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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Date: 2004-09-06 02:11 pm (UTC)Don't have the ability to download either. Slow internet connection.
Yes, I'm still working from the dark ages, ie. 20th century, no DVD player, no high-speed internet connection, no cell-phone and no premimium cable. LOL!