![]() Her prerogative is to make them face the consequences of their actions. Arabella’s actions throughout the series are intended to break down the stigma and shame associated with rape. And this is the film’s most detrimental effect - it is presenting a story, not about justice and understanding, not about teaching men that their actions have consequences, but rather, about how innocent guys become victims to women crying “rape.”Ĭonversely, I May Destroy You presents Arabella in a drastically different way. ![]() By targeting the film towards men, it attempts to educate the opposite gender about the female experience.īut is the message, (particularly the purposeful sarcasm Fennell employs), reaching audiences? Fennell employs Cassie’s agenda on hyperdrive, whose intimidation methods - although admirable for seeking justice - run the risk of perpetuating a narrative that it’s common for men to be framed for rape. Because of these qualities, Cassie’s characterization seems to be more aligned with stereotypical men’s expectations of “mean feminists” than a realistic portrayal of a grieving friend. I think Cassie is being presented more like a Quentin Tarantino heroine – one that can kick ass while still appearing physically flawless for her typical Tarantino-type audience – rather than the everyday woma n. ![]() She has moments of shocking rage (breaking the windshield of a stranger’s car), aggression and unnecessary violence (kidnapping the university president’s daughter). However, we find out she’s traumatized enough to have to live at home and take a low-energy job. Carey Mulligan’s character is a former law student, highly intelligent, but also is presented as the beautiful (but naughty) girl next door with platinum blonde hair and youthful attire. Throughout their respective narratives, Cassie and Arabella shame men, both publicly and privately, for their crimes against women: Cassie by honey trapping men and Arabella by using her position as an influencer to publicly shame accused men.Ĭassie is angry because her best friend had been publicly assaulted at a party. HBO’s I May Destroy You follows “Arabella” (Michaela Coel) as she undergoes a journey of understanding and acceptance after she is date-raped by a stranger during a night out with her friends.Īt first glance, both stories tackle this epidemic by depicting the extreme lengths that women will go to in order to encourage men to face the consequences of their actions. In Promising Young Woman, “Cassie” (Carey Mulligan), a vigilante out to confront sexual assault, goes to bars and clubs pretending to be blackout drunk in order to lure unsuspecting men into situations where they attempt to have nonconsensual sex with her. Promising Young Woman and I May Destroy You are created in different mediums, but born from the same wound: the widespread disregard for victims of rape and sexual abuse. In particular, last year saw the release of two works that confronted collective anger towards the commonality of rape culture: Emerald Fennell’s Oscar-nominated movie Promising Young Woman, and Michaela Coel’s television series I May Destroy You. Four years later, film and television makers are finally amplifying women’s voices, with 2020 boasting record-breaking amounts of female-led productions. Conversations about these issues are slowly becoming more mainstream. The “Me Too” movement and the revelations of rampant sexual abuse in creative industries (especially in Hollywood) have opened conversations about women’s mistreatment and disadvantages.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |