“Chasing Amy” not just about fantasy
I applaud Jessica Weeks for her vision of a completely non-sexist society where female promiscuity is not stigmatized, where muscle-bound men advertise dish soap on TV and where overweight, middle-aged figure skaters are all the rage. This is indeed what the world needs.However, I do not agree with Jessica’s assessment of the movie “Chasing Amy.” In her words, “Last year’s sleeper hit ‘Chasing Amy,’ embodied every male fantasy: a guy who draws cartoons for a living seduces a gorgeous self-proclaimed lesbian…” Let’s stop right here.Jessica, no disrespect intended, but how in the world would you know anything about male fantasies? I, for one, have never even come close to fantasizing about drawing cartoons or seducing a lesbian. Maybe I’m crazy.At any rate, it’s obvious to me that you either did not see the movie, or rather saw it, and missed the whole point.Ben Affleck’s character falls in love with Joey Lauren Adams’ character and vice versa. He does not “seduce” her. In fact, she is the one who initiates their first kiss. Moreover, though (as you point out) he “dumps her on her butt because he finds out that his wasn’t really her first penis,” he later regrets it. Clearly, the main character in the movie has something of a double-standard, but we are meant to perceive him as flawed. In other words, the movie itself does not advocate his actions. Try reading between the lines a little, Jessica.
Paul ShonkJunior
