Dollhouse, consent issues, and a very important poll.

[prozacpark]

So the latest episode of "Dollhouse" is what has been referred to as a fairly inoffensive episode of the series, even by people on my side of this debate. And to be honest, it did not induce any sort of rage or push any of my buttons while watching (except for the Topher bits, but at this point, I'm sure that if Topher were out saving ancient ruins

Comments

[raincitygirl]

I think Joss thinks the show is a metaphor for Hollywood and the entertainment industry. But that's not coming across very well because using rape as a metaphor for something else is awkward if you don't first deal with it as rape.

[prozacpark]

Really? I haven't heard that, but that's interesting. I don't get how it works at all, but I don't get how the prostitution metaphor works either.

But that's not coming across very well because using rape as a metaphor for something else is awkward if you don't first deal with it as rape.

Yes, that! I really can't get past the rape to begin with, much less attempt to see anything else it may be standing for. And really, it's sort of offensive to use rape as a metaphor for things, anyway. It implies things about objectification of the female body and sexuality that I should probably avoid thinking about for my own sanity.

[prozacpark]

Adelle seems to think that Dollhouse provides a necessary service, and I think the Topher subplot in this episode seemed to support that.

Also, if this is a statement on prostitution, that makes the Dollhouse works equivalent to pimps. I sort of have a hard time thinking that pimps aren't totally evil.

[lyssie]

Especially considering I thought Wonderfalls was shit and couldn't be bothered with the other two.

Now. About Joss. I honestly don't think he has a clue wtf is going on, and he's pulling everything from his ass, because he knows his fans will suck him off just to keep the show on the air.

[lyssie]

Yeah, I didn't intend to say it and then I did, and there was no point in taking it back (unfortunately, Joss isn't the only creator suffering from this delusion).

[prozacpark]

Especially considering I thought Wonderfalls was shit and couldn't be bothered with the other two.

... *shuns*

And that's the problem with everything Joss will ever do now. Why bother putting in effort when the fans will love anything he does regardless of how good it is? I'm all about taking narratives and reading your own meaning into them, but for god's sake, stop giving him credit for all the deep meaning you're reading into the show. I'm not giving Ron any much credit for the awesomeness of Sam/Kara, really. :)

[prozacpark]

I'd like to think this is a complex metaphor with several layers that could be interpreted by the audience, but I think its giving the show too much credit.

Agreed. It's vague enough that there's a lot of space there to read good things into. But there's also space to read negative things into, and given Joss's history and the primary plot of the show, I'm more inclined to go with the second option.

Consent is actually a part of a few forms of it, but, yes, sometimes its not. I don't think Whedon would be hitting the nail on the head at all if this was to represent prostitution. I haven't read anything on that, really, but people have commented in the past referring to that so I assume he's said that it's his statement on prostitution in some interview. But yes: The main issue really is that consent is (at least sometimes) part of prostitution, and no matter what, I'll never think that the dolls can give consent. And really, it's sort of offensive to not take into consideration the different types of prostitution and try to

[prozacpark]

Oh, that's a good interpretation, and I can see it, yes. My first thought was mostly that it disturbed me, and I possibly can't get past the fact that now Paul is a participant in this rape culture, too, and he was possibly the only decent character we had who wasn't supposed to have been a Doll?

I may have to rewatch to see if that interpretation works for me, but we'll probably get more on it before the finale?