TV Shows...and Misogyny
Sep. 4th, 2004 04:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatOkay, those who know me - know that I tend to turn a blind eye to things that some people might find hateful in a tv show. As long as it is about the characters journey, and their over-coming something, it doesn't bug me. I had no problems with Archie Bunker in All in The Family for example. Nor did I flinch while watching MASH (the Movie) or MASH (the TV series). Nip/Tuck also doesn't bug me. Why? All these series had strong female characters. The negative comments came from the character not the show as a whole, it told me something about the character, and did not in any way shape or form overwhelm the show.
I unfortunately cannot say the same about the new Dennis Leary series Rescue Me, which after the fifth episode (I think it's the fifth) I've decided never to watch again.
.
It takes a lot to offend me. And this show does. So much so, that I may never watch another movie featuring Leary, especially anything written by him. Why? What happened?
There is a scene half-way through last week's episode, where a fireman is flirting with a tall, somewhat big shouldered, muscular woman, the flirtation is seen from a distance. Dennis Leary and the other characters get off on this. They even make a bet. Why? Because they are convinced this woman is a man. She has to be a man. Because she is tall. She is big. She is muscular. And all women in their eyes are smaller than men. Alone this scene wouldn't have bugged me too much - in fact it occurred to me that the character, Tommy, that Leary was playing, would be put in his place once it was discovered that this person was a woman, but I knew this was unlikely to happen and even if it did, it wouldn't mean much. Why? It is followed by a scene between a fireman and his counselor - discussing how horrible his wife is for telling him his poetry sucks. Then we have a scene with Leary's wife ignoring her kids for her lover Roger, then of course the previous week the tipsy widow flirting with LEary and whom Leary thinks is gay, as well as Leary's father with the whores. In between - a woman whom Leary bangs, but he just can't remember her name, a woman into S&M who abandons her child, it goes on and on. I have yet to see one woman portrayed postively on this show or developed in any way. Women are shit this series states. They can't save lives. They can't be firemen. They have no point.
It's sad, because I was enjoying the series when it first started. Found the Leary character to be compelling and well-acted. Enjoyed the anti-hero aspects and the complexity. It had such potential. The Sheild, I've been told is similar to Rescue Me, but it has incredibly strong female supporting characters. And from what I've seen of it, is not misogynistic. Same with Nip/Tuck which is also fairly dark, with a complex anti-hero, but again not misogynistic. Women are shown as human beings. As characters. Just like the men. Rescue Me? Does not come close to accomplishing what these shows do. Perhaps if there was one strong female lead or supporting character? Or they toned down the anti-female comedy and ribaldry? Even the sex scenes on this show feel misogynistic and brutal.
Thinking I was overreacting, I discussed this with Wales the other day. Mentioned my concerns. And she said, with a patient sigh: "Yep, it's completely misogynistic. Been saying for years how Leary is a misogynist...you know he wrote and co-produced it right?" Yes, okay. Feeling like a complete and utter fool for ever liking the guy. Don't any more. I know, it's crazy, but I don't tend to like people who don't like women. Call it what you will.
I unfortunately cannot say the same about the new Dennis Leary series Rescue Me, which after the fifth episode (I think it's the fifth) I've decided never to watch again.
.
It takes a lot to offend me. And this show does. So much so, that I may never watch another movie featuring Leary, especially anything written by him. Why? What happened?
There is a scene half-way through last week's episode, where a fireman is flirting with a tall, somewhat big shouldered, muscular woman, the flirtation is seen from a distance. Dennis Leary and the other characters get off on this. They even make a bet. Why? Because they are convinced this woman is a man. She has to be a man. Because she is tall. She is big. She is muscular. And all women in their eyes are smaller than men. Alone this scene wouldn't have bugged me too much - in fact it occurred to me that the character, Tommy, that Leary was playing, would be put in his place once it was discovered that this person was a woman, but I knew this was unlikely to happen and even if it did, it wouldn't mean much. Why? It is followed by a scene between a fireman and his counselor - discussing how horrible his wife is for telling him his poetry sucks. Then we have a scene with Leary's wife ignoring her kids for her lover Roger, then of course the previous week the tipsy widow flirting with LEary and whom Leary thinks is gay, as well as Leary's father with the whores. In between - a woman whom Leary bangs, but he just can't remember her name, a woman into S&M who abandons her child, it goes on and on. I have yet to see one woman portrayed postively on this show or developed in any way. Women are shit this series states. They can't save lives. They can't be firemen. They have no point.
It's sad, because I was enjoying the series when it first started. Found the Leary character to be compelling and well-acted. Enjoyed the anti-hero aspects and the complexity. It had such potential. The Sheild, I've been told is similar to Rescue Me, but it has incredibly strong female supporting characters. And from what I've seen of it, is not misogynistic. Same with Nip/Tuck which is also fairly dark, with a complex anti-hero, but again not misogynistic. Women are shown as human beings. As characters. Just like the men. Rescue Me? Does not come close to accomplishing what these shows do. Perhaps if there was one strong female lead or supporting character? Or they toned down the anti-female comedy and ribaldry? Even the sex scenes on this show feel misogynistic and brutal.
Thinking I was overreacting, I discussed this with Wales the other day. Mentioned my concerns. And she said, with a patient sigh: "Yep, it's completely misogynistic. Been saying for years how Leary is a misogynist...you know he wrote and co-produced it right?" Yes, okay. Feeling like a complete and utter fool for ever liking the guy. Don't any more. I know, it's crazy, but I don't tend to like people who don't like women. Call it what you will.
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no subject
Date: 2004-09-04 02:37 pm (UTC)Matt Roush made a really good comment about Nip/Tuck in his column this week. A reader wrote in to ask if he views the show as misogynistic, due to its recent harsh treatment of Julia, and he answered that while it could be interpreted that way to some extent, "the show is basically so misanthropic that no man or woman emerges unscathed...I also suspect the intention of treating Julia so cruelly is to offend us, not to expect us to join in. I mean, the hypocrisy of Sean is staggering — to humiliate and condemn her in the hotel room for her spoiled tryst, after he had just spent the night having his way with a life-size sex doll and the woman she was modeled after. Could this show be any more twisted?"
Speaking of which, have you seen the promo for next week's episode? It looks fascinating, but I'll leave some spoiler room in case you don't want to know...
Sean and Christian operate on Julia, to fix her face, after her accident with the glass sliding door last week, and while under the anesthesia, Julia is shown what her life would have been like had she (it seems from the commercial) married Christian, became a doctor, and went into the plastic surgery practice with him. And Ava is her Clarence of sorts, guiding her through this alternate universe. If it's done well, this could be an excellent episode, and also a sign of Nip/Tuck pushing even more boudaries than the typical medical drama, as this sort of episode is usually only done on sci/fi or fantasy shows.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-04 06:41 pm (UTC)That's it exactly. The show explores the dark edge of the characters and humanity, but does so in such a way as to explore an overall theme. There's so much going on in each episode. The characters are given such depth and complexity.
Yep saw the preview for this coming week's episode.
If it's done well - it should be amazing. Taking Julia through the looking glass so to speak. Really looking forward to it.
Nip/Tuck has become my favorite show (I no longer get HBO or Showtime so unfortunately cannot comment on the Sopranos or Six Feet Under past the first two seasons.)
no subject
Date: 2004-09-04 09:48 pm (UTC)Can't say it's my favorite, because as you know, I'm a diehard, head-over-heels-in-love-with Six Feet Under fan...but, IMO it has at least surpassed The Sopranos in its relentlessly brutal, cynical, misanthropic portrayal of anti-heroes, who are at the same time relatable, realistic, complex human beings. Although I love Sopranos, I feel removed from its characters, as if I'm watching a epic piece of old-fashioned literature, perhaps Dickens, due to all the myriad characters and interweaving plotlines, being played out on the screen, where I can truly admire the craft--the writing, directing, acting--but don't feel as if it's saying anything that truly effects me on a personal basis (with the exception of one episode this season, in which a particular favorite character of mine was killed, which haunted and disturbed me for days after I saw it). Nip/Tuck, though has become so adept at balancing its characters, themes, metaphors, etc. that it really makes my jaw drop at times at how astoundingly brilliant it can be. When I first picked up the first season DVD set, I never expected that. My only complaint this season is with the Ava character, whose plot, IMO, seems kind of out of place with the rest of the series, as if she was a Melrose Place/Erica Kane type character who is an evil-over-the-top b***, just for the sake of being an evil-over-the-top b***, and with very little legitimate character motivation that I can see. With that said, I think Famke Jenssen is playing her wonderfully, and I'm looking forward to seeing her role in the next episode, as her status as "life coach" and Villain makes her a really interesting candidate for Julia's guide through her alterna-life.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-04 07:40 pm (UTC)The thing that really clinched it for me in terms of this being a feminist show was the episode the other week about the man who got the breast implants. I'd been noticing that even with all the nudity the show's been very careful about covering breasts. I was wondering if this was censor thing - however the guy with the breasts got lingering shots on his, to all appearances female, nipples. But in the same episode the Kimber doll was arranged so that the audience couldn't see all of its breasts. For some weird reason I'm oddly tickled that the show is putting this much thought into the use of female nudity. What a weird and cool show this is turning out to be!
no subject
Date: 2004-09-04 09:38 pm (UTC)...Particularly when they're even careful about displaying synthetic female nudity! Actually, if you think about it, Christian's ass has probably had more screen time than any of the naked female body parts we've seen on the series!
no subject
Date: 2004-09-05 08:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-05 10:55 am (UTC)And that is because he acts like an asshole with women.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-05 07:15 am (UTC)I'd agree. In last week's episode, Venessa Redgrave's character (Julia's mother) is aggravated with her daughter for enlarging her bust instead of focusing on her metal acumen.
But - it also shows the other side, where
Julia states - that she was focusing on being a mother and a kind human being who could take the time to actually give her daughter a hug.
Unlike so many shows on television this one continues to provide a balance, to not preach, to show, not tell. Yes, it gets a tad overly melodramatic at times, but I'm finding the desire to actually explore these characters and not tell us about them - fascinating. I just wish more TV shows did this.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-05 08:46 am (UTC)Last week was a perfect example - I love that Christian wants to be with a blind woman, it's so perfect for where his character is right now, but god their love scene was art directed right out of a romance novel cover. I had to snicker a bit - but then Julia's going through the glass scene was so perfectly done... Such an interesting show.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-05 10:37 am (UTC)Ah yes, the eye-rolling love scene. LOL! But they
redeemed themselves with Julia going through the glass. So that I had to wonder if the art direction of the previous scene may not have been intentional as a sort of counter-point?
Very clever show.