MovieChat Forums > Search Party (2016) Discussion > Make domestic violence into a joke

Make domestic violence into a joke

posted 8 years ago by suvrmart
33 replies | jump to latest

I thought this show had a real potential. Dory's a feminist who's in a controlling relationship with a complete loser who doesn't value her and expects her to do everything for him (this happens to feminists, too).

Then the domestic violence going on in their apartment building is played for laughs. I have a real problem with this. The audience is either supposed to think the woman gives as well as she gets or she's got a foul mouth so she deserves to be violated.

I'm sick of this.

[–] russellhantz 8 years ago

I think in theory, this incident worked in terms of setting up the central conflict of the show. Spoilers below.

I think in theory, this incident worked in terms of setting up the central conflict of the show. Living in a city (or any community) constantly forces us into these kind of moral dilemmas- when we see people in need of help, how do we react? How do we know who needs help, how do we best offer help? What assumptions influence who we see as a victim and who we choose to help? What are our true motiviations for helping others? Throughout the series, Dory is offerred many opportunities to truly help those in need. Dorrine, the girl in the cult, the woman who runs the leading women for leadership summit, all reach out for her for help. Keith and Drew and Drew's family all reach out for her for emotional support and she rejects them. Instead, Dory focuses all her energy on a victim who has not asked her for her help, due to her own assumptions about what a true "victim" looks like. I think the domestic violence incident at the beginning was supposed to foreshadow this. Drew tried to "help" or "free" the woman in the abusive relationship and instead found his help wasn't wanted or needed. But i agree that it was a little tasteless in the context of the frequency of domestic violence in this country and the frequency in which domestic violence is dismissed.

[–] shes_hollywood 8 years ago

Pretty brilliant analysis of what it represents re: Bystander theories etc. I hadn't even thought of that in the larger context. However, it's a dark comedy so no topic is off limits, imho.

[–] suvrmart 8 years ago

Yeah, that's what the patriarchy expects you to say.

[–] garko-1 8 years ago

Egads. Is this the 90s?

Gripe about Disney princesses if you're gonna gripe about anything. At least this show depicts a determined young woman failing at everything, just like any comedy starring some dude. It's what humans do best.

And please, moral outrage is the same coming from the right or left: TIRESOME.

[–] citizenofdis 8 years ago

A woman failing at anything is not allowed under matriarchy.

[–] suvrmart 8 years ago

I can see your points. They're definitely valid and valuable - especially given how the neighbor is portrayed at the end of the series.

My problem remains that the woman clearly getting abused in the show is what we'd consider someone the average person would expect. Drew is controlling in a different way.

[–] crayola14 8 years ago

this also explains why the new age guide and birthing circle unfriended her, she was telling someone else's victim story, not her own

[–] shes_hollywood 8 years ago

How do you think Drew is controlling? I think he expects her to do everything, yes, but because he's The Effeminate Male Hipster, not because he is domineering by any means.

Interesting perspective, I don't think the quarrels are supposed to be funny per se. I think we were supposed to see, again, how Drew doesn't step up but instead suggests Dory help, if she wants to (which is darkly comedic). The interactions between Drew and the battered neighbor I believe are supposed to be funny. I think the neighbor embodies what I've witnessed of the abused psyche in that it can create an understandable outward, aggressive toughness which results in her verbal assaults of Drew.

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Proud kamikaze woman

[–] suvrmart 8 years ago

Uh, no. He couldn't push the button on the microwave and just used her body as a receptacle. That's a method of control - effeminate or not.

There are plenty of effeminate men of all stripes, classes, and politics who can't stand women.

[–] almmorse 8 years ago

Dark comedy explores the aspect of life that's not meant to be laughed at. If anyone would laugh at the scene, it's because they would might act just life those characters. They tell themselves that nothing bad is happening, and they're too afraid to do something about it. It's awful, but makes it apparent that we should NOT be these characters.

[–] suvrmart 8 years ago

I get dark comedy. Thank you.

And, I watched the rest of the series. As I expected, the woman was portrayed as trashy and deserving of violence. Stealing things and stripping in front of him is a classic way to describe the unworthy victim.

[–] elegantblkchina1 8 years ago

So is it even clear that she was the one being abused? Not giving her man an out by ANY means but it's never really clear who was smacking who. I've seen relationships where the woman was the abuser and the guy was truly the victim. Maybe I missed something so please let me know if I did.

[–] suvrmart 8 years ago

She had a busted lip. Please stop doing the work of the oppressor.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] elegantblkchina1 8 years ago

It was a legit question dear, don't get smart mouthed with me unnecessarily. You can be a feminist without constantly looking to be the victim. Like i said, I've seen women be the abuser as well. I've seen women abuse a man and get abused back, I've seen women abuse a man and he didn't hit back. Either way neither should be in the relationship and I want giving him a pass. I wanted to know if I missed something. Thanks for pointing that out but don't get out of line for a simple question. Answers like that is how the weird feminist starts to be defined like the word bitch.

[–] electronicoffee 8 years ago

Thank you for your common sense answer.

Cause I ride like Kelly Bundy, Yo I keep that *beep* nasty~ (Spank Rock)

[–] !!!deleted!!! (4524359) 8 years ago

Ah the whole guilty until proven innocent thing. People like you are often very good at that. Maybe we should just abolish courts and have public stonings instead.

I do agree with you on him being a loser though.

BTW they also had a woman physically assaulting a guy in the second episode and made it seem humorous, why aren't you bitching about that?

[–] electronicoffee 8 years ago

How is Drew a loser? He's more handsome, moral, and well spoken than you. Clearly.

Cause I ride like Kelly Bundy, Yo I keep that *beep* nasty~ (Spank Rock)

[–] electronicoffee 8 years ago

So? Women often injure themselves (or their children) for pity. It's why we have
the term Munchausen Syndrome. Also, women initate domestic violence 70% of the time
and we didn't see how beat up or injured her 'man' is (it could be a woman for all we know).

Cause I ride like Kelly Bundy, Yo I keep that *beep* nasty~ (Spank Rock)

[–] MrBobWhite 8 years ago

Do not be one of those people!
And by that I mean one of those major *beep* who complain about the silliest things.
If you do not like it turn it off and move the *beep* on!
No one likes a whiner.

If you don’t like what I wrote please simply press ALT + F4!

[–] natedaug-654-143634 8 years ago

*on a red ball cap* Make domestic violence into a joke again.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Kewl_Kat 8 years ago

The woman was never shown "being abused." You don't know who was smacking who and if her lip injury was the result of her biting her gentleman lover or if it was self-inflicted in some other way. Even if she was smacked in the face, who cares? This isn't a documentary and the "domestic violence" was portrayed in a negative way. You are a busybody.

I'm a real kewl kat.🐈