Annie Kingston: Fifty shades of Jian Ghomeshi

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      Amid an ongoing national discussion about sexual assault, after countless editorials and intense public scrutiny over Jian Ghomeshi and the Dalhousie dentistry “gentlemen”, after petitions were signed and outrage was hurled at the disgraced men that have disappointed us this year, millions of movie goers rushed to the theatres to make Fifty Shades of Grey the highest grossing R-rated movie of all time.

      Which blows my mind.

      Because how we can say to people in public spaces, hiding behind computer screens and comment boxes, “Off with their heads!” because of the horrible things they’ve done—and then go watch sexual assault on the big screen and call it cheap romance.

      Fifty Shades of Grey is anything but cheap. It comes at a huge cost to our society when we glorify such morally bankrupt messages. The fact that E.L. James’s novel was a bestseller made my literary stomach ache. But the fact that it’s become a global blockbuster? Makes my heart ache.

      And worst still, nobody seems to notice.

      My opinions on Ghomeshi and the Dalhousie Gentleman’s Club are only slightly less colourful than that of Fifty Shades of Grey. I too was shocked and disappointed by the abuse of power and the abuse of women that came to light in our country this year. And rightfully so, our society has seen to it that both Ghomeshi and the Dalhousie 12 are facing justice.

      But what about the money that we pay—to the actors, the writer, the studio, the publishing house—in support of the same rubbish that is the Fifty Shades of Grey? Don’t they all shed light on the same genuine concerns that we have of seemingly powerful men who use force and manipulation to violently prey on women? Why is the Hollywood version okay?

      To me, the issue’s black and white.

      Comments

      29 Comments

      Women are Interesting

      Mar 3, 2015 at 12:13pm

      Not only everything you said, but the consumers of 50 Shades are mainly WOMEN!!! What do you make of that?

      I haven't seen the movie nor read the book but I might be able to shed a tiny bit of light on the subject, but only from my vantage point as a heterosexual male, who has had an average number of sexual partner in my life. Although my sample size is probably too small to be statistically significant, I haven't been with a woman yet who didn't like to be roughed up a bit in bed, occasionally. As a matter of fact I was shocked at how many had rape fantasies as well. The big difference between that and sociopaths like Ghomeshi is that the women are essentially in control and they know they can trust me. It's not something that I need to do in order to feel satisfied, but I sure like the fact that these women enjoy it. To me it makes them seem more powerful and I view it as kind of a challenge to them - like 'you can throw whatever you want at me, I can handle it'.

      The only thing I can think of is that being fiction, women feel that they can satisfy their curiosity and nobody gets hurt. Plus having good looking people in the movie helps - imagine if Danny Devito was playing the lead! I certainly don't view it as the end of society as you seem to.

      Steve y

      Mar 3, 2015 at 12:47pm

      sorry if I'm being obtuse but is this satire?

      Its called consent

      Mar 3, 2015 at 1:34pm

      What doesn't make fifty shades wrong? Informed consent. The female character knowingly consents and is actually encouraged to research the forms of sexual expression that the male is interested in.. And she willingly partakes. That isn't an abuse of power, he isn't in a position of authority to her what so ever. Of course other then in the bedroom, which again, she made the choice to partake in after informing herself.
      Because I eat meat and enjoy it, doesn't give vegans the right to judge me because they have oppositie beliefs. What makes someone's sexual endeavors anyone else's business, just because that isn't what you are in to? Nothing. Plain and simple, it isn't anyone else's business so long as the individuals partaking consented to the acts.

      The Baby Jesus

      Mar 3, 2015 at 3:48pm

      Am I missing something here? This is fiction. Fiction. I'll write that again because people like the author seem to miss that fact: Fiction.

      This is what outrages you, Ms. Kingston? A fictitious portrayal of consenting adults doing things that would be none of your business if they happened to be real people? Movies, television and books exist that portray literally hundreds of horrifying deaths and this pulp is what motivates you to write an article? Never mind that the supposed connection between entertainment media and questionable behaviour has been repeatedly debunked for each medium it has been invoked for.

      I hope, for your sake, Ms. Kingston, that this article had no more meaning to you than to serve as click-bait for the Georgia Straight. Otherwise, you're not just confused, you're morally confused. And such people have no business maintaining privileged access to the public via a platform like the Straight.

      Kim

      Mar 3, 2015 at 4:29pm

      if the act is consensual there is no abuse of power. That's how I see it. In the Ghomeshi story the women involved have complained and felt abused now that's a "abuse Of power".
      Cheers

      Who Knows?

      Mar 3, 2015 at 5:57pm

      What's interesting is the novels were written by a female woman, and it's mostly (as I understand) soccer moms, and the like who are watching the movie. First off, it's just a book, or movie; essentially fictional entertainment for people who want to watch.

      Jian Ghomeshi and what he is accused of is very much real, and it don't sound like he got consent from these women he is alleged to have abused. I don't understand the attraction to all this stuff. As a health care worker who gets mental, and physical torment many days at work. I'm not interested in reading about it, or seeing it on a screen as well. I don't understand all this so called sub-culture stuff, and I'm certainly not interested in learning. If it makes you feel better I didn't see the show, and it sounds like the books were poorly written.

      The Baby Jesus

      Mar 3, 2015 at 7:41pm

      A note to the moderators:

      When you refuse to post a submitted comment that contains no profanity, no racism, sexism, homophobia, threats or any other form of abusive language, you only indict yourselves as, first, having either no respect or concept of freedom of speech and, second, lacking confidence in your writers' and others' ability to support arguments presented in your columns competently.

      Avaleigh

      Mar 3, 2015 at 8:46pm

      -Very well written you have good insight and you made excellent points.

      Jenna

      Mar 3, 2015 at 10:22pm

      The lie: people actually care The truth: nobody cares. 50 Shades of Grey franchise promotes 50 Shades of Lies!! Sexual violence & dehumanizing women is not "normal" Critics described the book as misogynistic, pornographic, exploitative, sexually violent, and anti-romance – and there is little reason to expect the film will be anything different. Violent pornography glamorizes violent sex. 50 shades legitimizes it. Violence does not belong in a loving, caring respectful relationship. What is loving about humiliation and degradation? That is not love. CBC's Jian Ghomeshi quick fall from fame shows how society is not in favour of glamorizing sexual violence.

      Laz

      Mar 3, 2015 at 10:53pm

      one is sexually charged romantic entertainment the other is unwanted physical abuse that met the conditions required for criminal charges to be placed- do you have trouble confusing entertainment from reality ?