A monster, a pervert, and an anti-hero: the discursive construction of Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, and Louis C.K. in humorous #MeToo memes

Andreasen, Maja Brandt

doi:10.1080/14680777.2022.2047089

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Just as the fact that De Pauw is ‘funny’ and a comedian played a role here, this was seen previously in the response to the sexual misconduct allegations against American comedian Louis C.K. and the subsequent himpathy directed at him online (Andreasen, 2022: 5). 20…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…Physically unattractive figures can rely on himpathetic responses much less as they are more easily constructed as the ‘monster’ sexual abuser (Boyle, 2019: 117). 19 How the figure of an accused perpetrator is constructed depends on elements such as appearance, sexuality and public persona (Andreasen, 2022: 4). Just as the fact that De Pauw is ‘funny’ and a comedian played a role here, this was seen previously in the response to the sexual misconduct allegations against American comedian Louis C.K.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to his years of presence on the screen and viewers’ attachment to him, his sacking seems to trigger in some people, the same emotions as the loss of a best friend would. In this regard, the references to keeping De Pauw working so viewers will be able to enjoy his shows mirrors responses to other suspected perpetrators working in entertainment (Andreasen, 2022: 12). This signals that the ‘potential loss of culture consumption for fans’ outweighs the risks of the beloved entertainer engaging in sexual violence in the workplace (Andreasen, 2022: 12).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this regard, the references to keeping De Pauw working so viewers will be able to enjoy his shows mirrors responses to other suspected perpetrators working in entertainment (Andreasen, 2022: 12). This signals that the ‘potential loss of culture consumption for fans’ outweighs the risks of the beloved entertainer engaging in sexual violence in the workplace (Andreasen, 2022: 12). On the other hand, the way in which this has happened is very much blamed on the VRT: the charges here are of a procedural nature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘What about the presumption of innocence?’ Legal consciousness and himpathy in Social Media Users Comments on Flemish #MeToo scandal

Graaf

2023

European Journal of Women's Studies

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In November 2017, after receiving multiple complaints of sexual harassment, the Flemish Radio and Television Broadcasting Organization (VRT) terminated its collaboration with one of Flanders’ most popular TV personalities, Bart De Pauw. What followed was an explosion of opinions from both well-known and ordinary persons. The focus of this article is on the latter: Facebook users commenting on newspaper articles. To gather information about their legal consciousness with respect to the scandal, their comments are analysed using critical discourse analysis. The term legal consciousness refers to the ways in which ‘the law’ is invoked to evaluate and define certain behaviours that occur outside of a legal framework. Legal consciousness is apparent in the comments of social media users with references to elements of procedural justice: the presumption of innocence, to (the absence of) the right to a defence, or to the absence of any evidence. Despite the fact that the women in question have not made a claim in conventional judicial institutions, their complaints are still evaluated within such a framework. The conducted analysis seems to support the paradox identified by Gash and Harding: that law (or rather perceptions thereof) stands in the way of the objectives of an awareness movement and encourages victims of sexual abuse to remain silent (2018). In this context, it appears that commenters are plagued by ‘himpathy’, with a fixation on the harasser’s fall from grace whereby procedural rules are merely used as a decoy. A remarkable finding of this study is the total reversal of victimhood that takes place. It is found that the case at hand clearly illustrates that seizing control of the narrative is part of male dominance, even more so when the alleged perpetrator is popular and powerful.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘What about the presumption of innocence?’ Legal consciousness and himpathy in Social Media Users Comments on Flemish #MeToo scandal

Graaf

2023

European Journal of Women's Studies

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“…Even more recently, on 9 May 2023, the former president of the United States, Donald Trump, was found to have sexually abused columnist E. Jean Carroll [182]. Similar to many men of their age [183], they continued to presuppose sex as being for pleasure and supported the roles of men and women in this regard since the 1970s-something brought to the forefront by feminist critique [184]. As a result of Weinstein's convictions, public sentiment towards sex as pleasure turned in a different direction [185], supported by the postmodern interest in gender as sexual identity developed with the early public focus on the #MeToo movement, founded in 2017, where women publicly self-identified as being victims of rape to an overwhelming and unexpected degree [186].…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender: A Postmodern Idea Developed in Association with the Modern Concept of Sex in Considering the Implications for Evolving Sexuality

Nash

2023

Sexes

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The presently ubiquitous idea of how gender is defined remains deeply indebted to modern thought, depending on the concept of sex as its reference point. Originating with practices arising from capitalism, modern thought’s concept of sex was enhanced with the search for the norm regarding standardization, then further refined through the research program of eugenics. Gender, in contrast to sex, has its roots in sexual practice changes from the second half of the twentieth century onward, developed in association with 1980s postmodern thought. The presuppositions of the two concepts differ radically. Understanding the difference between sex and gender matters because gender is now more than a critique of sex—it is an idea that is accepted and understood in popular culture and affects how people interpret their sexuality. This review examines the foundations of modern and postmodern thought, then focuses on sex and gender with respect to their history within these modes of thought. The conclusion, pointing to future research, is that a further reformulation of sexuality will be required for gender, as a postmodern idea, to truly separate itself from the presumptions of sex as a modern concept, permitting individuals to express their sexuality as they choose without negative social and psychological repercussions.

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Representations of Virgin Young Adult Men in Internet Macro Memes

Lamoureux

Boislard

2023

Sexuality & Culture

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A monster, a pervert, and an anti-hero: the discursive construction of Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, and Louis C.K. in humorous #MeToo memes

Cited by 9 publications

References 32 publications

‘What about the presumption of innocence?’ Legal consciousness and himpathy in Social Media Users Comments on Flemish #MeToo scandal

‘What about the presumption of innocence?’ Legal consciousness and himpathy in Social Media Users Comments on Flemish #MeToo scandal

Gender: A Postmodern Idea Developed in Association with the Modern Concept of Sex in Considering the Implications for Evolving Sexuality

Representations of Virgin Young Adult Men in Internet Macro Memes

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