Keira Knightley Severly Beaten in Controversial PSA
Submitted by DeepDiveAdmin on Apr 3, 2009
All eyes are on actress Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean series) in this new British public service announcement which is set to play in movie theaters beginning on April 6th.
In this controversial and visually graphic PSA, Knightley draws attention to the problem of domestic violence.
This isn't the only advertisement to make waves recently. See this controversial anti-smoking ad.
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domestic violence goes across gender lines. Either way, there's NO-EXCUSE for it.
Who needs to see this to know that domestic violence is a bad thing? I grew up with this crap, and I find it very disturbing to watch. I question whether it's helpful to the women who find themselves in that situation. What they need is to be told to GET OUT, and they need to be told how to go about it. They need to know that there are shelters where they can find refuge from the abuser while they get their life together. They need to know that there are laws to protect them. They need to know that they have the moral right to be free of that abuse. They need to know that staying could very well cost them their lives. They need to get all that information in a calm, persuasive tone, and I really don't think they need to be hit between the eyes with videos like the one above.
I have to agree with the parent post, at least in part. What does this video do? I wholeheartedly agree we as a society need to work to stop domestic violence, but I don't see how this video helps. Who are we watching, what does the video mean, who are we donating to and what do they do? Clearly this video is about raising awareness and not explicitly aimed at victims of domestic abuse. That's fine and I disagree that any video on the topic must be aimed at the victims. But the message should not be garbled by some complicated metaphor that doesn't even get across very well.
I agree that effective videos could also be aimed at people other than the victim. People need to know that domestic abuse is a crime , and it should be reported. I think effective videos could also be aimed at the perpetrators. Are they really living the way they want to live? They have a serious problem, and they should be encouraged to get help.
You're also right that the video is confusing. Not just in its message, but in its moral viewpoint. It's as if she had chosen to make a video to raise awareness about the sexual abuse of women by making a porn clip. A lot of people enjoy watching violence, and I think it's an open question whether this video is protesting violence or modeling it.
It's a fairly common and far-reaching problem. There's no specific race, social category, location that they spend time in. Mass media seems to be the most likely way to reach people.
What we need is more sympathy for women and their terrible situations. The first poster has beautifully proven how many stereotypes and assumptions and disgusting terms there are out there about women, on which basis they are discriminated against.
I have no sympathy for men who are wife/girfriend beaters. Obviously they need help, anger management, an exorcism, whatever. They are also great manipulators and often exercise mental abuse long before physical, which makes women think they have no way out.
The whole "bitches" comment is sick and disgusting and I won't even reply to this type of written garbarge.
There is no reason that a husband or a boyfriend should beat his wife or girlfriend. None whatsoever. If you don't like her, leave her, but justifying hitting a woman is also very sick and disgusting.
Suffice it to say, Keira Knightley has sent out a very important message about domestic violence. And obviously, we can see from the first three posts from the same person, that her message is very much needed given the disgusting attitudes that are out there.
The first comment that appeared on this story -- and the one Jocelyngoestotown addressed in her post above -- was removed because it did not adhere to Opposing Views' Civility 101.
The post you refer to doesn't exist. Was it removed? Men who beat women are the lowest form of life and should be locked up for good. I need say no more than that.