Rape Scenes in Television

[Devchonka]

Is there anyone else that feels this strongly about ALL the rape scenes in television and movies? It just pissed me off so much. I wasn't even raped, but I feel connected to fellow women and it just feels wrong.

 

I feel like rape of women is used to excite anger and pity for entertainment purposes. I feel like women are used. Men don't know what that emotion is like and I know women are not at all interested in seeing women get savagely raped, especially when the scenes last way too long...struggling victim with fear in her eyes and brute one or more men over her. Not to mention it is the men overwhelmingly making the movies and writing the scripts...so who are they writing this for?

 

Most of the time the scene doesn't contribute anything to the movie or the show anyway, not in a way that couldn't be portarayed in some different way.

 

I just watched Play Dirty, and the scene caught me off guard because it was nothing to do with the movie aside from showing us that the men were brutal (as if the rest of the movie didn't) all I kept thinking is HOW THE **** IS THIS ENTERTAINMENT? WHY ARE YOU SHOWING THIS TO ME?

 

I would love to see how many anally raped men scenes there are for every woman rape scene. Even when we are talking about SVU, which I refuse to watch anymore. You know why there isn't? Because men would never stomach constantly watching themselves being raped. THAT'S why it's only women or little boys or girls.

 

I mean really? Does no one else find it disturbing? Men portraying women in inescapable situations where men are destroying their dignity and life while overpowering and enjoying the fear and sadness in their eyes? WHY IS THIS OKAY?

[thathoopla]

Sounds a little paranoid. Along with the entertainment aspect of tv, television and the arts is a reflection of life, as well as a tool to magnify things in reality. I feel like it's fine to show because at LEAST some part of reality is being shown. Decades ago things like that would have NEVER been aired, and a lot of people never really could attempt to understand it. Of course it's going to elicit strong feelings from some people - that's what makes it work.

 

If you feel so strongly about it, skip over those scenes!

[rosephase]

Hi, I WAS sexually molested. I believe it is ALWAYS worth while to use art as a way to look into the dark places inside ourselves and our world. Would it be better if we all just forgot that this does happen? Would it be better if we didn't have a way to express the anger, the fear, the sexuality, the attraction, the repulsion?

 

Sometimes when I see rape on film or read about it in a book I cry. Sometimes I laugh. Sometimes I get turned on. Sometimes it makes my heart hurt. That is life. That is art. And you can choose to shield yourself from it if you want but you don't get to make the choice for other people.

[dragon lady]

Script writers wouldn't include rape scenes in tv shows if they didn't somehow captivate people. Some like the shock or horror of it all, which could be said for other forms of violence too. Others can relate due their own experiences with sexual assault.

 

Although I do find it disturbing, I don't have a problem with it being shown on tv or in movies. Part of that could be because I rarely watch tv, but more importantly because I realize that rape is a very real issue and to censor it because it makes some people feel uncomfortable seems wrong. It's like dusting it under a rug because you don't want to deal with the negative emotions it creates. I think this is a bad thing and it only contributes to promoting shameful feelings for victims.

[Devchonka]

That's fair. And I do skip the scenes, unless I'm stuck in a thieter.

 

What I guess I would like to see more is men raped. For torture scenes for example. It could definitely be used as torture method. No one else thinks a little more equality is warranted? Call me an idealist

 

For the actual rape victims...I would think you'd like to get past, forget and move on? It seems I'm wrong?

[jasminej]

as a rape victim myself, i freak out and feel like im having a panic attack everytime i see one. i wont watch movies that i know have rape scenes and when i watch one that does and i didnt know about it, i get up and leave.

 

i understand for people who havent been raped that it needs to come out in the open for people to recognize its an issue, but i feel like most (not be stereotypical...but in my experience guys in particular) are desensitized to it or do not think its a big deal. i have literally had over 10 guys tell me rape isnt a big deal and they all have watched a ton of violent movies with rape scenes. it disturbs me greatly. the shock factor i get, but i dont think most people are extremely shocked by it.

[rosephase]

For the actual rape victims...I would think you'd like to get past, forget and move on? It seems I'm wrong?

 

It's not about forgetting. At least not for me. For me it's about coming to an understanding, it's about working thru my feelings and thoughts. The last thing that would be personally useful for me would be to ignore it. To try and pretend it didn't happen.

 

Some people who have been in horrible car crashed get freaked out seeing it in a movie. Some people who have lost children can't watch anything that has to do with the death of a child. We all have trauma, we all have scars and we all get to choose how we deal with them.

 

ps there are a ton of movies where men getting raped. TONS. What we show in art isn't about "fair" it's about what the people making it want to say. I don't think it's very useful to say "Well I don't like seeing women get raped so we should have more scenes of men being raped!"

[Taikero]

What I guess I would like to see more is men raped. For torture scenes for example. It could definitely be used as torture method. No one else thinks a little more equality is warranted? Call me an idealist

 

So wait, just because it's a man getting raped it's now okay?

 

It makes you uncomfortable when it's a woman because you identify with it, and it's easier to distance your feelings there when it's a man, is that it?

 

What if it was a woman raping a man, drugging him and tying him up and forcing him to have sex against his will? It's still just as bad.

 

Honestly I have no problem with the showing of rape scenes, but I find most of them tacky and very cut-and-dry. There's really a lot more you could do with a rape scene than just this brutal man-on-top-of-woman thing. A non-rape scene that came close to actually being more interesting and very terrifying was in the new Nightmare On Elm Street remake near the end. THAT was scary and evoked emotion in me and was so much more compelling than something like the rape scene in The Hills Have Eyes which was more shock value than anything.

 

In short, rape scenes can be either compelling or they can be tacky. I think they shouldn't be censored or discouraged, but should be used intelligently to evoke an emotional response that fits the context of the story.

[Devchonka]

So wait, just because it's a man getting raped it's now okay?

 

It makes you uncomfortable when it's a woman because you identify with it, and it's easier to distance your feelings there when it's a man, is that it?

 

What if it was a woman raping a man, drugging him and tying him up and forcing him to have sex against his will? It's still just as bad.

 

Of course it's just as bad but how interesting would it be to see the man's reaction to that, seeing as they won't be able to distance themselves from it as much as they do with female rape scenes? I'm with jasmin on this:

 

 

"I understand for people who havent been raped that it needs to come out in the open for people to recognize its an issue, but i feel like most (not be stereotypical...but in my experience guys in particular) are desensitized to it or do not think its a big deal. I have literally had over 10 guys tell me rape isnt a big deal and they all have watched a ton of violent movies with rape scenes. It disturbs me greatly."

 

Rape is always an issue and always will be. Seeing it so often in holywood films just makes it trivial...just like we don't think about torture people undergo in real life this very moment, when we see the hero being tortured. There are a few movies where it makes sense and it contributes to the story...but very small percentage.

[PhilliesFan001]

I think for the most part, rape scenes are included in movies because they have some relevance to the story. For the rape scenes that are just included to shock audiences, well, it's tasteless for sure but it's probably in a generally tasteless movie anyway!

 

I'm not quite sure why though you'd want to see more male rape scenes - surely rape is rape and it's horrible and repulsive to watch it happen to anybody, no?

 

Personally when a rape scene is on, I have to turn my head or change the channel - I can't stomach it. I'm not saying it doesn't have its place in media because it's a part of real life that many people have had to experience, but I myself can't watch it without feeling sick.

[Juxtapoz]

the most graphic rape scene i've ever watched was with dr. melfi on the sopranos. it made me very uncomfortable and gave me flashbacks of my own experience. yet i was glad to watch it, i was glad they were touching on a subject that has affected so many lives. and she didn't just return to normal on the next episode. because you never do