Julianna Clay

Not impressed. Once again Game of Thrones takes things way to far and sensationalizes violence, sex and nudity. No one needs to see someone’s dick getting chopped off, or a baby being cut out of a uterus, especially with the things that are happening with women’s rights. It’s one thing if either adds something to the plot or storyline, which it doesn’t. These type of tactics are purely to traumatize the viewer. After the anti climactic ending of Games of Thrones, and using violence and sex as devices, and not exploring Martin’s more complex themes like the Children of the Forest or wargs, with this start to a season I’m sure it will completely fall flat. Apple is a prime example of a company that has great series that don’t glorify sex or violence and are amazing like Physical, The Essex Serpent, Servant, the Foundation series, the Shining Girls. It’s possible to have a great series without overly graphic content, but hey if that’s your thing to each their own.

Ridley Scott's: An Opus to Rape. Only in 2021 would rape be used as a male-centered-plot device, and then praised by critics (surprise mostly male critics) as being a commentary on modern rape culture. This film does in fact the exact opposite, and sensationalizes, and hyper sexualizes rape culture specifically for the male gaze. Instead of minimizing the scenes, it makes them the center pieces for the film, and it lengthens them, and you get to watch a woman crying, and being repeatedly raped over and over again. She is made an object in 2 men's feud over her pain, and it becomes secondary. In fact, her story is entirely over shadowed by the duel itself. All the wonderful cinematography, sets and costuming can’t conceal that this film was creepy, sadistic, and misogynistic. I'm glad it tanked in the box office. If you want a woman's perspective on rape culture watch Promising Young Woman instead. That was actually directed by a woman, and obviously one who understands rape culture, because she didn't film one getting violated and crying for a huge portion of the film from 3 virtually the same and virtually male perspectives. 1 in every 6 women have or will experience sexual assault in their lifetime, and women make up more than half of today's population, which means a lot of women who watch the film will be triggered and re live their assault. If a film is triggering and traumatizing for part of it's audience, it's not a commentary, it's further victimization. If you want to look at the modern take on rape culture, all you need do is look at the responses generated to this film. Praising and capitalizing on a woman's pain shows just how desensitized modern culture is, and how modern are we really? The response suggests nothing has changed. You can't combat violence against women by showcasing excessive violence against women. This world is so lost.