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Original poster

to not want my DS to be confronted with this large poster when we go to cinema?

417 replies

HubbaBubbaMum · 08/01/2016 10:25

Went to cinema this week with DH, planning to take DS and his brother tomorrow for birthday treat. I can't believe that in 2016 we will be forced to walk past this poster and that they have even called the film Dirty Granpa!
www.movieinsider.com/posters/277857/

Really??? Letching older man perving young woman's suggestively raised arse whilst other man holds 'petrol nozzle' pointing at her?? I don't want my sons seeing this sexist shit.
(only one cinema in our town btw)

OP posts:
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7
Theydontknowweknowtheyknow · 09/01/2016 11:17

Livia, if the poster/movie is in fact condemning RDN's lechery over her arse, why are they using said arse to draw attention to the movie?

Condemning objectification through objectifying. Right...

horseygeorgie · 09/01/2016 11:18

Fully expect flaming of course, as I'm not allowed to hold an opinion without justifying it to hordes of angry Mumsnetters! Grin

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/01/2016 11:19

Theydont So what? People are paying to see him, that's why he will be paid more than some random actress of whom nobody has heard. He gets asses (literally and metaphorically) on seats.

And if people can't think of examples of advertising/film posters where men are objectified then just look around.

I don't think that anything using the idea of a superior inferior sex is right. SATC is a total franchise based on objectifying men in the name of feminism. But apparently that's okay because it's a reversal of the sexes.

It would be great if nothing used the idea of one sex being superior, but I think we have a long way to go until that happens.

laurierf · 09/01/2016 11:19

By forcing the hive mind opinion on to posters, it is oppressive. You are basically saying they can't hold any opinion if it differs from yours!

Where has that happened? Who has been forced to have an opinion? What have been the consequences for those who don't think this poster is totally shit?

CultureSucksDownWords · 09/01/2016 11:24

You don't have to find it offensive - I don't care what any one individual thinks about this poster. If you don't think it objectifies the woman in it, that's fine - I would like to know why you think that because I disagree and think it's fairly obvious how she's been objectified (her face is not shown, she's in a suggestive sexually available/vulnerable pose, she is interchangeable - she could be any woman). I'd like to know more about the thoughts of those who don't think that this woman has been objectified, I'm not attempting to force a hive mind opinion on them!

Yes, that particular Magic Mike poster objectifies the man in the poster too. How does that affect the poster that's being discussed here?

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/01/2016 11:25

General disdain and horror that people can condone such a terrible thing.

It just isn't that important in the major scheme of things - man does movie where presumably he's a sexist old git who turns his life around. Poster for said movie has said sexist old git perving over an anonymous ass with a strategically placed petrol pump.

Not funny, not subtle. Not interested? Don't go - and perhaps invest in blinkers so that your children don't glimpse it. If they do see it and understand the point, maybe explain why you don't feel it's unacceptable, but there is an awful lot goes over children's heads!

laurierf · 09/01/2016 11:27

And if people can't think of examples of advertising/film posters where men are objectified then just look around

I seriously haven't seen any equivalents - a headless male body being stared at by a woman? Perhaps they exist, but I haven't seen an example of a mainstream film being advertised in this way?

I guess the Magic Mike and Showgirls might be considered comparable films? Advertising for Magic Mike - full body shots of men (including faces), in trousers or jeans and trainers. Advertising for Showgirls? Some posters with a full nude shot (including face) of the lead actress, a number of others with just her arse and legs in hotpants and stilettos or the same nude shot with her face cut off at the top.

Theydontknowweknowtheyknow · 09/01/2016 11:30

And if people can't think of examples of advertising/film posters where men are objectified then just look around.

Firstly, there are not as many. Not nearly as many. Secondly, why assume that I like those? I'd happily live in a world where no sexes were objectified.

SATC is a total franchise based on objectifying men in the name of feminism. But apparently that's ok

Who said it was OK? Not me. Having said that it's not exactly the same. The male characters in SATC got a better deal than female characters tend to get in male action material. We know their names, they are not just bodies, they have personalities.

I'm glad you said "in the name of feminism" though because IMO, SATC especially at the end was a consumerist appropriation of feminism, not the real thing at all.

laurierf · 09/01/2016 11:30

I take it those calling people who object puritans, prudes, people with sexual hang ups, anti-men etc. are not showing general disdain for those who disagree with them then Hmm

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/01/2016 11:33

Culture 'I'd like to know more about the thoughts of those who don't think this woman had been objectified'

Why - the people who disagree that she is being objectified are then just setting themselves up to having other posters stomping over them. If there was to be a polite-ish debate then people would engage but these threads always go the same way.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/01/2016 11:35

Theydont That's okay then - all the men who have been treated shabbily should just be grateful because it's far worse for women.

CultureSucksDownWords · 09/01/2016 11:37

I've been polite, no? If you're not going to engage and explain your reasoning then no debate can't be had. You say "no" I say "yes, here are my reasons" and you won't respond further.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/01/2016 11:37

laurie I can't speak for other posters but I haven't used any of those phrases. Just because I don't agree with people's opinions, that is no reason for calling them names.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/01/2016 11:40

Culture Yes you have been very polite - the problem is that threads like this always end up with some of the more aggressive posters coming on and stopping any reasoned debate if it isn't going their way.

That's completely their right to do so but it just means that people cba.

I would genuinely like to have a debate about a lot of areas of sexism with which I'm not very familiar (probably most of it!) but, having tried in the past, I got flamed for asking 'stupid' questions.

BertrandRussell · 09/01/2016 11:41

"Theydont That's okay then - all the men who have been treated shabbily should just be grateful because it's far worse for women."

Of course not. But has anyone ever seen a mainstream movie poster where women are gazing at a disembodied male arse and there is a strategically place petrol pump to "humorously" suggest that they are considering penetrating his anus?

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/01/2016 11:43

Plenty of posters objectifying men - just because they don't involve suggested anal penetration, that doesn't make it acceptable.

horseygeorgie · 09/01/2016 11:43

I personally haven't called anyone anything. I can't speak for anyone else. Not the right way to do things though, whichever way it works.

I included the Magic Mike poster as a comparison. I think it is actually worse though! I am fully aware the amount of poster featuring men is alot lower though.

I also didn't say I didn't think she was being objectified, in fact other than saying it didn't offend me personally and it was lazily designed I didn't offer an opinion either way.

The unfortunate fact is, these posters are designed with the films target audience in mind. This is obviously geared towards a fairly youngish demographic and they are using cheap lazy marketing to pull in young guys to see it. The balance of Zac Efron/RDN in a mildly comic film PLUS scantily clad women is screaming 'couple' film that the woman will bear if she has to and the man will want to see because of the above.

Personally I think that is a load of bullshit, I certainly don't think all men will think that or women will universally hate it, but that is how films are marketed.

With regards to differing opinions, I was merely trying to point out that to disagree on this page has so far been met with an inquisition.

laurierf · 09/01/2016 11:44

horseygeorgie - did that shop poster you linked to actually appear on billboards? In which country?

BertrandRussell · 09/01/2016 11:46

I would really like to try to understand why that poster is "not" objectifying women.

The Magic Mike poster is objectionable too. However. There is no suggestion that the man concerned is vulnerable. There is no suggestion that he does not know what is happening. And there is a strong suggestion that he is making a significant chunk of money by showing off his Stars and Striped crotch. He is in control of the situation. There is no way that photograph could have been taken without his consent. None of those things could be said of the woman in the Bad Grandpa thing.

BertrandRussell · 09/01/2016 11:49

"With regards to differing opinions, I was merely trying to point out that to disagree on this page has so far been met with an inquisition."

I am pretty sure that the vast majority of posters on this thread are perfectly happy with the poster, and have said so, in no uncertain terms!

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/01/2016 11:53

It's only a movie poster - they have to sum up the entire film with one image. It's not a great cultural work that people are going to give a toss about.

Nobody was being photographed without their consent

The woman got paid for posing for the picture.

horseygeorgie · 09/01/2016 11:54

Ah Bertrand, So making a significant amount of money with your crotch means you are in control? I'm very impressed by you powers of deduction from the 9 inch square view of his body!

I'm going to toddle off actually. I'm going to drown myself in honey and lemon and hope it helps. Good chatting to you.

BertrandRussell · 09/01/2016 11:56

"Ah Bertrand, So making a significant amount of money with your crotch means you are in control? "

Nope, that's not what I said. But hey ho. Why let the facts get in the way of a good story?

horseygeorgie · 09/01/2016 12:03

Aargh - ok, that is what you strongly implied!

What story? By definition, a story is 'an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment' (Oxford English dictionary)

I'm not trying to entertain anyone! Just want to leave the tread!! Please let me leave! Please!

Yseulte · 09/01/2016 12:10

Is anyone holding you here against your will?