Culture War Roundup for the Week of April 29, 2019

I've been watching My So-Called Life lately, having missed it during the 90s on account of being too young, and there's one scene in particular in episode 2 that is really uncomfortable for an uninitiated viewer to watch today.

Unfortunately, the scene isn't on Youtube, but if you have Hulu it's Season 1, Episode 2, starting at 32:09. Quoting a fansite transcript:

AngelaVO: What's amazing is when you can feel your life going somewhere. Like your life just figured out how to get good. Like, that second.

(Jordan takes ID out of glove compartment and gives it to Angela.)

Angela : Wow, it looks real. Why does...(He kisses her, she pushes him away) Hey. I'm s- I'm sorry, I just...

Jordan : No...

Angela : I just...I was talking.

Jordan : No...whatever.

Angela : So how come...(He kisses her again, she shoves him hard.) Quit it! I mean, you have to work up to that. I don't open that wide at the dentist.

(They continue to make awkward conversation for a bit after that, then Angela gets out of the car and the scene ends.)

The phrasing "He kisses her again, she shoves him hard" doesn't quite do it justice. Jordan ignores what are clearly muffled cries of protest from Angela and has to be physically pushed off of her. Less than 20 seconds after Angela had told him not to do that specific thing.

Today, or even just a few years ago before #MeToo, this would be considered a pretty unambiguous example of sexual assault, but the show seems to treat it as merely rude and a social faux pas. And this was a show that received widespread critical acclaim for being realistic and down-to-earth.

It boggles my mind that social mores could have changed so much within my own lifetime, with apparently few if any people noticing.

/r/TheMotte Thread Parent