MovieChat Forums > Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) Discussion > The Social Justice Dates It.

The Social Justice Dates It.

posted 6 years ago by Painbow (156)
47 replies | jump to latest

Watched it again the other day and the scene where Rey TWICE tells Finn not to hold her hand really felt clunky and crow-barred in. For the sake of modern audiences, it might be a great moment of feminism and equality but in the context of the film, why would she take such offence at him trying to help her? Either the societies they live in are equal (and no-one is a feminist) in which case her taking offence makes no sense. Or they have the same inequalities in their societies regarding gender that we do but if that's the case then why is Finn not aware of this? Why is he trying to help what he believes is a vulnerable woman?

Anyway, that scene really stood out, felt totally contrived and pulled me out of the movie.

Had they truly wanted to make a feminist point (without massively dating the movie) then they should have simply made Rey grab Finn's hand. Job done.

When people watch this film in 30 years' time, they'll wonder why it had such a forced scene.

[–] LeWildPlatypus (768) 6 years ago

I haven't seen this movie in 2-3 years, yet I instantly remembered the part you mentioned. That there is an indicator of something feeling shoe-horned in and out of place, they put too much emphasis on it for it to be ignored by the viewer, it feels oddly notable and uncanny.

Your post is no overreaction especially when there are articles all over the internet which provide in-depth analysis over whether or not people need to consent to hand holding. 30 years in the future people will be watching and reminiscing over the good old days back when men could hold a woman's hand and not go to jail.

[–] TexasJack (12516) 6 years ago

It also stood out for me the first time I saw it.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 6 years ago

Though I do not agree with the OP, this prediction seems very likely.

[–] maul (1635) 6 years ago

You're totally correct. Watch out though, mindless SJWs have partially infested this forum.

[–] ADBruno1985 (3488) 6 years ago

I never thought about that, but interesting point. I feel it's probably part of a larger trend. Just sort of a marker of movies from around now, because in a few decades, "a female character having a power moment" will simply become "a character having a moment," which I think is probably a bit closer to equality. Of course, there have been "female character having a power moment" in all film eras and generations, and will always be so, and should be, but it does feel a bit more pointed now.

Which I mean fine, balance the scales, it helps more people than it hurts, and those hurt by it probably deserve it a lil.

Also, most films are dated in some manner. I thought that when I recently saw Aquaman. And anyone who watches a movie and has the slightest interest can find out its release year with no trouble anyway.

[–] TexasJack (12516) 6 years ago

Of course, there have been "female character having a power moment" in all film eras and generations, and will always be so, and should be, but it does feel a bit more pointed now.

Quite right. In this case, it's being done so obviously and clumsily that you half expect to see a character pop in wearing a "The Force is Female" t-shirt. As the OP stated, it pulls you right out of the movie.

[–] filmschooldegree (350) 6 years ago

Yes, it really is going to be rooted in that crazy patch where hollywood went full feminazi (this, Fury Road, Suffragette, etc). The other datedness is the Finn caricature, that insulting 'shuck-n-jive' bootlick was a throwback to the Disney of the 50s, was very surprised Disney mandated it be put into a modern Star Wars film.