Seriously

[jmtorres]

I am not sure if it is merely symptomatic of film in America or society in general or if my professor's selections of movies to analyze for gender are skewed a particular way but jesus christ I would like to be able to write an essay about film without talking about rape.

Like, not even rape culture. Just specific incidences of rape or sexual assault.

What the fuck.

Comments

[jmtorres]

There's just no getting away from it.

That frankly bothers me as defeatist thinking. I realize that I have a unique perspective as a film production student wild dreams of you know, entering the industry and making some shows that are goddamn different in terms of gender and race and sexuality, I can see how most people wouldn't be in a position where they feel like it's something they can go into the industry and change--but you can still change it from the outside as a consumer. I think it's important to have these conversations, to tell the internets and Hollywood when we think something is misogynist shit, and then to vote with our money and our eyeballs.

[klia]

I do vote with my money and eyeballs. But look at the show Fox renewed (Dollhouse, which I found incredibly misogynistic and offensive, not to mention squick-inducing, especially the way they used Eliza Dushku's body to sell it) vs. the one they cancelled (T:TSCC, which actually had believable, non-stereotypical female characters who didn't rely on showing their boobs or seducing men to get things done). Titillation wins out because it draws (slightly) more of the network's coveted male audience.

Yes, I'm bitter. I'm the target demographic for soap operas, chick flicks (neither of which I particularly like), and little else.

OTOH, if I didn't still have hope, I'd never watch anything new. *shrug*

[jmtorres]

You're aware that part of Fox's choice was that the network owns Dollhouse but did not own T:SCC? That was why Dollhouse was more lucrative--for T:SCC, syndication & DVD rights were property of another company, which, *checks IMDB* looks like is under Warner Brothers. Fox was just first-run distribution, so their opportunities for profit on the show were not as high.

[klia]

Yes, I knew it wasn't a Fox-produced show. I guess, then, viewers shouldn't get emotionally invested in any show that's not produced by the network that airs it? And I should consider myself incredibly lucky that Burn Notice, a show I absolutely love, is doing well, despite being a Fox-produced show airing on USA, which is owned by NBC/Universal?

I know it's a business, but, as a viewer, I keep hoping these ingrained patterns will change, somehow.