...secretary
Here is a critique of the movie Secretary that was originally posted on Informed Consent (feel free to post a critique of my critique):
"I've heard lots of criticism about the movie Secretary. Sure, the fact a film contains spanking and BDSM should not make it beyond criticism from those real-life people who enjoy such activities, but I do think a lot of the criticism is unfair.
The critics' main bone of contention, as far as I can see, is the fact that the female protagonist - played by the delightful Maggie Gyllenhaal - indulges in self-harm (burning herself with an iron, for instance). This, the critics cry, is insinuating that anyone who enjoys spanking, or similar activities, is also a self-mutilator. We all know, of course, that that's nonsense; it's not a reason, in my view, for dismissing the film.
A problem with fiction - primarily novels and films - is that writers have to make a character believable. That's why serial killers are usually portrayed as loners who live with their mums. Or alcoholics typically have a mother or father who was alcoholic. Writers feel like they need to give justification to their characters' foibles, and Gyllenhaal's character from Secretary is no exception.
There probably are some BDSMers who are also into self-harm, but most of us aren't. There are also probably some alcoholics whose parents were the same, but not all.
Secretary is just about one particular character; the movie is not tarring us all with the same brush.
Danny."
"I've heard lots of criticism about the movie Secretary. Sure, the fact a film contains spanking and BDSM should not make it beyond criticism from those real-life people who enjoy such activities, but I do think a lot of the criticism is unfair.
The critics' main bone of contention, as far as I can see, is the fact that the female protagonist - played by the delightful Maggie Gyllenhaal - indulges in self-harm (burning herself with an iron, for instance). This, the critics cry, is insinuating that anyone who enjoys spanking, or similar activities, is also a self-mutilator. We all know, of course, that that's nonsense; it's not a reason, in my view, for dismissing the film.
A problem with fiction - primarily novels and films - is that writers have to make a character believable. That's why serial killers are usually portrayed as loners who live with their mums. Or alcoholics typically have a mother or father who was alcoholic. Writers feel like they need to give justification to their characters' foibles, and Gyllenhaal's character from Secretary is no exception.
There probably are some BDSMers who are also into self-harm, but most of us aren't. There are also probably some alcoholics whose parents were the same, but not all.
Secretary is just about one particular character; the movie is not tarring us all with the same brush.
Danny."
this warbling is from Danny at 9:32 AM
1 Comments:
That is by far the best critique of The Secretary that I've read. You have grasped the fact which so many who get irate have missed that she is just one character and due to the character's past she has problems. It's actually BDSM and her boss that help her overcome them. So rather than the film making out that BDSMers are all self harmers it shows it in a positive light. Well done Danny. What an insightful man you are! Hugs
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