Comments on: Observe and Report: It Gets Worse. Much Worse.

By: Dear God, Seth Rogan, Rape is Rape - a post by Natalia Antonova « Nickel for a Thought: Cultural Critique & “Other” Intellectual Adventures

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:26:19 +0000

[...] of course, I realized that Seth Rogen’s character rapes an unconscious womanfor the sake of… what? Nervous laughter? A certain “edginess” I’m just not hip or daring [...]

By: jovan byars

jovan byars — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:40:25 +0000

I am glad that I’ve never spent a dime on any of the movies produced by Mr. Rogen or Mr. Hill — and now, I will not be watching even a millisecond of any of their movies. All of their movies are pathetic.

And here is my review of Report & Observe:

Seth Rogen and Jody Hill creates the worst piece of shit in cinematic history! This shit is NOT in the least bit funny and it is violent and misogynistic in every sense of the word.

By: Kathleen F.

Kathleen F. — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:03:27 +0000

The most charitable interpretation possible of the scene is that the “humor” derives from the message of “look at this character, he’s such a stupid loser that this is the only way he can get laid!” But although this reading is, superficially, critical of the rapist, it’s still pretty horrifying, because it sends the message that the main reason rape is bad is that assaulting an unconscious woman earns you fewer “cool points” than smooth-talking a conscious one into your bed. (The idea of having sex with a woman who is actually enthusiastic about the prospect isn’t even on these guys’ radar.) The “rape is bad because if you have to do it it means you’re a loser!” idea totally disappears the idea that rape is bad because it violates the rights and autonomy of another thinking, feeling human being.

Rape already is a crime that has the unfortunate effect of sending the message to the victim that her wishes don’t matter, that her body does not belong to her, that she is not a full person. A rape scene that concentrates only on how awful and loserish the rapist is doesn’t subvert this “victims don’t matter” message–it intensifies it.

So, no, I really can’t get behind the idea that the interpretation “the rape scene shows that he’s a bad person and a loser!” makes it OK. It really doesn’t.

By: Anna

Anna — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:21:04 +0000

Oh piss, Monsters VS Aliens is Rogen? I was looking forward to that.
Sod it. Onto Demonoid I go.

By: wiggles

wiggles — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:14:57 +0000

I agree about avoiding anything involving Rogen or Hill from here on out. It’s unfortunate, because I was kind of interested in Monsters vs Aliens, but I refuse to contribute one more dime toward the continuation of Rogen’s career.

By: Dear God, Seth Rogen, Rape is Rape « Natalia Antonova

Dear God, Seth Rogen, Rape is Rape « Natalia Antonova — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:46:33 +0000

[...] of course, I realized that Seth Rogen’s character rapes an unconscious woman for the sake of… what? Nervous laughter? A certain “edginess” I’m just not [...]

By: Sara B

Sara B — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:50:26 +0000

Oddly enough there has always something about Seth Rogen that I just didn’t like, sort of a gut feeling. I literally was just telling my brother a few weeks ago that I’ve never had any desire to see any of his movies, and now I’m just glad I never did. Pepper said it, exactly. “Rape humor” is just another term for “hate speech.”

By: Solveig

Solveig — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 08:06:07 +0000

I have seen a few Seth Rogen movies and although I am a fan of dumb stoner humor I must say the majority of the content in his movies disgusts me. A couple years ago I was with a friend of mine at her friend’s house, and they were all guys. We were sitting out front of their apartment when one of them said to me “We’re going to take you in the back room and take turns raping you” then they all (including him) started laughing hysterically. Honestly, it freaked me out and then I was enraged. Why do so many people see nothing wrong with scenes like in “Observe and Report” sending the message to millions of men and boys that this behavior (assault) is okay?

By: Nikki B

Nikki B — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:01:03 +0000

I cannot believe that.

Well, I guess I can, since most other films Rogen has been in are often full of sexism. But this is the worst yet.

I’m down with boycotting.

By: Pepper

Pepper — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:36:13 +0000

David obviously needs to learn the difference between “free speech” and “hate speech,” which includes anything that perpetuates/encourages rape.

Also, of the two issues, I find the utilization of rape humor a little more troubling than your supposed censorship of some harmless free speech.

But maybe that’s just my fragile female brain failing to see just how important it is to allow men to keep encouraging this shit. Otherwise, what would entertain them?