While I have seen both
films, my reactions to each film were quite different. While Kubrick mixes the
element of dark humor throughout his film and merely alludes to the sexual relationship
shared between Lolita and Humbert, Lyne’s adaptation includes more sexual
tension and creates a mood similar to Romanticism. Due to the display of sexual
acts occurring in Lyne’s film, I found myself to be increasingly agitated and
uncomfortable watching a younger girl seducing, and being seduced, by a much
older man. After leaving the screening last Sunday, I had a discussion with a
classmate about our reactions to the film. As we found out, our reactions to
watching a twelve year-old girl having sex were different degrees of tension.
We later concluded that this may have been due to the fact that, me being a
male and remembering my awkwardness of being 12, found it incredibly disturbing
to watch a young girl moan and gyrate on top of an older man. Our classmate,
being female, made the point that at the stage of female puberty, development
of the body, and its sexual attraction, either reach their climax or are close
to finishing development. She felt that, while the viewing of a young girl having
sex with a much older man is not necessarily normal, she did not find it as
uncomfortable as her male peers (one chap sitting next to her couldn’t stop
squirming at the sexual scenes).
After reading the
articles for this week, I am curious to find out how and why there is a
separation of anxiety between males and females in regards to the pedophilia
displayed in Lolita. In Butler’s article we are introduced to the notion
that gender is a kind of performance that all citizens participate in in our
society. Is it due to the awkward situation of viewing pedophilia that makes
most men uncomfortable? Is it due to the fact that in our society, we learn
from a young age that having consensual sex with a minor, much less a young
girl is inherently wrong? I would like to think so, but as it has been pointed
out, if I were to watch a young boy, say 12-15 having sexual relations with a
much older woman (films like Notes On A Scandal, Y Tu Mama Tambien, and
The Reader come to mind) I would find it much more comfortable to watch.
What is interesting is
to say that, while the older woman would be known as a cradle-robber, the male
has a kind of badge, a token of sorts. They are rewarded for being “man enough”
to attract an older female, or a cougar, as they are known. However, when the
roles are reversed, and it is a young girl being seduced by an older man, the
scenes seem uncomfortable, awkward, and just morally wrong. I know that
MacKinnon would associate this with me (us?) being a product of an almost
universal patriarchal society in which male dominance suppresses the female
dominance. For a young boy to sleep with an older woman is an “accomplishment”
of sorts, like it is a way of conquering. For a girl to initiate sex with an
older man, she is criticized as naïve, a victim who was corrupted by the male.
Bringing this back to Lolita,
is the relationship between Lolita and Humbert one of exploitation? Is Lolita a
victim? Or does she reverse the role and turn Humbert into the victim? In
Kubrick’s version the latter appears to be the case, for the audience is led to
sympathize with Humbert rather than the mischievous and unpredictable girl.
However, in Lyne’s version of the film, I am not so certain. Knowing Humbert’s
past and his current fascination with nymphets, is he being the one who we
should abhor? Or should we abhor Lolita herself?
