The producer will be one of the key speakers at St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre’s annual two-day conference. He is expected to talk about how Corrie was helped by St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, which supports thousands of victims of rape and sexual assault each year. The conference will take place at Manchester town hall.
The Manchester Evening News says that "the portrayal of the Coronation Street rape storyline was praised by TV critics for its sensitivity, in contrast to the reception received in 2001, when the soap was blasted by the Independent Television Commission over the handling of a rape scene involving Toyah Battersby."
Well, this storyline wasn't praised by this Corrie fan for its sensitivity. I slammed it as a cheap ploy to get quick ratings, weakening and undermining a strong soap female character in the process. I have always written here on the Coronation Street Blog against using rape in an entertainment show like Coronation Street. I also wrote and complained to ITV in 2001 when the rape of Toyah was shown too - but all I got in return was a very patronising letter.
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I don't think the rape scene was clear at all in what had happened. Frank was/is played so woodenly, I couldn't see whether he had lost control or it was a cold calculated move. Carla would surely have scratched his eyes out. If she was supposed to have been paralysed with fear, there was no build-up in the dialogue to suggest this. This was a dramatic representation of a rape, not a fly-on-the-wall documentary, so being realistic is only half the story; it's got to come across as believable, too.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that worries me most about this storyline is if Frank gets off, what kind of a message does this send to women in similar situations of domestic abuse? Women have only just been recently allowed to accuse men of rape in a domestic situation, and it takes a shed load of courage by abused and terrified women to actually report it. Frank getting off (if it's true) can only compound women's worst fears, that there is no justice.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree FN. A subject as complex and emotional as rape has no place in a family entertainment show broadcast at 7.30.
ReplyDeleteDolly Tubb: the same message that was sent out that although you have been a victim of domestic violence in the past and your husband has beaten you/terrified you/given you a black eye, if he keeps on enough you will get back with him in the end and leave a decent bloke for him. These are the quite dangerous messages that are being sent out by Corrie. The fool Collinson really needs to go and soon.
ReplyDeleteAgree with the original post. One can almost see the production team thinking of the ratings as they dreamed up the story.
ReplyDeleteOh, Corrie, Corrie, whatever has happened to you. The links between the wonderful programme of old and today's tawdry sensation slot are few and pitiful.
Sadly,I agree with Anonymous 09:30, I could not have said it better myself.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I just cannot sympathize with a drunken woman who stole Liam from Maria and is presently stealing Peter from Leanne.
ReplyDeleteKarma is a bitch, eh Carla?
~JB in Canada
Totally agree with JB in Canada.
ReplyDeleteWhat I thought was the worst part of the storyline was her jumping into an intense intimate (aka sexual) relationship with Peter so soon after the rape. I could be totally wrong, but I would think that after such a violation, she would find it very hard to be intimate with a man again. Has there been any mention of that?
ReplyDeleteRebecca in TO
In every soap I have ever seen, those who commit crimes always seem to get caught and convicted in the end and this just does not reflect reality. Normal people can keep secrets and the truth does not always come out.
ReplyDeleteAsuming Frank actually is guilty, if Corrie takes the 'brave' step of finding him not-guilty, it will be a very refreshing change to a more realistic ending and I give credit to the writers and producer for an excellent soryling.