Asking for It

Rape Myths, Satire, and Feminist Lacunae

Bibliographic Data

ID2227080
AuthorsViveca S Greene, Amber Day
Year2020
Volume45
Issue2
Pages449-472
Publication date2020-01-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSigns: Journal of Women in Culture and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0097-9740 • E-ISSN: 1545-6943
PublisherUniversity of Chicago Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1086/705005
OpenAlexW2993487404
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited13

Although the outpouring of discussion about sexual violence following the allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein caught many by surprise, the topic has been brewing as a cultural battleground for decades, particularly in the world of comedy. Today there are more high-profile female performers than ever before, bringing new perspectives to mainstream audiences and a heightened interest in exposing rape culture. Concurrently, rape culture has become a flash point for conservatives, leading to vitriolic online attacks. Just as rape jokes are constitutive of rape culture, we contend that satire that addresses dimensions of that culture is vital to challenging it. This article examines the works of Samantha Bee, Amy Schumer, and Lena Weissbrot: three satirists who are participating in the cultural battle over sexual violence. As we note, however, these three performers do not always evince an understanding of the centuries-old relationship between rape culture and racism. Through critical contextual analysis, we explore their work, with particular attention to lacunae within mainstream feminism

Aesthetics · Art · Battle · Comedy · Feminism · Joke · Literature · Mainstream · Media culture · Media studies · Movie theater · Mythology · Political science · Popular culture · Racism · Sociology · Surprise · Gender Studies · Gender, Feminism, and Media · History · Humor Studies and Applications · Law · Media, Gender, and Advertising

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