
11/2/06
Nichole Fox
Denver CO
I am absolutely disgusted by this film. I can't believe that this is something people would do for fun. It does not show how brave a woman, or a man, is, it shows the disrespect of living creatures. I have a young daughter who often watches PBS, but we will no longer. Exposing her to needless cruetly towards animals is not a value I want to pass on. And I hope you reconsider airing this program.
11/2/06
Portland Maine
This is an example of cruelty to an extreme.
Just a reminder: Albert Einstein said that the opposite of "empathy" is "EVIL".
11/2/06
northerntracey
London/England
Excuse me but what is 'brave' about ripping the skin off a defenceless creature. As a woman she should not have lowered herself to the level of cavemen, women are better than that. Following the example of small minded and cruel men is not something to be proud of.
11/2/06
Veronica
Santa Cruz, CA
What an awesome suprise to turn on KQED and see this film! I spent 9 years of my life on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in a town a few miles North of Dorchester County. My family moved there in the late Fall of 1992 from Sonoma County - talk about a culture shock! I hated it for the longest time but over the years the Shore grew on me and I came to really appreciate it.
When I was in college, my dad sent me the front page news cliping from one of the Outdoor Shows - I saved it b/c I always thought it was a great window into the sweet oddity of the area. There is no place like the Eastern Shore - thanks for such an entertaining and happy walk down memory lane.
11/2/06
Virginia Fuller
Belmont, MA
With reference to the muskrat skinning contest currently being shown on "independent Lens" - just because something that once was common and is now considered a cultural remnant of the "good old days" does not mean that PBS should consider it decent and acceptable for today�s audience. As a donor to PBS and an avid watcher, such a choice will certainly make me rethink my previously favorable and supportive views.
11/2/06
Madeline Lucas
Santa Fe, Nm
I am disgusted by the program Muskrat Lovely. What kind of Medieval mind set would feature such barbaric rituals?
Animal cruelty should not be a part of any program much less on a PBS show.
11/1/06
Alan De Lay
Chowchilla CA
I like to say that this episode on PBS was entertaining. I like to see what's going on back east with families that take part in tradition. I also like to see that young women aren't afraid to show their skills like the girl who skins a muskrat for her talent. That's a brave thing to do not just any girl would do something like that these days. I guess it takes brave girls from the east coast to do things like that.
11/1/06
Alan De Lay
Chowchilla CA
I like to say that this episode on PBS was entertaining. I like to see what's going on back east with families that take part in tradition. I also like to see that young women aren't afraid to show their skills like the girl who skins a muskrat for her talent. That's a brave thing to do not just any girl would do something like that these days. I guess it takes brave girls from the east coast to do things like that.
11/1/06
steve johnson
Loved the program I Think you should show more like this with women hunting fishing trapping and interacting with the outdoors.Its of great interest to us men who like the outdoors.And teaches the women a thing or to as well.
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