# Revenge of the Nerds - Making a Joke of Rape **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 3, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revenge-of-the-nerds-making-a-joke-of-rape/277836 "2004-12-03T02:41:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revenge-of-the-nerds-making-a-joke-of-rape/277836/41 "2004-12-03T18:13:09Z")
Hmmmm Revenge of the Nerds is pretty well replete with offensive stereotypes, I mean no one wants to make hay with the depiction of Homosexuals as mincing fairies? Or how about a Black fraternaty that acts and looks like a Black Panther organization, or worse how they are feared by the jocks because they are black? How about the use of drugs and alcohol by a minor? How about just the gross bodily function jokes I find the whole movie to be another of what they now call “gross out comedies” It is offensive and meant to be so that the parents will be shocked and the teens it’s geared to will want to see what is getting everyone all riled up. It even wraps it all up with a “feel good” message to cover its meanspirited attitudes. This is pretty typical of a teen movie, if you want to be offended you can go ahead but that was the part of the job of this film. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revenge-of-the-nerds-making-a-joke-of-rape/277836/42 "2004-12-03T19:13:58Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > Deception isn’t enough for it to be rape, I would think. I would think she would have to object ex-post as well. In the movie, she clearly didn’t, so no rape. > [@Interrobang!?](#): > > I’m sure it could be argued that she wasn’t raped at all, given that she didn’t consider it rape, but I’m not familiar with Nerdville rape law circa 1983. Interesting question. Legally the victim has to also consider it rape for it to be rape? What if prosecutors somehow find out about a victim who is one of a number of victims by the same person? Can they prosecute someone on that basis (on behalf of the State I assume) even if the victim doesn’t consider it rape? People certainly talk themselves out of believing they were raped when they were. I’m creeped out by the rape scene in “Revenge of the Nerds” and as cited above, what I also consider to be rape in “40 Days and 40 Nights”. Less disturbing than depiction of a violent stranger rape but unsettling nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revenge-of-the-nerds-making-a-joke-of-rape/277836/43 "2004-12-03T19:29:35Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Interesting question. Legally the victim has to also consider it rape for it to be rape? What if prosecutors somehow find out about a victim who is one of a number of victims by the same person? Can they prosecute someone on that basis (on behalf of the State I assume) even if the victim doesn’t consider it rape? People certainly talk themselves out of believing they were raped when they were. QUOTE] Technically, they probably could prosecute without the victim’s cooperation, just as they have tried to prosecute spousal abuse cases when the victim is reluctant, but I doubt if they would. What kind of rape case would they have without the victim’s testimony? Although the OP has stimulated some interesting discussion, I have to agree with those saying everyone just needs to lighten up. I mean, really, think of all the other crimes against humanity (as well as lesser sins that have been made fun of in the movies and TV over the years: murder, suicide, drunkenness, wife beating (“One of these days Alice…”), racism, etc. It’s all part-and-parcel of low comedy; that’s why it’s called “low.” ---
**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revenge-of-the-nerds-making-a-joke-of-rape/277836/44 "2004-12-03T20:17:55Z")
Yes, my memory from criminal law classes is that under most (I’d say all, but I’m not that confident) U.S. laws pretending to be someone else (sneaking into the dark room and pretending to be the husband) is deemed rape. On the “am I just being PC” subject: I am rarely deemed “too PC,” but the movie that has always creeped me out a bit is M_A_S_H_. Wahahahah, the nurse resists our advances but is actually a sanctimonious hypocrit. Clearly the funny, and not at all wrong, revenge is to literally strip away all of her dignity by displaying her naked to the entire camp. Bwahahahah, bitch deserved it. Right. I believe the movie actually displays this in a way that you are supposed to side _with_ the doctors who “gave her what’s coming to her.” ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revenge-of-the-nerds-making-a-joke-of-rape/277836/45 "2004-12-03T20:42:20Z")
I think maybe we should view films in their cultural context. For example M_A_S_H_: By today’s standards “Hot Lips” was the victim of prolonged sexual harrasment and worked in a hostile work environment. A poor woman driven over the brink by the men. Also Frank Burns’ (In the film not the show) treatment, especially regarding his religious convictions, was also cruel. Come to think of it if they made that movie today would they excise out all the cheap shots at religion? In 1970 They were seen more as a symbol of both of the old sexual repression, the religious zealots and the Military establishment. The acts were against those things, Frank and Margaret were merely the physical manifestations of the hypocrisy of the institutions. The audience then would root for the “taking down a peg or two” of those people for what they represented not for who they were. Mind you, they were people and not institutions on the screen so I can understand someone being bothered by it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revenge-of-the-nerds-making-a-joke-of-rape/277836/46 "2004-12-03T20:47:17Z")
> [@SlyFrog](#): > > On the “am I just being PC” subject: I am rarely deemed “too PC,” but the movie that has always creeped me out a bit is M_A_S_H_. Wahahahah, the nurse resists our advances but is actually a sanctimonious hypocrit. Clearly the funny, and not at all wrong, revenge is to literally strip away all of her dignity by displaying her naked to the entire camp. This has always bugged me, too. In fact, a lot of their antics were more cruel than funny. While we’re on the subject, I’ve always been skeeved by, IIRC, _Sixteen Candles_, where the cute jock basically gives his drunk girlfriend to Anthony Michael Hall to have his way with. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revenge-of-the-nerds-making-a-joke-of-rape/277836/47 "2004-12-03T21:14:40Z")
I don’t think the scene in _Revenge of the Nerds_ can be considered rape, because in the reality created by the film, sex is a casual, non-emotional, non-traumatic thing. It’s a cartoon. There’s a scene in the beginning where Ogre is dangling a kid head down off a second story balcony, and then accidentally drops him. Clearly, the kid would be dead in real life, but in the movie, it’s played for laughs. Just as violent physical actions do not lead to realistic harm, deceptive, arguably coerced sexual encounters do not lead to realistic harm. In the context of the movie, getting fucked under false pretenses is the same as dropping an anvil on Elmer Fudd’s head. All also say, for the record, that there ain’t a damn thing funny about the rape scene in _A Clockword Orange_. Alex and his Droogs see it as a playful, humorous situation, but the intent of the scene is to ellicit horror and revulsion in the audience, not laughs. Now, if you want to talk about a genuinely offensive rape scene being played for laughs… anyone remember _Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves_? Alan Rickman desperately trying to consummate his forced marriage to Maid Marian before Kevin Costner can show up and poke some new holes in his torso? The bit that really sticks with me is the little bit of physical comedy wherein Rickman _forces open Marian’s legs_. That was something I can’t believe ever made it up onto the big screen. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revenge-of-the-nerds-making-a-joke-of-rape/277836/48 "2004-12-03T23:10:34Z")
[uqote]Hedley Lamarr: Qualifications? Applicant: Rape, murder, arson, and rape. Hedley Lamarr: You said rape twice. Applicant: I like rape. [/quote] The same year, _Young Frankenstein_ had a rape scene for comic effect. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revenge-of-the-nerds-making-a-joke-of-rape/277836/49 "2004-12-04T00:15:44Z")
Shoot, that was my favorite movie when I was a kid. I watched it every day. Just look at me. I turned out ok. Really. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revenge-of-the-nerds-making-a-joke-of-rape/277836/50 "2004-12-04T00:35:40Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > “We live in a society of laws. Why do you think I took you to all those Police Academy movies? For fun? Well, I didn’t hear anybody laughing, did you?” > > –sorry couldn’t resist— That was what I was thinking of when I posted. I just couldn’t think of it. 😃 I still think that everyone here is really overanalyzing a movie called “Revenge of the Nerds.” It’s a stupid friggin movie. Hell, “Weird Science” is chock full o’ offensivenessosity. She spends the whole movie trying to have sex with two minors. She takes them to the bar. Teen comedies are rife with illegal and immoral behavior. Where are you going to draw the line on here? I’m still crossing my fingers on this being some giant, poorly concieved whoosh. ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revenge-of-the-nerds-making-a-joke-of-rape/277836/51 "2004-12-04T01:05:29Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > Now, does that make it “all right”? In the real world, no. But melodrama has always been full of what they used to call “ravishing,” borderline-violent sexual encounters in which (usually) a man overcomes a woman’s resistance physically, only to be accepted by her in the end. An excellent example of what you’re describing here is the scene in _Gone With The Wind_ when Rhett takes Scarlett upstairs to have his way with her while she beats him with her tiny, little fists. The next morning, we see her preening in front of a mirror, humming, and quite pleased with what conspired the night before. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revenge-of-the-nerds-making-a-joke-of-rape/277836.md?page=2)