Self harm, BDSM, the media and Saw III quite a mix. (6)

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popi
Posted by popi on Sat 28 Oct 06, 11:58 PM

I remember watching the secretary for the first time and thoroughly enjoying it mainly because it was such a mainstream movie. It made me smile to see it available everywhere, even now three years on a copy can be picked up for next to nothing in every decent movie store in the Trafford centre. The only thing that bothered me was the portrayal of Lee Holloway (the secretary) as a stereotypical self harming mad woman, just out of hospital and in need of saving from herself. Luckily enough help was at hand when the Boss noticed her cutting her legs in public and issued the simple command to “stop it”. I remember feeling that this sensational transformation was incredibly unrealistic and yet terribly predictable. It made me sad to think it did neither group: submissive woman or self harmers any favours at all, let alone anyone, who like me could identify as both.

Now moving along to last night, as Tanos has already mentioned in his post I have been overindulged in horror movies this week. Last night he kindly took me to see the premier of Saw III, the film itself was awesome I cant wait for the release of the DVD.

Disclaimer “spoilers included” so this is the bit where you turn over if you don't want to know the scores .

The set up for some of Jigsaw's games and his future design ideas pictured in his lab were so Insex inspired in design I almost expected PD to jump out and make an appearance. My personal favourites were the rack which decapitated it's victim, the scene already described by Tanos, in which a girl is strung up and tortured with freezing water and scene's involving hooks and acid at the start of the movie. There were also numerous medical references and a wheelchair bondage scene so its fair to say it ticked a lot of boxes.

Yet again the only downside to the movie was it's depiction of self harm, this time by the even more psychotic assistant of Jigsaw - Amanda.

I think it stuck in my throat so much due to some very obvious D/s overtones in their relationship, albeit twisted but most definitely recognisable. Even the SawIII website is named The House of Jigsaw which made me smile. Again the situation in which Amanda cut was incredibly unrealistic and portrayed her as a weak woman in need of saving. It is this “saving” of Amanda which is key to this very intelligently put together film. I must admit I find this depiction of self harm in the media worrying if not bordering on the offensive particularly when these examples also portray submissive female characters. With the current political climate so keen to label those who engage in alternative behaviour as either mentally ill or victims I think the picture that is painted in such a mainstream film as the secretary is more dangerous than ever. Especially when In addition to the proposed extreme pornography bill there are currently proposed Clinical guidelines which fail to notice a difference between self harm as a positive catharsis or that which is a behavioural condition of mental illness- so no progress there then.

Anyway I'm not really sure what my point is in this blog so I'm going to leave it there for now but anyone who gets the opportunity to see this film do so because it's well worth a trip to the cinema .

popi xx

Edited Sun 29 Oct 06, 12:42 PM by popi

Replies

29 Oct 06, 12:16 AM
NinjaBitch
3 yrs
I didn't read the spoiler... but I liked the part in Secretary where he told her to stop and so she did... I didn't find it predictable, I found it erotic and wonderful and moving and powerful and loving... I thought it was charming that she felt good about not harming herself because it's what he wanted.
Freudian slip: When you say one thing but mean your mother.
Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

29 Oct 06, 12:18 AM
Paul99
UK(RG), 4 yrs I remember the "stop it" stene, and thought then "but that it was that easy...."
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt

29 Oct 06, 12:25 AM
RosieLady
UK(AB), 2 yrs
I have no knowledge at all about self harm..maybe you can explain more?

29 Oct 06, 12:26 AM
NinjaBitch
3 yrs
but wouldn't it be cool if it were so easy - imagine the respect, the discipline, ... so awesome! Okay not so easy for the submissive, but I would be instantly in love with someone showing that depth of reverence!
Freudian slip: When you say one thing but mean your mother.
Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
Edited 29 Oct 06, 10:26 AM by NinjaBitch

29 Oct 06, 11:26 AM
SirOpenSource
UK(E), 3 yrs
RosieLady wrote:
I have no knowledge at all about self harm..maybe you can explain more?
Self harming is usually the result of having gone through difficult painful experiences, usually when the mind is developing and most succeptible to any input. Experiences that can cause self harming can be many including bullying, sexual physical or emotional abuse, loss of a loved one, neglect, harrassment or isolation. If the person has no means of emotional support during these times the pressure on them can be enormous resulting in erosion of self esteem and emotions that are hard to face can be buried or blocked completely from awareness until a trigger causes them to surface. Trigger mechanisms can be very complex and easily misunderstood by the self harmer which does not help them. If, for example the experience was suffered when young and the trigger acts when an adult the anger is turned inwards blaming themself and thus causing a desire to punish oneself.
There is often an absence of pain during self harming caused by the bodys own ability to produce opiates and this can exacerbate the problem until it is realised that help is needed. Sadly this realisation is often hidden by the self harmer due to shame. It is not shameful to admit you self harm as the blame does not rest with you. It is a function of the subconscious and if help is sought from a sympathetic professional the results can be very successful.
This is a very brief summary of a problem occuring in an extremely large number of people and does appear to be on the increase. If you recognise any of this in yourself do seek help maybe in the first instance from either from a counsellor or other sympathetic person.
SS
The blues is not about feeling good, it's about making others feel miserable and earning money while you're at it (Bleeding Gums Murphy-The Simpsons)
www.Londonmunch.co.uk
Edited 29 Oct 06, 11:29 AM by SirOpenSource

30 Oct 06, 12:36 AM
RosieLady
UK(AB), 2 yrs
thank you, thats helpful
R


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