Joseph Gordon-Levitt Warns Of "Larger Movement That Is Currently Dragging Us Down"

Very interesting words from Joseph Gordon-Levitt made in relation to his 2006 short film "Pictures of Assholes." The context: the film involves Gordon-Levitt turning the tables on paparazzi and shooting video of them as they shoot pictures of him.

The quote in question is from Gordon-Levitt's introduction on YouTube to the "Pictures Of Assholes", and seems to speak not just of the paparazzi, not just of Hollywood, but of something bigger -- what the young actor refers to as "a larger movement":

"The only other thing I'll say is (and I had trouble deciding whether or not to be so blunt with my opinion, but here goes) I do believe that the myth of 'Celebrity' is not just innocently shallow entertainment, but a powerful and fundamental part of a larger movement revolving around greed, apathy and hierarchy that is currently dragging us down, down, down, lower and scarier, and perhaps weaker than we've ever, ever been. Smile!"

What could Gordon-Levitt mean about how "Celebrity" is part of this powerful "larger movement" that is scarily dragging us down and making us weaker?

A very young Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Certainly, nobody is shedding tears for the actor -- he continues to participate in Hollywood productions big (such as "The Dark Knight Rises") and small. But he's also been in the industry since age six. One would imagine that he has seen a lot during that time.

But would that younger Gordon-Levitt -- currently one of the most bankable names in Hollywood -- insinuate the same things now as he did in 2006?

I'll end this post with a quote from "Dark Knight Rises," in which his character, "good cop" John Blake notes ruefully to Commissioner Gordon:

"You were right, about the structures becoming shackles."