May December: Analyzing A Shocking True Story & Problematic Trope

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The Take examines how sixth grade teacher Mary Kay Letourneau's grooming and abuse of her student inspired the Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore film May December.

They also dive into the harmful "male student has an "affair" with the hot teacher" trope in society and media, and how the trope puts the blame on the victim.

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Comments

[glitterslugs]

i hope vili has been able to start healing since that p.o.s. died

[umilicious]

Same, we’re around the same age and I always felt sad about how things played out. It’s sad how his name will forever be tied to hers.

[glitterslugs]

i remember that interview or doco or whatever it was they did before she got sick and he just seemed like he was going through the motions and saying what he had to say but his eyes were like dead it was so sad

[ahkna]

I think he's spoken about how it wasn't until after she died that he really started to realize how under her control he was.

[umilicious]

I’m assuming that the movie explores that “hot teacher” dynamic as part of its fiction, because I don’t remember anyone putting blame on the victim in this case. That story dominated the news cycle and I don’t even remember conservative talk radio (which my dad listened to, I know) claiming it was the kid’s fault. If anything, I think most people considered him a lost cause because Letourneau’s grooming was so entrenched.

[ginainabottle]

I don’t remember anyone putting blame on the victim in this case

I think no blame was assigned bc he wasn't even perceived as a victim, which is awfully dehumanizing.

[umilicious]

This is a great point. I feel like instead of a hot teacher claim, it was more or less handwaved because people assumed teenage boys were horny and couldn’t help themselves, which is gross because he wasn’t a teen and it wouldn’t excuse it if he was.

[evilgerbil]

I was a teenager when the trial went down and my male peers were talking about how lucky he was. Some men still want to to hand out high-fives when a situation like this happens.

[astrofisica]

I hate Netflix. I wish I could see May December movie in theaters. They screen the bare minimum to get awards consideration when they have the finances to do wider distribution.

[frickinawesome7]

[astrofisica]

They shouldn't be in the cinema business if they're uninterested in showing their films in theaters! 😘

[notoriousreign]

Oh I'm seeing this tonight! I've read a few people say it was good and doesn't feel exploitative, so I look forward to watching it for myself.

[delfintaka]

Me too!

[ginainabottle]

The way I'm fucking READY for this film, Julianne is gonna kill it and I know it. The idea that young men being groomed/abused by women aren't really victims is disgusting so I hope the movie is responsible about the topic, since porn (and men) sure as fuck will keep perpetuating that trope.

[insomniachobs]

It’s such a soap box subject for me, the way the whole thing is peddled as some fantasy come true instead of *child abuse.* This fucked up patriarchal idea that sex is a sign of manliness and every boy should want as much as possible as soon as possible is just fucked up.

And what’s so bizarre is that it lets these women off the hook - our society has no problem painting 12 year old girls as knowing sexual predators who lure helpless adult men in with their wiles, but the grown ass woman who grooms a male child is somehow a-okay and just giving him the dream? What the hell is this logic?

[blorpz]

the movie is responsible. it shows moore is a monster and melton is an absolute victim. you can't take the film any other way

[ginainabottle]

Fantastic, I'm even more excited now! Did you enjoy the film?