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Russell Brand Takes on Fifty Shades of Grey and Porn

March 3, 2015 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

It is has been hard to avoid the ads, promotions, merchandize spin-offs, and drooling puff-pieces promoting Fifty Shades of Grey in recent weeks. The film (made from a book trilogy of the same title) is being promoted as “sexy,” “edgy,” and even “empowering to women.” The reality, however, is that it romanticizes abuse, violence, and outright ownership of women. Worse, it marks a major leap in mainstreaming view of women this throughout society – including to women themselves.

All this makes it particularly refreshing to hear Russell Brand's take on this film and all the reactionary hoopla surrounding it. He skewers the links between glamorizing violence against women on an intimate level and terrorizing oppressed people on a global scale. Then, he humorously, but also earnestly, discusses the way that pornography has taken a toll on men – including himself – and women, how they relate, and how all people relate throughout society. Others can learn a lot from what he is willing to confront in this video. Enjoy!