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 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.