more importantly, the generations within our society?
Zerlina Maxwell: This is a guy who rides around town obessing over Diane, refusing to give up on their relationship. In the middle of the night, Cusack's attempt to win Diane back is, taken out of the Hollywood romantic context, creepy at the very least. This iconic symbol of young love teaches young men that they can win a girl over for their personal gain through unrelenting persuasion. This sends a message to society that the idea of force and dominance upon women has a romantic value. This is problematic becuase real life isn't like the movies. I would have called the police on John Cusack for stalking.
Ethan Reeves: That's a good point to make. So you believe that by teaching our youth these misguided values of romance that in effect we are encouraging them to engage in more or less rape culture.
Zerlina Maxwell: Exactly! im not saying that after watching this movie young men will be encouraged to go out and rape women. However, where to draw the line with rape is tricky and the portrayal of
women as items to be won
over or dominated is just
the beginning of a slippery
slope. Stalking could easily
escalate and result in an
event of rape.