MovieChat Forums > Top of the Lake (2013) Discussion > Male Characters and Appeal to Male Viewe...

Male Characters and Appeal to Male Viewers.

posted 10 years ago by JoeSchmoe19941997
45 replies | jump to latest

Not too long ago I created a post very similar to this which wasn’t received the way in which I intended it to be. In light of this, I’d like to preface this post by clarifying my position on a few things. I’m in no way opposed to there being a female lead or a predominantly female cast of any culture on any TV show or movie, providing that the character or characters are well written and brought to life by talented performers.

Bearing this in mind, my question is for the male viewers who have seen Top of The Lake through to its conclusion. I’ve heard from a number of friends and critics, that all of the male characters on this show or at least a significantly large proportion of them, are one-note misogynistic characters and that the show is very anti-men. I’m just interested to know if the men who’ve watched this show felt this way about the male characters and more importantly, if this show has enough of an appeal for a male viewer.

[–] Schawaz 9 years ago

Jane Campion has a sober and clear perspective on life. I am a man and I tell you that men to a large degree are how they are depicted in Top of the Lake. There however are vastly different levels of self control.

But Jane Campion also conveys a sober and clear perspective on women: mostly weak, irritated and also merely covering their basic needs.

Both sides have one thing in common, the suffer through the consequences of their actions. I think Geejays' message is: accept the *beep* not a single thought will improve your situation. At least, this might set you free.

Also both sides are shown to have some positive aspects, like strength, compassion, love. They are the minority though.

[–] mezobromelia 9 years ago

My boyfriend loves this show, actually I am the one who doesn't like it. He says there are lots of men out there that are misogynistic pigs, and just because men don't like to see that portrayed doesn't mean it shouldn't be watched.

Tough luck, chinless

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Johnny_Wrong 9 years ago

A great many real people are are one-note misogynistic characters. I enjoyed this show and didn't think for a minute that it was "anti-men" just because it chose to tell a tale of men doing evil.

I'll leave it to the more insecure XYers to think like that.

[–] kimberwyn-1 8 years ago

That sounds like an accurate depiction of men to me. Unfortunately, most men are at least subtly misogynist, yourself included based on this post.

[–] janus_keinaerts 8 years ago

I don’t know the first thing about Campion but I’ve seen and enjoyed a lot of her work.
Top of the Lake is a great show. However, I found it to be eye rollingly misandric.

All men - except for the homosexual kid, Putty the moron and the Maori widower - were at one point or another painted as rapey characters.
While women on the whole were painted as victimized individuals who were slowly and collectively fighting back in a man’s world.

Women hug each other like crazy.
Men manhandle women, they drag naked girls across the hall, they point guns at babies and cameras at victims.

Yet, interestingly enough I found the “male” scenes and performances to be extremely appealing.
Mullan, Wenham and all the tattooed boys, frolicking about on their motorcycles with their guns, living in a big, strange house, tossing lawn furniture into a tree.
These parts were right up there with macho masterpieces like Wake in Fright, Breaker Morant and Animal Kingdom.
I don’t know. It’s as if Campion and Gerard Lee wanted to even out their female gaze with some extreme mansploitation. Seemed a bit hypocritical. Like laughing with monkeys and judging them at the same time.

To be clear: great show.

[–] tigerbos 8 years ago

Well, duh....my comment was also cheeky....You're pretty slow aren't you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-09OhQPiIg#t=85