Maleficent - Trigger Warning (Rape)

[montereybride]

People on my FB are talking about this.

Maleficent Rape Scene

Thoughts? Has this already been discussed?

[Deleted]

OMG. No. She wasn't raped. Every time someone is harmed in a movie while asleep doesn't = rape.

Also, "rape culture" is a little much. It's illegal and considered despicable by the majority of the population. A true rape culture would be, like, Viking culture or something.

[mudslide]

I haven't seen the movie but it seems like they're really reaching here.

[sawyerthedestroyer]

Jun 6, 2014 22:27:09 GMT -5 mudslide said:

I haven't seen the movie but it seems like they're really reaching here.

Ditto.

[mrsgoontz]

I actually saw Maleficent this afternoon and they are reaching with that analogy IMO. I don't want to give away any more of the movie than the article already does so I won't go into my full explanation of why but yeah...the way it was shot and performed I did not get that impression at all.

[maggiemoo]

If you have seen it, too scary for a 5 year old? Or will they just be bored?

[elleblue]

Jun 6, 2014 21:49:42 GMT -5 @stellasmom said:

OMG. No. She wasn't raped. Every time someone is harmed in a movie while asleep doesn't = rape.

Also, "rape culture" is a little much. It's illegal and considered despicable by the majority of the population. A true rape culture would be, like, Viking culture or something.

Do you mean in general or within the context of this movie? 

[flamingeaux]

I have seen the movie and feel like they are really, really reaching for that. Betrayal and Assault definitely. It wasn't in any way sexual, and it definitely wasn't a matter of that character seeking to show power over her. It was more of an extremely personal mugging, I think.

[sonrisa]

Rape isn't the only awful battery that can happen to a person. She was maimed, not raped. It was an act of mayhem, not a sex crime. It was akin to amputating her legs.

And no, maggiemoo, I would not take a 5 year old to see it.

[flamingeaux]

Jun 7, 2014 1:00:35 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Rape isn't the only awful battery that can happen to a person. She was maimed, not raped. It was an act of mayhem, not a sex crime. It was akin to amputating her legs.

And no, maggiemoo, I would not take a 5 year old to see it.

This is a far more accurate version, of what I was attempting to say earlier.

[Deleted]

There is no rape scene. I agree with everyone else, that is really reaching to come to that conclusion.

[cinnamoncox]

Jun 6, 2014 23:21:10 GMT -5 maggiemoo said:

If you have seen it, too scary for a 5 year old? Or will they just be bored?

I've seen it and there wasn't a rape scene, no.
I souls NOT being a five year old though.
Seven I may consider it depending on the child.

[cinnamoncox]

Jun 7, 2014 0:04:34 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Jun 6, 2014 23:21:10 GMT -5 maggiemoo said:

If you have seen it, too scary for a 5 year old? Or will they just be bored?

Depends.. How old were you when you saw Sleeping Beauty?

I wouldn't compare it like this though. I think the live action makes it far far more intense or scary than the original (unless there's another live action that I'm unaware of)

[lissaholly]

I have not seen the movie, but I think it is important to keep the word "rape" as literal as possible. I feel like it is actually harmful to blur lines that are so often blurred legally already. Again, I have not seen the movie so I can not comment how this assault to a woman was treated, but I think the article would have a point towards that, possibly.

I also think bad things happen and then people become mean to other people is not a far fetched story line either. It sounds self-explanatory. Even for Disney.

[litebright]

Jun 6, 2014 23:23:19 GMT -5 elleblue said:

Jun 6, 2014 21:49:42 GMT -5 @stellasmom said:

OMG. No. She wasn't raped. Every time someone is harmed in a movie while asleep doesn't = rape.

Also, "rape culture" is a little much. It's illegal and considered despicable by the majority of the population. A true rape culture would be, like, Viking culture or something.

Do you mean in general or within the context of this movie? 

I want to know this, too, @stellasmom.  Because it sounds like you mean in general and I can't disagree with that enough. 

[Deleted]

Jun 7, 2014 9:38:00 GMT -5 litebright said:

Jun 6, 2014 23:23:19 GMT -5 elleblue said:

Do you mean in general or within the context of this movie? 

I want to know this, too, @stellasmom.  Because it sounds like you mean in general and I can't disagree with that enough. 

You mean the "rape culture" part? I mean that in general. Disagree away.

[sonrisa]

Jun 7, 2014 10:50:28 GMT -5 lilmissladybug said:

The word rape seems to be thrown around flippantly. 

I'd argue the converse. Calling every violent act rape also minimizes the horror of other violence. Not because rape isn't horrific, but because it suggests that anything without a sexual element is somehow less serious. Maiming and mayhem (removing limbs, etc) are sufficiently horrific acts. 

[elleblue]

Jun 7, 2014 9:40:15 GMT -5 @stellasmom said:

Jun 7, 2014 9:38:00 GMT -5 litebright said:

I want to know this, too, @stellasmom.  Because it sounds like you mean in general and I can't disagree with that enough. 

You mean the "rape culture" part? I mean that in general. Disagree away.

^o)

[iamgrace]

I think only a very sheltered person would suggest rape culture doesn't exist. Sorry, Stella, but you're wrong. 

[Deleted]

I've seen the movie.

No.

[elleblue]

Jun 7, 2014 14:39:43 GMT -5 iamgrace said:

I think only a very sheltered person would suggest rape culture doesn't exist. Sorry, Stella, but you're wrong. 

Thank you. I kept typing and deleting responses because I couldn't figure out how to say what I wanted to without bordering on rude. And I didn't want to be rude. 

[iamgrace]

Jun 7, 2014 14:57:38 GMT -5 elleblue said:

Jun 7, 2014 14:39:43 GMT -5 iamgrace said:

I think only a very sheltered person would suggest rape culture doesn't exist. Sorry, Stella, but you're wrong. 

Thank you. I kept typing and deleting responses because I couldn't figure out how to say what I wanted to without bordering on rude. And I didn't want to be rude. 

I had to think about it all day to figure out what I wanted to say lol.  

[elleblue]

Jun 7, 2014 15:04:40 GMT -5 iamgrace said:

Jun 7, 2014 14:57:38 GMT -5 elleblue said:

Thank you. I kept typing and deleting responses because I couldn't figure out how to say what I wanted to without bordering on rude. And I didn't want to be rude. 

I had to think about it all day to figure out what I wanted to say lol.  

It was eloquently put, so well done. 

[hopecounts]

Jun 7, 2014 9:40:15 GMT -5 @stellasmom said:

Jun 7, 2014 9:38:00 GMT -5 litebright said:

I want to know this, too, @stellasmom.  Because it sounds like you mean in general and I can't disagree with that enough. 

You mean the "rape culture" part? I mean that in general. Disagree away.

twitter.com/YesAllWomen

[mrssandro]

Jun 6, 2014 22:57:50 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

I've also seen the movie and never got a rape vibe at all.

This. Rape did not come to mind at all. WTF

[wrathofkuus]

I did, actually, think of rape in that scene. He slips a roofie into her drink, then does something irrevocable (as far as we know at that time) to her body.

I can't possibly be the only one who learned about coded imagery in literature in college, like Euridyce being bitten by a venomous snake when that dude corners her at her wedding reception meaning he raped and killed her.

[wrathofkuus]

And you KNOW I'm giving a hearty wtf to Stella's "rape culture doesn't exist unless people are openly saying yayrape." I suppose racism isn't much problem either, since it's gauche to be openly racist?

[livinitup]

I waited until I saw the movie to read this post. I saw it this afternoon. Didn't want a spoiler.

So, I didn't think "rape" when I watched the scene. But I think the article makes an excellent point. Especially with the drugging and the visible pain of recovery. In some ways, the amputation is easier to "see" than the loss of a sexual violation.