Comments | asavitzk: Sexism at Rocky?

asavitzk

Sexism at Rocky?

Oct 31, 2006 12:31

Jimmy made a post recently http://jrising.livejournal.com/25259.html that others have linked to which is how I found it (since he's not on my friends list - it's too long as it is). It honestly shocked me. Much like the complaint we got about a couple of preshows from an audience member. ( Read more... )

Comments 42

Blame Canada d_day October 31 2006, 17:38:30 UTC

Yeah, I can't say I was shocked by all this. I feel like it's sort of how I reacted to all the "racism" and making fun of the mentally handicapped when I fist joined. It can all be a little disjointing if you don't have the whole picture and the whole picture can be a little hard to grasp.

I keep trying to figure out how Sara Wendall would react. I think someone should post it to the list and find out :)

Re: Blame Canada asavitzk October 31 2006, 17:45:58 UTC

Racism, sexism, etc...is only offensive if you intend it to be. I make fun of Jews - that certainly doesn't mean that I'm serious - I'm a Jew! But do I get offended when others at the show make fun of the Jews? No - because I know they don't mean it either. The more jokes are used, the less serious an issue can be taken.

If anybody seriously thinks I hate retards just because I make jokes about retards, then they haven't bothered to get to know me and shouldn't be passing judgment.

transparencies October 31 2006, 17:50:28 UTC

i think that it's not always obvious, though. a lot of it is in good fun and a lot is actually very empowering. we have a lot of very strong women at the show and that comes across often, both onstage and off. but i think there is a tendency to assume that a woman should be showing a lot of skin, should be exuding a sense of the kind of sexiness which is widely accepted by our society (and i apologize for using the word "society" because it sounds cliche but it is what i actually mean here). some, maybe most, of the women at the show are very comfortable with that. and once you know the people involved and understand the spirit in which it's all done, it seems quite harmless ( ... )

asavitzk October 31 2006, 17:57:59 UTC

If someone is doing it unintentionally then it should be brought to their attention - not sheltered. It should be brought up and shown to that person so they can either change their behaivior or at least acknowledge it and others would be aware.

Rocky is extreme. Not in the Mountain Dew way, but in the way that it brings out the most extreme personalities and ideas. Some people flourish in that environment and others get pushed down. Unfortunately that's how it works and I'm sorry, but I've seen it make more people strong than weak.

transparencies October 31 2006, 19:06:45 UTC

don't be sorry, i agree with you on that. it is a great environment for a lot of people. and the argument could, should, has been made that anyone who doesn't thrive there should leave (case in point: a certain former crew head who joined the show at a time when she really needed to and did do much better in life than she would have without it. then it became a setting which wasn't helpful to her and she left. though she's not left the *people* because she loves them and they continue to help sustain her, only outside the confines of the show). but i think the pressure some people feel at the show is being underestimated or denied. and yes, it should be brought out into the light when it occurs but that doesn't always feel like an option to people who already feel pressured ( ... )

quality617 October 31 2006, 18:08:18 UTC

Everything that's old is new again.

I'm not saying that someone can't be offended, but being offended is a personal problem. When you thow a nifty tag like "objectification" to it (which I don't think even applies here) it's a dodge to make everyone else responsible for your delicate sensibilities.

I don't think less of people offended by what we do. Return the favor, and don't think less of me because I'm NOT offended.

myselftheliar October 31 2006, 18:33:53 UTC

Personally, if I was at Rocky and I DIDNT see objectified women in bikinis, I would complain.

5411tech October 31 2006, 20:16:09 UTC

But do you complain that men aren't objectified in thong underwear? I am, but I'm curious why others aren't.

myselftheliar October 31 2006, 21:48:49 UTC

No because they are. What do you think Rocky's ENTIRE PURPOSE is. (Rocky the character) he is EYE CANDY. he barely even speaks. He's "truly beautiful to behold". Want to see a preshow full of thong-wearing men? Go write one. JD and Denny were totally "objectified" in the preshow Closer. Hell, Denny was on a leash!!

5411tech October 31 2006, 22:20:36 UTC

I'm not arguing that the movie is biased, because I think it isn't. I hardly think that JD and Denny were "objectified" in Closer any more than Diva was. And as I've said before, it's not individual preshows, it's more the percentages and biases overall. We can all come up with examples of men not wearing clothes, but integrated over time I think its vastly unequal.

myselftheliar October 31 2006, 18:34:55 UTC

Also, isn't the very nature of Rocky to shock and offend?

Here's to tits and men in fishnets! Huzzah!

(The comment has been removed)

truered October 31 2006, 20:37:26 UTC

I won't repeat my post from the line in Jimmy's journal here, but I totally agree with Little Jen on this one.

If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen and let the rest of us play with the fire.