To think rape scenes are unnecissary?

[BeeRayKay]

Okay,

AIBU to think TV programmes rely on rape/violence against women too much to make it "grim"?

Like in so many of these shows that are about ancient rome or what ever (Atlantis or something?) there are always rape scenes (or at least seem to be whenever I turn them on) and now in my favourite t.v show at the moment, in the clip of the next episode they show one of the women being raped....

I just think its...unneeded. I don't want to see depicted rape scenes in every t.v show I turn on. And it annoys me that so many shows rely on it as a story line when there are plenty of other avenues they could go down?

[CatsCantTwerk]

I honestly can not remember the last rape scene I seen on tv. (probably john paul on hollyoaks)

But, When there has been one it has been followed with a helpline type thing afterwards. I don't think rape should be censored as it does happen and if it is clearly portrayed as rape then surely it could possibly help some real life person watching the programme realise that it is not right?

I know I am not very good at explaining things while typing but I'm sure you know what I mean :)

[squoosh]

They're unnecessary if they're there just to titillate the viewer. Not unnecessary if they're done realistically (although I realise some people would find that titillating anyway) and as part of the actual storyline..

I get sick of programmes serving up attractive female corpse after attractive female corpse. I enjoyed The Fall but it seemed to serve up one too many scene of gorgeous brunettes being murdered.

[CatsCantTwerk]

If one rape scene on tv makes someone stand up and get help then I can only see that as a good thing.

I hope that makes more sense than my last post.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Years and years ago I refused to watch A Clockwork Orange for this very reason.
Now its so much harder to avoid seeing it

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

Clockwork orange, particulalrly that scene, was very disturbing imo.
Thats a tough AIBU. I can see what ppl say about not censoring rape. Because it is terrible,
But I oten think that rape scenes are designed to titilate. And that is unacceptable. I can till remember boys at school raving about the rape scene in "The Accused" properly sickening!

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

I often have staff in action lines and very often a rape scene can lead to someone getting the guts up to call and talk

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

Well thats encouraging sockamnesty

[DoJo]

Perhaps it's an attempt to reflect the horrifying reality of how frequent rape and sexual assault is? Presumably anything attempting to be 'gritty' and 'realistic' would have to acknowledge that fact in some way.

[Tobyjugg]

Clockwork orange, particulalrly that scene, was very disturbing imo

Then don't watch Straw Dogs. That was brutal.

I think they are unnecessary and gratuitous.

[MrsUrquhart]

YANBU, I've noticed it more recently - not just rape but violence against women, in some many crime dramas, done in a way that's obviously supposed to titillate rather than depict what it's actually like. Not powerful/affecting, just a bit seedy and sexualised.

[SaucyJack]

I haven't watched Game Of Thrones, but I read some of the books and there were rapes on practically every other page.

It was a bit off putting tbh.

[80schild]

YANBU - I would extend it to basically too much gruesomeness / violence in every area. I feel it is almost pornographic (which clearly should not be the intention).

[RenataFlitworth]

YANBU.

[GladysTheGolem]

It's a 'good' thing to show, it's a good/realistic plot point as so many people endure it (is it 1 in 4 women endure sexual assault?). And in an historical setting, where it was legal to rape your wife, slaved had no rights etc it's important/justifiable as it clearly went on.

Like any emotive subject, any person watching might decide to speak up about it because they're realised it happened to them but they hadn't realised it.

'the' rape scene in This is England 1986 was awful. It was gritty, realistic & felt awful watching it. It got the newspapers talking about it & it's the one that sticks in my mind most from the lastfew years.

[GladysTheGolem]

My post makes no sense, feeding baby so apologises.

[feckitall]

If it is needed to be graphic I have always felt it is poor directing and acting. Implied requires more skills. We shouldn't need to 'see' anything. It is the same with 'love' scenes ..implied is imo more erotic than graphic..

[PuttingouthefirewithGasoline]

therealamanda I agree.

I think it de sensitises it, and yes there is too much violence towards women on TV.

Yes feck, certainly better when things are implied. and no we dont need to see it.

[Tobyjugg]

I agree feck. When the Forsyte Saga was first televised, the scene where Soames raped Irene involved some rolling on the bed, Soames (shock!) removed his jacket and Irene had her ball gown slightly ripped. However the audience was in no doubt about what had happened.

[SolasEile]

YANBU - I've seen an increase in rape imagery and related storylines across a lot of popular TV shows in the last couple of years: Downtown Abbey, Game of Thrones, Scandal (I think?), too many to mention really. It's becoming a little too easy and it's not always handled sensitively (definitely not in GoT!). I feel sorry for any abuse survivor trying to navigate the media and popular TV. Must be very harrowing to see this plastered everywhere as a cheap thrill storyline. I've never experienced any abuse or assault, for which I'm very thankful, but I still find these storylines upsetting and it puts me off.

[Dutch1e]

YANBU. You're just not. I don't mind sex on TV, and I don't mind violence. But sexual violence is used far too frequently.

It's degrading for everyone and promotes a culture of fear.

There are ways to talk about rape without using it as a hackneyed standby for setting up a 'mentally unstable' fictional character.

[DarthVadersTailor]

It's no more unnecessary than any other act of gratuitous violence depicted on film or TV.

[Millie3030]

I completely agree, why do they need to show it? You can imply rape and it be sinister and horrible without actually showing it. i remember watching a war film showing a rape scene over 10 years ago and that scene still haunts me today.
But unnecessary voilence is the same, the scene in Casino where they beat the guys with baseball bats, why? Why do I need to see that? You are horrible thugs, we get it, why film that scene for so long and show so much?

We all know pedophiles exist do we need to see that next? No!

I think crap directors do it for drama, they do it to shock because their storylines are rubbish and they need memorable scenes. It makes me hate any film with unnecessary violence, rape, sex scenes.