"The Whale" dust-up

[newspapers]

Has anyone been reading about this? I have complicated feelings on the whole thing and likely won't want to see the movie because some parts might hit too close to home for me. But I am curious if these non-fat filmmakers got anything about the experience right. Links to thinkpieces below. I really like the Salon one. (And no, I was not the one who posted the thread at the other place, but I thought it might be interesting to discuss here.)


www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/12/the-whale-director-darren-aronofsky-fatphobia-criticism-makes-no-sense

www.nytimes.com/2022/12/10/opinion/the-whale-film.html

www.salon.com/2023/01/29/the-whale-is-a-horror-film-that-taps-into-our-fear-of-fatness_partner/

[jorkzy]

100% agree with the salon piece.

[Lord Disick]

Here's another good piece by Lindy West for the Guardian.
www.theguardian.com/film/2023/mar/10/lindy-west-on-the-whale

[Lord Disick]

From the Lindy West article:
"...people respond positively to The Whale because it confirms their biases about what fat people are like (gross, sad) and why fat people are fat (trauma, munchies) and allows them to feel benevolent yet superior. It’s a basic dopamine hit, reifying thin people’s place at the top of the social hierarchy. Look at me, Mom! I’m doing empathy on the big greasy monsters! Thin people hate us so much that this is what it looks like when they’re trying to like us."