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Bicoastal

(12,645 posts)

17. Why DOES it matter that the above play was written by a male?

Mon Mar 11, 2013, 05:15 PM

Mar 2013

Is the implication that this play is pro-rape, or that the rape of the villainous female character was meant by the playwright to be poetic justice of some kind? It's very possible that this was not what was intended at all, even if it's what the college students in the audience came away with. After all, it's pretty obvious to me that A Streetcar Named Desire isn't the story of a Woman Who Gets What's Coming To Her...

Not to be too reactionary, but serious-minded male dramatists should be able to put rape (and murder, torture, incest, etc) into their work without being labeled as apologists or advocates of these terrible things. I should like to know more about the playwright and especially the play before making that kind of judgment on him.

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The Rude Pundit: "Deserves" Has Nothing to Do With Rape [View all] meegbear Mar 2013 OP

Well I wonder how that defense would work... Kalidurga Mar 2013 #1

It works pretty well with certain juries. Hell, read some Assange or Polanski msanthrope Mar 2013 #3

The "she was a prick teaser" defense works really, really well. Warpy Mar 2013 #25

I remember a case where the victim was murdered... Kalidurga Mar 2013 #28

Wow. Just wow. Matariki Mar 2013 #2

Hang around til some infamous person is arrested and/or convicted of a crime. Iggo Mar 2013 #5

Yeah, I know. Those posts are really depressing. Matariki Mar 2013 #9

+1 n/t lumberjack_jeff Mar 2013 #12

It's the same all over Saviolo Mar 2013 #26

I no longer remain silent...No one, no one 'deserves' to be raped duhneece Mar 2013 #44

Ask the RP if he could address this very similar boston bean Mar 2013 #4

That Thread Really Opened My Eyes About The Rank Misogyny Here On DU. Paladin Mar 2013 #11

Rank misogyny? lumberjack_jeff Mar 2013 #14

And Some Posters Were Pushing As Much Blame On The Woman As Possible..... Paladin Mar 2013 #20

As the only one who survived the events... lumberjack_jeff Mar 2013 #24

Kindly Do Not Misconstrue My Comments, OK? Paladin Mar 2013 #30

Agreed. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2013 #37

It's an interesting compare and contrast. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2013 #38

Rape culture gollygee Mar 2013 #6

I've been reading "Transforming a Rape Culture." CrispyQ Mar 2013 #42

Powerful writing but sad that in this day and age appleannie1 Mar 2013 #7

Well that's the most depressing thread of the day. Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #8

Representative sample? It is and it isn't. People's attitudes are very malleable. nomorenomore08 Mar 2013 #39

Iggo makes a good point. We even see this attitude here Matariki Mar 2013 #10

+1 nt freedom fighter jh Mar 2013 #22

I only saw the film (with Brando)... awoke_in_2003 Mar 2013 #13

The change needs to start at home GeoWilliam750 Mar 2013 #15

OMG, I think our society is actually devolving with it's treatment of women lark Mar 2013 #16

It's like saying someone "deserves" to be murdered because they are such an smirkymonkey Mar 2013 #36

When I read these depressing accounts, CrispyQ Mar 2013 #45

I disagree - I think for the first time men are being honest Taverner Mar 2013 #47

Why DOES it matter that the above play was written by a male? Bicoastal Mar 2013 #17

You can't count on having any of that information. lapislzi Mar 2013 #48

You think the implication is clear? Bicoastal Mar 2013 #49

Rape as "retribution" dr.strangelove Mar 2013 #18

I'm bothered by the idea that rape is worse than murder gollygee Mar 2013 #19

Arguably: Saviolo Mar 2013 #27

I think it's individual how people deal with that. gollygee Mar 2013 #29

Absolutely Saviolo Mar 2013 #32

I'm just trying to present another perspective gollygee Mar 2013 #33

I can't believe anyone would think Blanche DuBois deserved to be raped... joeybee12 Mar 2013 #21

This one line says it all about guns LiberalEsto Mar 2013 #23

there's plenty of those gun-wuvving monkeys on DU Skittles Mar 2013 #35

Amazing indeed malaise Mar 2013 #31

Rape culture never went away. geek tragedy Mar 2013 #34

sigh DonCoquixote Mar 2013 #40

There's a not-so-subtle streak of sadism in American culture. nomorenomore08 Mar 2013 #41

Punishment fetishists abound. Iggo Mar 2013 #46

This is why we joined others to rise up with One Billion Rising duhneece Mar 2013 #43