do films showing rape glamourise it?

[darleneoconnor]

Watched Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and I found the rape scene quite disturbing. I am of the opinion that having rape scenes in films glamourises it, leads to copycat behaviour and creates a demand for more (ie porn). Other feminists, though, disagreed with me.

Another probelm I have with rape scenes like that is that they perpetuate the myth that the only real rape is violent rape as opposed to acquaintance rape. (I felt the rape scene in Mad Men was well done, as it showed a more common rape scenario and aftermath).

What do MN feminists think of this?

I didn't know if anyone has seen Hand Gun (1982) with Karen Young. I remember when it came out there was 'controversy' about the revenge aspect of the narrative. A young woman is raped and decides to get revenge by arming herself and killing the rapist (I think it was only him she planned to kill). At the time the media quoted 'women's groups' criticising the film for showing a female character bent on the type of violent revenge associated with men (at least in cinema) - ironic as in the end she doesn't kill anyone. It was an important film for me cos it was the first film that I saw (a couple of years later on tv when I was a young teenager) that deliberately raised issues if feminisism/gender/sexual violence. I ememebr that she chopped off her hair to look less 'feminine' and was practising at the shooting range...I was with her all the way. Don't know what I would think about it now.