Kathryn Bigelow's eloquent defense of Zero Dark Thirty's torture scenes

In an essay for the Los Angeles Times, the embattled director stands up for an artist's rights to depict "inhumane practices" without endorsing them

Kathryn Bigelow
(Image credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

As Zero Dark Thirty continues to be attacked for allegedly celebrating torture — with recent salvos coming from actors Martin Sheen and Ed Asner, who have urged Oscar voters to boycott the film — director Kathryn Bigelow has written an essay for The Los Angeles Times describing her personal views on torture, and explains that an artist who depicts "inhumane practices" isn't necessarily endorsing them:

First of all: I support every American's 1st Amendment right to create works of art and speak their conscience without government interference or harassment. As a lifelong pacifist, I support all protests against the use of torture, and, quite simply, inhumane treatment of any kind.

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Scott Meslow

Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.