Define "Exploitative"
Submitted by jim on Thu, 09/02/2004 - 12:58
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Thank you all for your help in defining "high concept". I need your assistance again. I used the word "exploitative" here without really having a good sense of what that means when used critically (scroll down to the end of the list and the ensuing discussion). Can anyone enlighten me?
Oh, the movie in question is Man Bites Dog, and use of the word in reviews of that movie has plenty of precedent.
Another blogger's thoughts on film exploitation.
In the context of The Media "exploitative" has a different conotation than when used in common or economic parlance. Certainly Karl Marx would not be very troubled by the films of Russ Meyer. It's the misses who are being taken advantage of, not the masses. In the movie milieu I think that this is a nice definition . There are also some fine examples of exploitation movies here (who knew that "nunsploitation" was a word?) And, if you think that the media exploits us, I'd love to discuss this.
great links, 0dysseus!
Props to Jim for being secure enough not to defend his uncertain use of 'exploitative,' or even simply to 'find out' or decide what he fully meant by exploitative and pretend that's what he meant all along. God knows I do that latter often enough!
Exploitation Film
"a sensational, often trashy B-film aimed at a particular audience and designed to succeed commercially and profitably by appealing to specific psychological traits in that audience; often refers to films with extremely violent or sexual scenes; various types include blaxploitation, sexploitation."
http://www.greatestfilms.org/filmterms8.html
I like a portion of this definition of "exploitative"...
"tending to exploit or make use of"
So an exploitative film is making use of the fact that an audience wants to see a certain type of thing. A blaxploitation film is what the film maker thinks black people want to see. A sexploitation is what the film maker thinks people who like sex in movies want to see.
I don't think it necessarily has to be bad or rude. I think it's just been pushed towards that idea. I suppose that The Passion of the Christ could be though of as a Christploitation (or Godsploitation) film.
Ah, very good, Dan!
Yes, I think that 'exploitative' often carries a negative connotation, and I'm sure you were intending that when you used it, Jim. But I'm not so sure it's a bad thing.
Every film is exploitative (at least, any effective film is). Eisenstein movies exploited the outraged hearts of Russian citizens. Weepy chick flicks exploit women's appreciation of romance and melodrama. Action flicks exploits many's enjoyment of testosterone-driven, iconic heroes and exciting action.
Name a film that WORKS and I'll tell you how it's exploiting you.
I think the negative connotation comes in because so many people feel that exploitation of romantic dreams, cravings for excitement, political leanings, etc. are forgiveable, but exploitation of some people's desire to see sex or brutal violence is unforgiveable. I'm not sure why this distinction is made (I would guess it had its beginnings in a widespread moral structure).
Which is not to say its wrong to dislike a movie for making use of someone's appreciation of violence and not someone's appreciation of melodrama, only that I don't feel that way (hmm, perhaps too many negatives in that paragraph. Does it still make sense?)
As always, my argument here is not articulated that well, but I hope you can understand my point.
BTW, it was I that originally asked Jim what he meant by exploitative because I wanted to debate something similar to the above points.
BTW, RosieCotton and I are also carrying on a very nice discussion of the topic here, so check it out.
RosieCotton regrets that she cannot finish this intriguing discussion, as the timing of it is bad. She is headed out of town (to Atlanta, GA, to attend Dragon*Con), so she'll be incommunicado for the next few days. Sorry. She has no wireless Web access (yet). She requests a rain check.
Would you be willing to post your thoughts when you return in a few days?
Yes, in fact, I'll make notes, so I'll be ready to give you the works when I return.
lol, great!
I lied!! After reading the links provided by Odysseus, I must say I have nothing more to add.
lol, ok