The Vexed Vagina: 50 Shades of Bullshit
Bethany Zelent
Gateway Writer
Jan 30, 2013
50 Shades of Grey has sold more than 65 million copies worldwide, with Entertainment Weekly praising it for being “in a class by itself.” If the magazine is referring to the class of Poorly Written Novels led by 50 Shades’ pubescent predecessor Twilight, then that’s surely an apt statement.
50 Shades is an abomination for anyone who takes pride in the English language. The main character (if you can even call her that, considering the negligible character development), Ana, is supposed to be an intelligent English graduate. Not that you can tell by the way she speaks — her dialogue resembles a fumbling teenage girl instead of a soon-to-be professional. This, in combination with Ana’s self-doubt encroaching every page of the novel, makes for an endlessly tiresome character.
It’s mind boggling that this piece of erotica has risen to such acclaim, while other “superior” works of the same genre sit collecting dust in the local drug store. The book’s success could be somewhat understandable if the plot was even remotely original, but the Twilight undertones coupled with the stereotypical romantic literature rhetoric makes for a yawn-inducing read. 50 Shades is ultimately just another story of a naïve, young girl sexually corrupted and controlled by the tall, dark and handsome Romeo figure, Christian Grey.
The novel’s straightforward language and undemanding story line — known almost exclusively for its explicitly erotic scenes depicting bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadism/masochism (BDSM) — makes it popular en masse. I’m all for sexual prowess and embracing your inner dominatrix, but author E.L. James never sexually empowers her heroine. Instead, Ana literally becomes Grey’s sexual object through the contracts that she signs.
The two contracts in 50 Shades are a non disclosure agreement (further isolating Ana from any help or guidance) and a dominance and submission contract, forbidding any romance, including touching or eye contact. Although they engage in sex without the latter contract, they don’t participate in BDSM until the contract is signed. When the BDSM contract is signed, Grey shows Ana the ropes, so to speak, by beating her with a belt. Ana realizes this type of relationship is not what she had in mind and they terminate their relationship for a period.
Exploring different aspects of one’s sexuality through means like BDSM could be a satisfying endeavor if the parties involved so choose. However, when communication is hindered — or non-existent — and the couple has different expectations, serious implications can arise. Intimate partner violence is a sad reality for many women and has been for centuries. This violence obviously doesn’t pertain exclusively to those practicing BDSM, but the world’s obsession with this novel has the potential to reinforce the status quo for women on the verge of or in an abusive relationship by normalizing their situation.
An integral part of consent is full comprehension, and as a virgin, Ana doesn’t even know what some of the sexual acts in the contract entail. The erotic scenes, in fact, so closely resemble misogynistic pornography with their lewd and voyeuristic nature, that women who read 50 Shades cannot reprimand men for perusing pornographic materials because this novel is merely the script for such
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“The erotic scenes, in fact, so closely resemble misogynistic pornography with their lewd and voyeuristic nature, that women who read 50 Shades cannot reprimand men for perusing pornographic materials because this novel is merely the script for such.”
This train of thought throws me off at times. Yes, the vast majority of pornography is exploitative, but as you’ve discussed earlier, it can also be generated by women seeking to express themselves in a powerful way. If even written text is in danger of being characterized as exploitative, then are we to assume that there should be a ban on all aids to sexual imagination? Despite the “normal,” there are many students on campus who neither desire or are unable to get romantic-sexual relationships at this time, nor wish to participate in uncommitted, impromptu sexual escapades. While viewing inequalities of power are arguably not a moral way to seek sexual gratification, I am a bit disappointed to not read any solutions on how to release the sexual urges many students feel in a responsible—not to mention relieving—manner.
Posted by BB on Feb 01, 2013
The harms or benefits that arise from pornography, in whatever form, always elicit an intense reaction from a sector of feminists who believe that pornography reinforces and normalizes exploitative relationships between men and women.
Arguably, viewing, reading, or listening to “misogynistic pornography” has the potential to alter individuals’ perception. Some degree of censorship, at the urging of alleged feminists, risks the inadvertent reinforcement of gender stereotypes: women are infantilized and need protection, and men’s poor behaviour is chalked up to uncontrollable hormones that the broader society needs to be shielded from.
Individuals, especially artists (even if their talent is questionable), should be allowed to explore without fear of censorship. Ultimately, all citizens have a duty to take responsibility for their actions. In 2013, it is passive and unpersuasive to pass off one’s failures as a result of the indoctrination produced by mass media. We are better than that!
Posted by Christine on Feb 21, 2013
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