Episode 48. Crime and Punishment: Rape and Revenge in I Spit On Your Grave (1978) and Elle (2016)

Summary: The discussion of rape and sexual violence has never been in our cultural conversation as much as it is now. In this episode, Andrea and Alex look at an exploitation classic and a contemporary award-winner to parse out how rape is depicted and how revenge is achieved, if at all. REQUIRED READING I Spit On Your Grave. Dir. Meir Zarchi, 1978. Elle. Dir. Paul Verhoeven, 2016. EXTRA CREDIT Support: Anti-Violence Centres in Canada, Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network hotline: 1-800-656-4673. Roger Ebert’s contentious review of I Spit On Your Grave. Social Dominance and Forceful Submission Fantasies: Feminine Pathology or Power? A 2009 article by Patricia h. Hawley and William A. Hensley from the Journal of Sex Research. Andrea’s appearance on the Rue Morgue Podcast discussing I Spit on Your Grave. LISTEN Right click or option-click here and choose “Save Target As…” to download the mp3.