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alp227

(32,018 posts)
Thu Oct 16, 2014, 03:00 AM Oct 2014

Thai 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.

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Thai soaps trigger outcry over romanticizing rape (Original Post) alp227 Oct 2014 OP
It's a very old theme in fiction. And FICTION it is. nt merrily Oct 2014 #1
Brings to mind the whole "Luke & Laura" story. n/t freeplessinseattle Oct 2014 #2
Yep. We've got no room to talk... CTyankee Oct 2014 #3
Luke and Laura. Nuff said. Bonobo Oct 2014 #4
I sure do. Delphinus Oct 2014 #5
First thing that came to my mind. RiffRandell Oct 2014 #6
I still remember that song too!! Thanks for the link! nt Bonobo Oct 2014 #9
Bonobo, I never knew you were a GH fan! RiffRandell Oct 2014 #12
My older sister got me into it. 1979. I was 13. Bonobo Oct 2014 #13
Me too! RiffRandell Oct 2014 #14
i dont remember him raping her belzabubba333 Oct 2014 #7
Really? That was the whole thing. Bonobo Oct 2014 #8
no i musta missed that maybe i started watching that after that belzabubba333 Oct 2014 #10
Rhett edhopper Oct 2014 #11

RiffRandell

(5,909 posts)
6. First thing that came to my mind.
Thu Oct 16, 2014, 08:14 AM
Oct 2014

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:

RiffRandell

(5,909 posts)
12. Bonobo, I never knew you were a GH fan!
Thu Oct 16, 2014, 03:23 PM
Oct 2014

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)
13. My older sister got me into it. 1979. I was 13.
Thu Oct 16, 2014, 10:58 PM
Oct 2014

Watched it for about 5 years probably.

Also Days of Our Lives and All my Children!

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