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The Handmaid Tale Responses essay assignment
In the British indie film Legend starring Tom Hardy as real life gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray, the film depicts the courting and marriage of Reggie to his wife Frances up until her eventual suicide. In one particular scene, during a rough patch of their marriage, Frances attempts to shield her car from the rain whilst Reggie sits on the car and insults her. She runs inside and he briefly watches her retreat before drinking from a flask, indicating that he is inebriated. He then enters their home, finds her in the bathroom and proceeds to drag her towards the bedroom. The scene ends with Frances’s screams heard off screen; Reggie, no! Please Reggie!
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This is a shining example of the sort of rape scene that Neil Davidson criticisms in his essay, although thankfully not all of his points are relevant. For one thing, despite the fact that we see Frances topless whilst she attempts to dry her clothes, the scene is thoroughly unsexy. Amidst Reggie’s silent demeanor as he violent throws her around like a rag doll and Frances’s screams, there is absolutely no question that this is a rape scene. The fact that she does not want this to happen is abundantly clear, containing no subtext of secretly wanting him as the scene Davidson references in Game of Thrones argues. What’s more, beyond Reggie dragging Frances to the room and throwing her on the floor, the audience are not treated to the actual details of the scene, instead only hearing Frances’s screams as the camera zooms away from the entrance of the bedroom. Therefore, Davidson’s sub-title in his essay; Rape Does Not Have to Be Seen To Be Believed is incredibly valid, as this particular scene is an example of that.
However, one cannot argue that the rape even being in the film is a rather lazy plot device, as Davidson argues most if not all rape scenes are. In real life, Frances Kray insisted that Reggie Kray never physically attacked or abused her, preferring more psychological methods of abuse. With this knowledge, the fact that the writers required a shocking reason for Frances to leave Reggie in the following scene and the method they chose was ‘he rapes her’ becomes incredibly office, citing to Davidson’s idea that most rape scenes are merely “a recipe for cheap drama: Take a story, add one rape, stir vigorously, and presto—instant emotional reaction!”
(I need response for this post at least 100 words)
Post 1-
The Handmaid’s Tale, Season 2, Episode 10 “The Last Ceremony”, 2018
The Wired article written by Laura Hudson makes several valid arguments as to why rape scenes in movies/tv shows are often unnecessary and the result of lazy writing, aside from serving as unrealistic representations of sexual assault. In particular, her simple claim that “rape does not have to be seen to be believed” is one that makes a lot of sense, yet is countlessly disregarded. Plot writers frequently use rape as a means to develop their characters. This is especially true for female characters. For example, in order to bring commentary that is centered around a female character’s traumatically painful past (which almost always equates to sexual violence/abuse) to life, it is very common for the directors to include flashback scenes explicitly showing the rape take place. Hudson questions why it takes a detailed portrayal of the rape in order for it to be legitimized. Not to mention that there are plenty of other hardship-based story lines that could be chosen to contribute to the complexity of a female character.
Her next point touches upon how rape is commonly misused “as a means to be edgy or shocking”. This is relevant to the rape scene that I found in my internet search–– since I couldn’t think of a movie or show that I’ve seen in which rape is depicted graphically. In episode 10 of season 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale, “The Last Ceremony”, the protagonist June is 9 months pregnant and still hasn’t birthed her baby. She lives with her Commander and his wife Serena, who apparently envies June’s pregnancy. The Commander suggests that engaging in “sexual intercourse” with her would be a viable option for inducing her birth. This is not only completely inaccurate but also a problematic misnomer. The horrific scene unfolds with Serena pinning June down forcefully after June already clearly established that she didn’t want to try the Commander’s proposed sexual solution. June screams and cries out in protest while the Commander disrobes in front of her. The rest of the scene is fairly self-explanatory… Besides the fact that the show is based on a society which subjugates fertile women into child-bearing slavery (which is already disturbing in itself), this rape scene contributes unnecessarily to its edginess. What’s more, the Commander seems to be enjoying/getting aroused by June’s painful struggle.
(I need response for this post at least 100 words)
Post 2-
I have never seen a rape scene in a movie or TV show nor will I ever. I either avoid the movie or series altogether or shut it off/walk away if such a scene were to unexpectedly appear. The idea of including a rape scene in a movie/show has always baffled me and I find it completely unacceptable and disgraceful for reasons I will get to. In Hudson’s article, she mentions that rape scenes should not be written. I agree of course. What I don’t agree is for there to be exceptions to this. There should never be an exception for a rape scene to be written, in my opinion. Rape has always been a horrible part of reality since Biblical times. I understand it is part of certain stories that are told and should not be omitted. But there is no need to describe or depict all of the details especially in a way that glorifies it. Looks at Genesis 34 for example. One word is used: “force” to get the point across without going into details or diminishing the emotional impact it had on the family (her brothers were so upset they slaughtered and sacked the city). Movie producers include rape scenes because lets face it… it sells. The porn industry can attest to this. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/202… That is exactly why I am against it. Game of Thrones said it was an oversight, but I think producers knew exactly what they were doing when they wrote the scene.