Maleficent & Rape: Metaphors

"Since this movie is a PG-13 Disney film, it does not contain a literal rape scene. Rather, the character of Maleficent is betrayed and mutilated (her wings are removed) and this can be taken to imply an off-screen rape or be a metaphor for rape."

"The claim that the betrayal and mutilation of Maleficent is a metaphor for rape is plausible-Krischer does a reasonable analysis of the scenario and, of course, for rape to be in a PG-13 Disney film it would need to be metaphorical. But whether the scene is about rape is a matter of dispute. Metaphors are not literal and are always subject to some degree of dispute."

"One way to address the question would be to determine the intent of those who created the film. After all, the creators would be the best qualified to know their intent and can be seen as those who get the final say about what it means. However, creators sometimes do not know what they intend. While I am but a minor writer, I know that sometimes the words come forth like wild animals, going as they will."

"There is also the possibility that a metaphor, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. The intent of the creator does not matter as much as the interpretation of the audience. To use the obvi"

Maleficent contains a betrayal and the removal of her wings rather than a literal rape scene. The wing removal can be interpreted as implying off-screen sexual violence or functioning as a metaphor for rape. Whether the scene is about rape remains disputed because metaphors are not literal and can be understood in multiple ways. One approach is to consider the creators’ intent, since they are best positioned to define meaning, though creators may not fully control what their work produces. Audience interpretation can also reshape meaning, as interactions can cause new themes to emerge. Metaphor can be “in the eye of the beholder,” making audience interpretation central.

Read at A Philosopher's Blog