In Russia, it was already Monday when the Hollywood stars gathered in Los Angeles at the annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony.
Usually, the red carpet is a showcase of high fashion and a feast of colors. It's been like this for years. Here's 2016. Here's 2017.
There was no color in 2018, everyone came in black. And not because black is black, but because black, as a lack of color, was chosen as a symbol of collective protest against sexual harassment. This is what's fashionable. And this is what's stronger than the colors of life.
Everything seemed like at a mourning, but what did they mourn? Ruination of one's body after a frivolous touch? A shattered psyche after a direct gaze? An incurable trauma after a male joke? Intolerable suffering from an open director's dressing gown? All of this in Hollywood now strictly refers to sexual harassment and is equated to violence. And if there's violence, then there are victims. Here the victims of violence, as well as those in solidarity with them, who went out in mourning to mourn the lost past, conducted of course, in complete immunity.
It turned out funny. The sexual appeal and even frankness of black outfits from the best fashion designers, even if non-verbally, rebelled against the new Puritanism. The same protest message was sent by the stars' bodies. Their body language was in clear contrast with the declared mourning.
Here's Angelina Jolie in a dress from Versace Here's Nicole Kidman in the evening gown from the British brand Ralph & Russo. Even Meryl Streep joined in, she was "worked on" by an American fashion designer Vera Wang. Penelope Cruz preferred an outfit from the French fashion house, Givenchy. Sarah Jessica Parker shone in Dolce & Gabbana. The same fashion house was chosen by the singer Mariah Carey. A variety of black dresses from Dior were worn by Michelle Pfeiffer, Natalie Portman and Jessica Biel. Lebanese fashion designer, Zuhair Murad, "worked on" Catherine Zeta-Jones and Halle Berry. Another Lebanese designer, Elie Saab, made a dress for Ashley Judd. Salma Hayek chose Balenciaga. and Kate Hudson, Valentino. Impressively transparent design, just like an open robe. Isn't it traumatic?
But the most significant figure at the ceremony, of course, was Tarana Burke. Also in black. This black woman with an unforgettable appearance, was the one who invented the hashtag #MeToo, which can be translated as "Me too." It was from that, that a whole new women's movement grew, now popular on social media. On it, wronged women share their experiences and traumas after men's harassments and even experiences of violence.
In the biography of Tarana herself Burke, there are no such episodes. And the vivid image of this lady doesn't give a reason to feel sorry for her, or to even to suggest that something like this could happen to her. But nevertheless, a social activist says that she's acting out of solidarity with others and sympathizes with them.
As a result, everything turned into man-hatred in the West, the destruction of romance in relationships and the security of women's, with quotes, "status of eternal victims and toys of demonic phallocrat." Last words are from the letter of a group of 100 women, including French actress Catherine Deneuve, psychoanalyst Sarah Chiche, and writer Catherine Millet. By the way, Catherine Millet's candid book about the sexual life of women, based on her own experiences, was published here in 2004 in Russian, under the title "The Sexual Life of Katrin M.".
So the "letter from 100 women" was published on Tuesday in Le Monde newspaper. Of course, women are against violence, but are also against the wave of new puritanism started by the "Me too" campaign. The text is so convincing and honest that it's difficult to disagree with it.
"Rape is a crime, but persistent or awkward courtship is not an offense, nor is chivalry male aggression".
And furthermore, about what the stars in black are completely ignoring in their own hypocrisy. Our program talked about this all of last year.
"In fact, the MeToo hashtag entailed a whole campaign of denunciations and public accusations in the press and social networks against people who weren't given a chance to respond or defend themselves, and put them on the same level as sexual aggressors right away. This lynching mob already has victims: men who were sanctioned in their profession, were forced to quit etc., just because they once touched a knee or tried to give a kiss".
The "letter from 100 women," notes a clear sign of totalitarianism in the entire campaign:
"Men are instructed to admit guilt and unearth in their retrospective consciousness inappropriate behavior that they could have done 10, 20, 30 years ago, for which they now must repent. "Public confession, the intrusion of self proclaimed prosecutors into the private sphere, all this builds an atmosphere of a totalitarian society".
Among authors of the letter, besides actress Catherine Deneuve and writer Catherine Millet, are also actress and writer Ingrid Caven, actress and writer Catherine Robb-Grillet, philosopher Peggy Sastre, and journalist of Iranian origin Abnousse Shalmani. Everyone is noticing the absurdity of the situation.
"Now publishers are asking some of us to make our male characters less sexist, to talk more moderately about love and sex, and to make traumas of female characters more obvious.
In Sweden a ridiculous bill is being considered, according to which those who wish to engage in sexual relations must get a written consent. All this creates new obstacles, and 2 adults who want to sleep together must first create a document with a full list of acceptable and unacceptable, in their opinion, practices".
Well, say hi to Swedes! Before the first kiss, you will first need to get written consent, otherwise the kiss could turn out to be an unacceptable sexual practice for the woman.
In general, the "letter from 100 women", published on Tuesday in the French newspaper Le Monde, became a factor in civilized discussion and an attempt to return Western society to common sense. Of course, it's interesting to read it in full. The text has been translated into "InoSMI," but here is the ending:
"Incidents with a woman's body do not necessarily affect her dignity and even in severe cases should not make her an eternal victim, because we are not only our body. Our internal freedom is untouchable. And this freedom that we cherish isn't without risks and responsibilities."
And where is there a place for violence? Or the trampling of dignity? Everything is confidently balanced. And even strongly and with faith in women.
Of course, Catherine Deneuve was immediately made the enemy of many feminists, but there are those who supported her. Former Italian PM Berlusconi called the letter "blessed," and added that "women are happy when men are trying to seduce them."
And what's wrong with that?
