Comments on: The Long, Problematic History Of Rape Scenes In Film

By: joudemarcis odorio machado

joudemarcis odorio machado — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 15:30:00 +0000

filmes com tematica sobre violencia sexual serao sempre importantes,pois trarao essa mazaela social para o debate publico.

By: MikeDK

MikeDK — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 07:18:00 +0000

You really should have made a comparison of the rape scene in the original Danish/Swedish version of Girl With The Dragon Tatoo, and then Fincher’s version of the same rape scene. Where the original scene if almost impossible to look at, both because of directorial choices as well as the choice of actor to portray Bjurman, the Fincher version is highly sanitized and normalized. It’s more of a rough sex scene than a rape. And that’s the problem with it. It doesn’t get under your skin, it doesn’t reflect accurately the horrendous axct that is being depicted.
The Scandinavian version does that and more, and so becomes more than just a “rape scene”. It becomes a stomach turning experience, that stays with you long after the rest of the film is forgotten.

By: consptheory77

consptheory77 — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 03:48:00 +0000

In reply to consptheory77. Well, I just read the LA. Weekly article that was linked. I didn't realize so much content with rape was being produced. But honestly, I've seen over 2000 movies and lots of TV movies and TV shows, but somehow I have not noticed all this content, perhaps because I'm not the one necessarily watching all the trendy shows on HBO or Netflix, I guess I'm just watching different things. So a parallel question could be asked, of all the content with rape scenes being produced, how much of it is being consumed, as relative entertainment?

By: consptheory77

consptheory77 — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 03:09:00 +0000

If rape is as common as is being claimed (and I have no reason or inclination to dispute that) then it’s as common as murder, perhaps even more so, if I’m understanding the statistic correctly. So then there is no reason that it should not be represented in art or commercial film on regular basis, and if one is to object to the exploitation of rape (as per Game of Thrones) the larger problem (especially with that TV series) is the exploitation of violence and suffering in general. It’s not a problem that is ever going to go away. And it can’t be corrected by artificially promoting more women to direct or write films because it’s no guarantee they’ll be any better at it. I’m not sure how rape scenes can avoid nudity; certainly they want to avoid a situation in which the actress is subject to becoming an object of titillation, but (a) that’s just as true even for sexual scenes which are not violent in nature, and (b) if anyone watches the rape scene and finds it titillating, isn’t that their perversion, not something in the nature of the scene, though assuming we’re not talking about exploitation films? I’ve seen “I Spit on Your Grave” (and the remake and the two sequels), as well as “The Accused”, “Hard Candy”, “Elle”, the awful “Baise Moi”, and the Rooney Mara Dragon Tattoo but what I recall of the scene seemed plenty nightmarish to me, I didn’t deconstruct the language of the angles. I know someone who was date raped, and whenever we’ve watched a movie where a sexual assault takes place, we have to skip over it. But most of the movies listed by that linked Letterboxd article as having rape scenes, if one were to thin out the exploitation flicks and the ones with implied rape, how common would you say the portrayal really is?

By: Michelle Kirkwood

Michelle Kirkwood — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 13:22:00 +0000

Good article on a troubling subject.

By: KundaliniRising

KundaliniRising — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 21:54:00 +0000

It really does seem like a ridiculous number of films feature rape, but unfortunately as you point out in the article 1 in 5 women will be raped in their life. I guess that means 1 in 5 female characters would be rape victims for an accurate depiction of statistics, and since rape would be one of, if not the most, traumatic things to ever happen and would have a huge impact on who they are as a person it seems necessary to depict it in film. Totally agree with the idea that how it’s shown on screen needs to be respectful of the horror of the victim, and not the pleasure of the asshole committing the crime.

By: Daniel Thron

Daniel Thron — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 20:15:00 +0000

Blade Runner’s sex scene not meant to be innocent whatsoever, it’s meant to be upsetting. It’s easy to shoot any innocent love scene — and it’s obvious that that’s not what they were doing here, as it’s shot to be frightening, ugly, and uncomfortable — the very opposite of the romantic style that all of the previous scenes between Rachel and Deckard are. I encourage the writer to look at what this scene actually means in terms of what the film is saying, and what is happening for both characters. They are both replicants – all of whom are portrayed in the film as emotional children, barely able to control their impulses. She is aware of this, which us what is motivating her choices here (letting emotions control her actions means she’s just another form of slave), and he is not aware – and because of that, he’s losing control of himself.
The scenes prior tell us they are falling in love, but because they have no experience with what is happening for them, it comes with anger, fear, and possible violence – loss of control. It’s dangerous. It frightens us, making us ask WTF is happening here?? They are upset, we are upset. Anther way to see it is that the scene is a a voigt-kampf empathy test on the audience; instead of taking the easy route, it implicates us – even going so far as to break the photographic style and become a voyeuristic lens outside the blinds. Human emotions are being awoken in them – and in us – good or bad. It’s a complex, daring choice- the movie risks losing the audience to reinforce is statement. Certainly it’s doubtful that Ridley Scott was just randomly making it feel sexually violent.
After all, his previous film to this was almost 100% about the horror of rape – and just as deeply aware of its own themes a Blade Runner is.

By: Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 19:30:00 +0000

thank you!

By: Villings.

Villings. — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 19:18:00 +0000

good read. lots of titles and links, too. I love that.

also (and 100% off-topic), do you really “adore” Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?