You know the saying "don't knock until you try it"? Well, last weekend, I put this phrase into action. Over Thanksgiving break I slowly and cautiously read this book, cringing after every other page. I did it because for this project, I am trying to look at society and the feminist movement in a parallel. By doing this, certain things that clash seem to clearly stand out. In this case, the upcoming movie 50 Shades of Grey popped out with flashing lights. But why is a movie and book based on dominating and forcing women into being subservient beings, when our culture seems to be pushing for female equality, so popular?
E.L. James, an English author, originally wrote the story as Twilight fan fiction, and later adapted it to the story that is now known. It was originally published in 2011 as an e-book, but in 2012, interest sparked and it quickly became a best seller with 60 million copies sold. 50 Shades spent twenty weeks on top of USA Today's best selling book list, breaking the record previously held by The Hunger Games.
But why was it the phenomenon it came to be? The book is filed under the genre of erotic romance and it withholds that description. It takes place in Seattle and Vancouver Washington. Anastasia Steele, a recently graduated college student, meets business entrepreneur Christian Grey. Immediately, there is a spark between to two, but the relationship turns out to be so much more than Ana expected. Christian says his "tastes are singular," which essentially eludes to his BDSM likes. He is a dominant and wishes for Ana to be submissive to him in almost every aspect of life.
That extremely short synopsis is what everyone believes the book is about. Girl meets boy, girl falls for boy, boy turns out to be dangerous, girl doesn't care, they live happily ever after. My prejudices and judgement want to say that is all the book is, but now I can say there is a lot more than BDSM to the story.
It is more than sex; it is romance. Not a conventional romance, but what book ever is? People love fantasy. They love things that blur the lines between reality and fiction. The best romance books are ones that are plausible. "In some world or life this plot could happen." Possibility drives the imagination and 50 Shades encompasses some of the most common fantasies. While living in a consumer fueled world, Christian Grey is the perfect man. He is attractive, but above all, rich. He has more money than he knows what to do with and owns a jet, helicopter, and an extensive amount of cars. Ana is showered with gifts from the beginning of the book, from rare first edition books to expensive laptops. Christian is rich and knows how to work it. On top of that, there is the aspect of the need to be saved. Ana has recently graduated college and her life is almost up in the air. She meets Christian in an opportune time and allows her self to figure everything out. On the opposite side, Christian is the one that really needs the saving. He comes from an abuse filled past and is emotionally detached from the type of relationship Ana wants. Yet, of course, throughout the book, Ana pushes him out of his comfort zone and there relationship becomes more than sex. She saves him from himself.
Without the sex the book would be about a rich man and a normal girl falling in love and saving each other in the process. In other words, it is the perfect plot for a run on the mill romance book. E.L. James wrote what sells and it worked. Women read it because of all of the buzz around it, but enjoy it because it is a look into an alternate reality that has the possibility of being real. Is there a wealthy, attractive, twenty seven year old man waiting to sweep them off their feet? Probably not, but it is what people want to think they want. The world of BDSM has been shown to a wide audience because of the book, but the thought that it is going against the feminist movement is not a strong argument. It is not actively sponsoring the life style. In fact, for the entire book Ana fights being subservient and refuses to bow down to Christian. She maintains being a strong, independent woman, while shortly delving into the new world to make him happy because she wants to. He never forces her to do anything. The ball is in her court at all times.
50 Shades of Grey sold because of word of mouth. It turned into a sensation that is followed by a trail of protests and angry critics saying it is an "abomination" of a book. Yet, the book minus the sex is just like any other romance novel. It is a fantasy with a small, unconventional twist. Feminists fight the subservient undertones of the book, but while reading it, I realized that was not the message of the book. Ana has all the power and that it's self portraits an entirely different type of relationship. Christian says multiple times that they will not do anything she is not comfortable with.
Feminists that attack the book for being filled with inappropriate sex and relationships probably did not read it. E.L. James walked a fine line while writing, but I think she managed to portray the relationship as not fundamentally normal but also not detrimental or abusive. It is not about women being subservient and powerless. It actually empowers it's female characters and gives the readers a look into a different, usually unattainable lifestyle, just like any other piece of fiction.
You are funny, with the boy meets girl synopsis.I am not sure I will agree with it, she thinks she is plain and has low self esteem--at least from trailer. As you can clearly see, I have not read the book. I knock it but hey, people read books to escape. If this is your thing--go for it, escape from the laundry, the kids, the boyfriend, they humdrum of daily life, this is what fiction is for. what percent of men read this book?
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