海角大神

After a sequence depicting rape on the HBO series 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� sparked controversy, discussion around the topic has only increased following a rape plotline that was included as part of the season finale of the Starz hit show 鈥淥utlander.鈥�

Are cable channels pushing the envelope of graphic sexual violence simply for ratings? Are we in an era where parents must be more proactive in protecting children from exposure to scenes of rape and pornography on television?

As 海角大神 previously reported, some fans were so offended by a scene in the May 17 episode of 鈥淭hrones鈥� that they vowed to stop watching. A scene portrayed sympathetic character Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) raped by her new husband. The sequence was only the latest controversial depictions on the show.

And now much of the season one finale of 鈥淥utlander,鈥� which aired on May 30, centered on main character Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) suffering a rape by his captor, Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies).聽

As noted by Associated Press writer Frazier Moore, 鈥淥utlander鈥� is only the newest show to include rape in its plotline, following not only 鈥淭hrones鈥� but also 鈥淒ownton Abbey,鈥� which included an episode showing a maid being sexually assaulted; 鈥淢ad Men,鈥� which depicted one of the main characters being raped by her husband; and 鈥淗ouse of Cards,鈥� which included a story about a character recalling a sexual assault against her while in college.聽

For both 鈥淭hrones鈥� and 鈥淥utlander,鈥� the source novels included these sequences first (though in the book version of 鈥淭hrones鈥� it was a different character who was assaulted). Both 鈥淭hrones鈥� author George R.R. Martin and "Outlander" author Diana Gabaldon have defended the scenes, with Mr. Martin addressing the broader topic of violence against women in his fictional world.

鈥淚鈥檓 writing about war, which [is] what almost all epic fantasy is about,鈥� Martin told Entertainment Weekly.聽鈥淏ut聽if you鈥檙e going to write about war, and you just want to include all聽the cool battles and heroes killing a lot of orcs and things like that and you聽诲辞苍鈥檛聽portray [sexual violence], then聽there鈥檚 something fundamentally dishonest about that. Rape, unfortunately, is still a part of war today. It鈥檚聽not a strong testament to the human race, but I聽诲辞苍鈥檛 think we should pretend it doesn鈥檛 exist.聽I聽want to portray struggle. Drama comes out of conflict. If聽you portray a utopia, then you probably wrote a pretty boring book.鈥�

Meanwhile, Ms. Gabaldon told Vulture, 鈥淸The scene] is 鈥� a pivotal plot point in [the] story. I wanted to see what ['Outlander' actors] Sam and Tobias could do with it, and I wanted to see how they would handle such a controversial, emotionally draining, twisted scene that was going to be hard to watch, but so important.鈥澛�

But by the time the "Outlander" episode was aired, some viewers and critics were already upset about the sexual violence depicted in 鈥淭hrones.鈥� How are they feeling now?

HitFix writer Donna Dickens wrote that she felt the show "lied to [her]."

"I came into this series under the impression it was a time-traveling historical romance with a heavy framework of feminist underpinnings," she wrote. "Then the slow slide into constant sexual assault and abuse began.... Just as Sansa鈥檚 wedding night in 'Game of Thrones' was the breaking point for some fans, this is the breaking point in 'Outlander' for me.... 'Outlander' saw the line between examining the impact of trauma and actively traumatizing the audience, revved their engine, and blew right over it."

Some fans were also displeased, writing,

鈥淗annibal鈥� showrunner Bryan Fuller told聽Entertainment Weekly聽that the scene on 鈥淭hrones鈥� 鈥渨as handled tastefully, all things considered,鈥� but added that he remained concerned about the use of rape as a plot device.

Fuller said of TV in general, 鈥淭here are frequent聽examples of exploiting rape as low-hanging fruit to have a canvas of upset for the audience. The reason the rape ... is so frequently used is because it鈥檚 a horrible thing that is real and that it happens. But because it鈥檚 so overexploited, it becomes callous. That鈥檚 something I can鈥檛 derive entertainment from as an audience member 鈥� and I鈥檓 the first person in the audience for 'Hannibal.'聽My role, as a showrunner, is to want to watch the show we鈥檙e creating. And if something feels exploitative or unnecessary, I鈥檒l try to avoid it. 鈥楢 character gets raped鈥� is a very easy story to pitch for a drama.鈥�

But some critics feel "Outlander" handled the sequence as well as it could have. The Daily Beast writer Amy Zimmerman felt that 鈥淭hrones鈥� addressed the topic incorrectly but that 鈥淥utlander,鈥� for the most part, made the case for the scene being there, though Zimmerman also found its inclusion indicative of a larger, more troubling theme.

Zimmerman also raised the question of the use of male-on-male rape as a plot point, asking whether the fact that the "Outlander" episode depicted an instance of male sexual violence against a man somehow changed the equation.

鈥淚n聽GoT, it鈥檚 not only the individual assaults that are rendered forgettable 鈥� it鈥檚 often the woman herself,鈥� Zimmerman wrote. 鈥淭he story of a male protagonist鈥檚 rape is not a common plotline, making this narrative noteworthy even in the 'rape glut' era. In light of 'Outlander'鈥檚 gender reversal, is this finale a valuable addition to the 鈥榬ape glut,鈥� or is it an exception that proves and reinforces the rule?"

She went on to answer her own question, saying, "Realistically, it鈥檚 a little bit of both. It is inarguably important to show a mainstream-ish (sorry, Starz) audience that anyone can be a victim or a survivor, regardless of appearance or gender identity.鈥� In 'Outlander,' the rape plotline is far from extraneous 鈥� it illustrates psyches, illuminates a love story, and ultimately strengthens a protagonist.鈥� Still, challenging rape culture and traditional gender tropes doesn鈥檛 begin to address the rampant misogyny that makes the 'rape glut' so truly sickening in the first place.鈥澛�

Salon writer Sonia Saraiya called the sequence on 鈥淥utlander鈥� 鈥渢he most upsetting scenes I鈥檝e ever seen on television.鈥� As a feat of performance, [the episode] 鈥楾o Ransom A Man鈥檚 Soul鈥� is incredibly successful. It鈥檚 hard not to feel entirely consumed by the brutality of the scene ... although this show is capable of great gore and violence, it has come to that violence in what is largely a considered way 鈥� and, crucially, balances out that violence with a lot of tenderness.鈥�

AP writer Frazier Moore agreed that "Outlander" was different from "Thrones" in the way it handled the incident.

"Viewers with an open mind are invited to share an unflinching dramatization of violence 鈥� sexual and otherwise 鈥� that nonetheless reflects care and artistry," he wrote of the episode. "When depicted responsibly, rape is treated not only as a violent act but also as a storm of reactions by its victim ... that collectively drive home why rape has no place in a civilized world."