Annus Horibilus
April 7, 2013 8:42 PM Subscribe
One Photo a day... while in an abusive relationship. Not for the faint-of-heart.
This post was deleted for the following reason: The implicit framing as documentary as opposed to ad/PSA is problem here; maybe repost with more background if it's something that needs to be posted -- taz
Any way to verify authenticity? Needless to say, many women do face this kind of thing; I'm just not clear whether this particular video is one of those or a cautionary advertisement.
posted by splitpeasoup at 8:50 PM on April 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by splitpeasoup at 8:50 PM on April 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
It looks like an advertisement for a Stop Domestic Abuse advocacy group. I'm sorry, but I don't think this is documentary.
posted by Catchfire at 8:54 PM on April 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Catchfire at 8:54 PM on April 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
Good instincts, splitpeasoup.
The powerful short was produced in Croatia as a public service announcement drawing attention to the issue of domestic abuse.
Fortunately, the woman in the clip above was not injured to make the video, as all the injuries were put there by a professional makeup artist.
posted by Miko at 8:55 PM on April 7, 2013 [8 favorites]
The powerful short was produced in Croatia as a public service announcement drawing attention to the issue of domestic abuse.
Fortunately, the woman in the clip above was not injured to make the video, as all the injuries were put there by a professional makeup artist.
posted by Miko at 8:55 PM on April 7, 2013 [8 favorites]
It's unclear to me as well, but the point is very well made. It's definitely from a campaign. Google translate version at least seems to be avoiding clearly saying it's a true story (which would imply it isn't.)
Still. I have no trouble believing it could just as easily be a true story, and that's enough. Time to go find out how I can help locally.
posted by pahalial at 8:56 PM on April 7, 2013
Still. I have no trouble believing it could just as easily be a true story, and that's enough. Time to go find out how I can help locally.
posted by pahalial at 8:56 PM on April 7, 2013
I wasn't sure until some of the end shots, where it seemed more obvious that it was makeup effects. But it was still powerful and an entirely believable scenario.
posted by SpacemanStix at 9:05 PM on April 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by SpacemanStix at 9:05 PM on April 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
It's an artistic, packaged way of communicating an important truth. I do think it's valuable to know this particular presentation is manufactured, though a lot of cultural productions - writing, poetry, photography, painting - done in abusive situations aren't. If it renders the reality of abuse more visible, that's to the good. More powerful than the stage makeup bruises, to me, are the ways in which the model communicated the slow sickening of the spirit - the smile fades except rarely, the light in the eyes darkens. These are the things noticed and wondered at by people who never even see any outer bruises or wounds.
posted by Miko at 9:08 PM on April 7, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by Miko at 9:08 PM on April 7, 2013 [9 favorites]
Disturbing and powerful. But it needs to clearly communicate that it's a re-creation meant to educate, or it risks feeling manipulative and phony and losing the power and authority that comes with presenting such images of abuse with the very audience it needs to reach the most: The victims and the perpetrators of such physical abuse and the friends and family who can help identify it.
posted by Skygazer at 9:38 PM on April 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Skygazer at 9:38 PM on April 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
oh wow, this was intense.
and I disagree with all of you who are saying that this needs a big "FYI - MOVIE MAGIC" up front. I don't think this topic needs the negative attention of "let's pick apart every story to make sure it's not fake." I don't want to assume i know why people do this, but to me it feels like a culture that automatically attacks victims and demands verification before being willing to offer sympathy.
posted by rebent at 9:56 PM on April 7, 2013
and I disagree with all of you who are saying that this needs a big "FYI - MOVIE MAGIC" up front. I don't think this topic needs the negative attention of "let's pick apart every story to make sure it's not fake." I don't want to assume i know why people do this, but to me it feels like a culture that automatically attacks victims and demands verification before being willing to offer sympathy.
posted by rebent at 9:56 PM on April 7, 2013
Rebent, to whom should we offer our sympathy in this case?
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:06 PM on April 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:06 PM on April 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't think this belongs here; this is straight-up fantasy. It's an artist's conception of abuse, not abuse. Yet, it's presented as if it's real.
When dealing with this kind of emotionally supercharged topic, the last thing we should be doing is using a model and makeup artist to lie about the issue. It's manipulative, deceptive, and outright wrong, no matter what greater good they think they're serving.
posted by Malor at 10:37 PM on April 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
When dealing with this kind of emotionally supercharged topic, the last thing we should be doing is using a model and makeup artist to lie about the issue. It's manipulative, deceptive, and outright wrong, no matter what greater good they think they're serving.
posted by Malor at 10:37 PM on April 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Honestly, despite my doubts I thought it was real at first and did feel kind of duped after I read the comments here saying it was actually from a campaign. Still, I also felt extremely relieved that the woman in the video hadn't been literally beat up like that. (Of course she may have been abused in her real life too but you get my point, I hope.)
posted by Wonton Cruelty at 10:38 PM on April 7, 2013
posted by Wonton Cruelty at 10:38 PM on April 7, 2013
I think lot of those 'real' photo-a-day videos are faked a bit anyway.
posted by michaelh at 10:38 PM on April 7, 2013
posted by michaelh at 10:38 PM on April 7, 2013
Rebent, to whom should we offer our sympathy in this case?
To the very real victims of domestic abuse?
posted by suedehead at 10:38 PM on April 7, 2013
To the very real victims of domestic abuse?
posted by suedehead at 10:38 PM on April 7, 2013
While it is a powerful PSA to me it was diluted by the concept that the victim would document what was happening to her in a style and medium reminiscent of youtubers and instagrammers (unless that was the point)
And along the lines of Joe in Australia I do warn that straw victims are as dangerous as straw attackers.
posted by sourwookie at 10:39 PM on April 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
And along the lines of Joe in Australia I do warn that straw victims are as dangerous as straw attackers.
posted by sourwookie at 10:39 PM on April 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
While it is a powerful PSA to me it was diluted by the concept that the victim would document what was happening to her in a style and medium reminiscent of youtubers and instagrammers
Ah, I thought that was a point they were trying to make, that even today's modern, connected women, with all the resources that the internet and society offer, can still be targeted and abused by these monsters. YMMV.
posted by Purposeful Grimace at 10:49 PM on April 7, 2013
Ah, I thought that was a point they were trying to make, that even today's modern, connected women, with all the resources that the internet and society offer, can still be targeted and abused by these monsters. YMMV.
posted by Purposeful Grimace at 10:49 PM on April 7, 2013
I think this PSA is really striking and effective, but I really feel like the framing of this post should specify that it's part of a public awareness campaign.
As it stands, I thought it was a real abuse survivor that documented her abuse, not a PSA.
Both are noteworthy, but for different reasons that elicit different reactions.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:54 PM on April 7, 2013
As it stands, I thought it was a real abuse survivor that documented her abuse, not a PSA.
Both are noteworthy, but for different reasons that elicit different reactions.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:54 PM on April 7, 2013
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posted by sweetkid at 8:47 PM on April 7, 2013