Fifty Shades of Grey

[dangle]

Just got done reading the first book as a recommendation of a female friend. Very interesting and borders on taboo.

Any thoughts?

My thoughts are that it is af if a female finally made a porn movie from the female psyche.  It just happens to be in written form. 

[Dan]

Any thoughts?

Yeah, I'm disturbed at its popularity.

For those unaware of what that book is, there's this neat review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/340987215

[Stuart]

Any thoughts?

Yeah, I'm disturbed at its popularity.

For those unaware of what that book is, there's this neat review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/340987215

I can't take that review seriously due to the writer's bizarre need to stick those damn pictures everywhere. Howerver, its nice to see the self declared smart and tasteful people have found something new to hate now the Twilight series has ended.

[Dan]

I can't take that review seriously due to the writer's bizarre need to stick those damn pictures everywhere.

Then you'll like that one better: http://screencrush.com/50-shades-of-grey-movie/

Howerver, its nice to see the self declared smart and tasteful people have found something new to hate now the Twilight series has ended.

Hardly something new, it's Twilight fan fiction.

[Stuart]

Hardly something new, it's Twilight fan fiction.

Thank you for making my point for me.

[Petrucio28]

I'll admit that I had the chance to buy the book not too long ago, but I wasn't sure it was something that would have been worth the money. From reading some of the appraisals that I've seen, I think that as a book, it's lacking unless one is looking for erotica...

[Dan]

From reading some of the appraisals that I've seen, I think that as a book, it's lacking unless one is looking for erotica...

It's sold and marketed as an erotica book. Someone reading the book is most definitely looking for erotica.

Thank you for making my point for me.

What is your point?

[Stuart]

What is your point?

That the people who were unable to contain their disdain for Twilight have found something new to have a go at.

[Dan]

That the people who were unable to contain their disdain for Twilight have found something new to have a go at.

I don't think it counts as new being Twilight fanfic. If Stephenie eventually writes her next book and people hate it, they'd still be hating pretty much the same thing.

[Karla]

There are always going to be genres out there or popular books or films that people really hate not appreciating that it wasn't aimed at them in the first place. If you find yourself hating a really popular book or film that has captured the imagination of a segment of the market, ask yourself if they could make just as many valid criticisms about your own favourite book or film.

Twilight is aimed at teenage girls. Fifty Shades of Grey is aimed at more sexually mature women. You can make just as valid criticisms about Hollywood films, action thrillers or superhero comics for example but they are aimed at a completely different audience. Often the product can be poor quality if it's designed for one particular purpose, for example Fifty Shades of Grey is meant to be erotica. It has obviously worked though otherwise we wouldn't be hearing about it.

So if you find yourself hating any of these books or films, you may argue that you hate what they represent. But if you think about it, doesn't that mean that you are in effect also hating the intended audience? After all, the books and films are designed to appeal to something fundamental about the audience's psychological character and doing it rather successfully.

Maturity is about recognising that everyone has a different background, different needs and values, that people think differently and that you cannot judge purely based on your own particular life.

[Petrucio28]

I agree. I just didn't feel like it was something that I thought I would enjoy reading, as it is mainly about some acts of which I might be curious, but curious about reality, not fiction. If that makes sense.

[Dan]

There are always going to be genres out there or popular books or films that people really hate not appreciating that it wasn't aimed at them in the first place. If you find yourself hating a really popular book or film that has captured the imagination of a segment of the market, ask yourself if they could make just as many valid criticisms about your own favourite book or film.

I didn't say I hate it, I said I find it disturbing. It's a book that glorifies abusive relationships.

[Petrucio28]

That's interesting. I was under the impression that it was about a young woman who get's involved with a guy who is into BDSM. But I haven't read the book, so I don't know all about it.
How does it glorify abusive relationships? It isn't that I don't think you're right, but rather I wonder how it does so?

[Dan]

I was under the impression that it was about a young woman who get's involved with a guy who is into BDSM.

BDSM requires consent.

How does it glorify abusive relationships? It isn't that I don't think you're right, but rather I wonder how it does so?

He makes her do stuff against her will over and over again and she goes with it because she wants to make him happy and wants to change him.

Edit: Read the second review I posted, it's a great explanation of what's disturbing about that novel (and it's funny to read). Here's the link again: http://screencrush.com/50-shades-of-grey-movie/

[Petrucio28]

Okay. I understand now. I missed your second review and didn't know about the part where he did things against her will.
If he's doing it against her consent, then it's definitely not something that I would want to read. Like I said, I'm curious about BDSM just as a practice, not because it would be right for me. But like you said, it requires consent. Otherwise it's assault in my opinion.
Thank you for the review.