Protest - Sep 11 against violence against women as entertainment

you are protesting a film that 'trivialises rape'? Are you fucking serious?

Tarantino's films trivialise everything (including cinema itself). Do you have any idea how hard you'll make his willy giving him the idea that he is actually being 'controversial' and unpolitically correct? You'll make his day, nay, year! Let the sad twat and his boring pastiche movies decline one their own.

You bunch of Millie Tants fuck off back to to the 70's.

Jesus wept.

The only thing that comes close ios the SWP protesting Romper Stomper cos it was about nazis!

...was the Nazis protesting the Green Lane Art Cinema in Derby because they were not allowed entry to see Romper Stomper.

Having never seen the film Deathproof I cannot comment on whether it trivialises violence against women. The film "Hostel" which Tarantino helped to produce certainly does. However I don't think that protesting against this film is necessarily the right way to challenge sexism. From what I gather from reviews of this film, the politics are rather more contradictory. There are meant to be some strong female characters which kick-ass. It might be better to watch it (preferably someone else's DVD so as not to line anyone's coffers) and then have debates about the film. HOWEVER...

I believe that the protesters against this film are justifiably angry about sexism in society. I find Sebastian Bach's comment "go back to the 70's you militants" belittling and offensive. I don't know if you describe yourself as a left winger or liberal. But if you do, your sexual politics certainly aren't. Women are still oppressed in 21st century capitalism; we still earn less than men; we still risk being dismissed from our jobs by some employers if we get pregnant; the number of convictions for rape in Britain are going down; it is impossible to get affordable childcare if you are on a low income; the vast majority of reported cases of domestic violence are experienced by women; British politicians are talking about lowering the legal time limit for abortions.... And I can't go to the newsagents without seeing images of airbrused semi-naked women in magazines, perpetuating the idea that a woman should be judged on her appearance and not much else. I could go on...

I also want to address Sebastian Bach's comments about Romper Stomper. There are certain, rare circumstances in which I would support a film being withdrawn from the cinema, and this is one of them. The Socialist Workers Party did protest against the showing of this film but it was not simply because it could be interpreted as showing fascists in a favourable light. There were organised gangs of Nazi skinheads going to watch that film, getting a kick out of it and going on the rampage attacking ethnic minorities and anyone they saw as "different." One of my friends who was leafleting against this film had a skinhead approach her, call her a "dirty jew" and make a sieg heil salute. The film was released in the early nineties when the BNP were making considerable gains in parts of Britain, notably the east end of London. In September 1993 the Nazi BNP candidate Derek Beackon was elected in Tower Hamlets. In one of his speeches he said "the Asian people are rubbish and that is what we are going to clear from the streets."

Thank you everyone for your interesting comments. As the above explanation is brief, and it appears by e-mails I have received that some readers are not entirely clear about the purpose of the protest I should perhaps add the following explanation:

The protest is open to anyone who agrees with its sentiments and will be attended by people of all genders. Therefore the only action anyone who does not agree need take is not to attend.

The protest is not about violence in society generally but about the cinematic representation/exploitation of violence against women in films that Tarantino has directed and produced specifically Grindhouse/Hostel and also about Tarantino's trivialisation of rape through the marketing of the 'Rapist no 1' doll under the slogan 'with a name like that you know he's going to be a hit with the ladies'. The fact that Death Proof may show women eventually taking violent revenge against men does not justify its previous exploitation of women - it is obviously an unrealistic option for women who are victims of violence in real life to kill in self defence as the experience of women such as Kiranjit Ahluwahlia shows.

The protest is mainly targeted at FACT, a publicly funded body (Liverpool City Council, The Arts Council and the North West Development Agency) showing a film which has been widely criticised for its misogyny and describing it as a 'major coup for Liverpool' at the same time that Rape Crisis centres are closing nationwide due to lack of public funding.

This protest is not about censorship as we are not saying the film should be banned, (it is unlikely to achieve widespread distribution anyway if it repeats its US performance of being a major flop) but that FACT/the Capital of culture company should not be promoting the event as a major cultural event for Liverpool, as this is in conflict with their public funding and stated objectives of representing the entire community. I cannot imagine that if Tarantino had made a film about a white racist stalking, running down and killing African Americans this would be shown by FACT. This merely shows how normalised violence against women has become in society.

My previous comment appears to have been lost, so apologies if it reappears and this turns out to be a double posting, however I would like to clarify the aims of the protest as it appears from some of the comments above and also e-mailed to me that more detail is required.

The protest is open to anyone who agrees with its aims and will be attended by people of all genders.

The protest is primarily to highlight the inappropriateness of FACT- a publicly funded body (Liverpool City Council, the Arts Council and the Northwest Development agency) - promoting the showing of Tarantino's film which has been widely criticised as misognynist and marketed in a way which trivialises rape and this event being marketed as a major cultural event and 'huge coup for Liverpool'. It is not about censoring the film or preventing its showing as if it repeats its dismal US performance it will quickly sink without trace anyway.

It seems unlikely that Tarantino himself, given his recent behaviour, will register that a protest is happening, however he did apparently say that he wanted a traditional Liverpool night out and on the last night out I had in Liverpool people shouted abuse and threw things. The protest is aimed at FACT and his PR campaign.

I think we can safely assume that FACT would not laud Tarantino's film (and describe him as 'a great man') if it was about a white racist trying to run down and kill African Americans. Their promotion of the film illustrates the extent to which violence against woman has been normalised and accepted.

An argument that has been advanced in defence of Tarantino is that Death Proof shows a group of 'strong women' taking revenge against the main character. However this only occurs after the depiction of the violent deaths of one group of women. In real life it is clearly not a realistic solution for women who are the victims of violence to kill their attackers in self defence, as the cases of women such as Kiranjit Ahluwahlia illustrate. As groups dedicated to non violence we do not advocate violence as a solution to violence against women, or regard violent behaviour as a sign of 'strength'.

"The protest is open to anyone who agrees with its aims and will be attended by people of all genders." - how many are there again? Is it 4 or is it five, i can't remember.

"It seems unlikely that Tarantino himself, given his recent behaviour, will register that a protest is happening, however he did apparently say that he wanted a traditional Liverpool night out and on the last night out I had in Liverpool people shouted abuse and threw things."
If that what you're up to, count me in. I hate that little prick! Tarantino should get abuse everywhere.

You guys rock, i thought you were all flags and banners types.

See you there.