General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThai soaps trigger outcry over romanticizing rape
BANGKOK (AP) In a famous scene from Thailand's award-winning soap opera "The Power of Shadows," the handsome protagonist gets drunk and rapes the leading lady. He later begs her forgiveness, and they live happily ever after.
Boy Meets Girl, Boy Rapes Girl, Boy Marries Girl. The premise is so common in Thailand's popular primetime melodramas it could be called a national twist on the universal romantic plotline. But calls for change are growing.
The recent real-life rape and murder of a girl on an overnight train in Thailand has focused national outrage on messages in popular culture that trivialize and some say even encourage rape. Even the powerful general who took over the country in a coup this year had to apologize after suggesting that women who wear bikinis on the beach are vulnerable to sexual assault.
Many in the soap opera industry continue to defend sexual violence, in part, as a key to high ratings in a fiercely competitive industry that draws more than 18 million viewers a night to network television, nearly a quarter of Thailand's population.
full: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/9d2f60b3d6be4925aeb6cbc79b079268/thai-soaps-trigger-outcry-over-romanticizing-rape
Wow. What a perfect definition of rape culture.
merrily
(45,251 posts)freeplessinseattle
(3,508 posts)CTyankee
(63,903 posts)Bonobo
(29,257 posts)Anyone besides me remember?
Delphinus
(11,830 posts)This entire world has a long way to go.
RiffRandell
(5,909 posts)I started watching GH in 3rd grade. No, I don't watch it anymore but my sister does. I still remember the song from the scene:
Bonobo
(29,257 posts)RiffRandell
(5,909 posts)No offense, but I'm a little surprised.
I haven't watched GH in years except when James Franco had a guest role for a few weeks because he's fan of the show.
Bonobo
(29,257 posts)Watched it for about 5 years probably.
Also Days of Our Lives and All my Children!
RiffRandell
(5,909 posts)So funny!
belzabubba333
(1,237 posts)Bonobo
(29,257 posts)I still remember the music. It was very traumatic.
belzabubba333
(1,237 posts)edhopper
(33,570 posts)and Scarlett. Same old, same old.
The rape fantasy abides.