SoftcoreBabyface

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

@, you are awesome and very strong!

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

as someone who goes mental over the abuse and mistreatment of women and misogyny in the media, i dont find that this glamourises rape. sometimes art has to be shocking and controversial to make you think. like satinedali said - rape is real and it is happening, we need to face up to it and stop treating it like a taboo. 

such is life.. 
I saw the interview describing this, about a year ago..
I expected worse.. it's okay.. but I thought it would be more graphic..
then again, maybe these are the tamer clips.

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

The video isn't on vimeo anymore..  nor are the still shots of lana.. that sucks 

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

Sorry, I am French.

Hello angry & opinionated human beings.
 
I can only speak for myself, so I will. Being raped is no fun. I've had experience with that. I always have hated when people want to mask the problem of rape & sexual abuse. For a long time I felt like "I was the only one who knew how it felt". That whole "you were asking for it" argument..  As I got older and submersed myself into darker art forms that showcase all sides of the human psyche & human behaviors, I came to an understanding. It's a very real, human experience not to be portrayed like a "Lifetime special". There has been some comfort in seeing rape portrayed as real as possible, because it allows people who have never been through that situation to gain some understanding and compassion towards people who have gone through it. I've read autobiographies of people describing how they were raped or abused, I've spoken to people who went through it. Bonding with others helped heal my pain. I became unashamed. I wasn't at fault. By being ashamed about sharing my past, I felt that put me at fault. I wasn't making myself available to other people who need to know they are not alone/at fault. Sharing an experience doesn't glorify that experience, it humanizes it for others to relate to it. Relating to a rape scene shouldn't be a shameful thing. It's staring a problem in the face and saying something about it. I commend actors who want to portray rape scenes properly. Any artist who makes something ugly instead of making something perfect & beautiful. The ones who tell the scary stories w/o endings. It should make you feel something. Pain, confusion, anger, fear, etc. but not towards the actors & people involved in creating the art. Just towards the action itself. I once had a teacher in cultural anthropology who refused to believe that our predecessors could have also been rapists. She claimed that rape was a new fangled action, that came along more recently in the history of humans. That kind of thinking insulted me a bit, because I feel like rape is very common, but also so frowned upon, it is silenced throughout history. If you silence an artist from conveying something that has influenced them, you are diluting the truth. Rape is real, and it shouldn't be something we want to close our eyes, ears, and hearts from because it is wrong. That is the wrong attitude to have. We should be discussing it. We should be able to look at a video like this one and be able to learn from it. Realize that someone needs to talk about it, or at least have an outlet to express their thoughts on it. 

The sun also rises on Lana when she fails the call.. 

The sun also rises on Lana when she fails the call.. 

Beyoncé is certainly no stranger to accusations of plagiarism in her videos. Considering the large number of videos comprising her eponymous visual album, it would not be surprising if some of them were less than original. Did she copy Lana Del Rey?
 
Compare the album cover design and font to a Paradise box set booklet:

With Tropico, the "Ride" video, the "Blue Velvet" promo for H&M, and the "Song of Myself" promo for L'Officiel set to the intro to "Cola", Lana released some sort of video for almost every song on Paradise. One could argue that even the idea of releasing videos for the entire album is derivative. Now let's look at those videos.
 
 
PRETTY HURTS
Much like the opening bars of "Ride", the opening bars begin with the image of Beyoncé singing into a slender microphone, wearing a mostly white dress against sparkly blue stage curtains:

 
The song's themes—eating disorders and the dark side of being a beauty queen—are straight out of "Boarding School", "Brite Lites", and "Pin-Up Galore". Indeed, here we see Mrs. Carter in Ms. Grant's short-cut meth-haired beauty queen style complete with sash accessory:

 
Beyoncé also replicates Lana's arched back & cupped hand underwater poses from the "Blue Jeans" video:

 
She not only borrows Tropico co-star Shaun Ross, but doubles down on the African albinism by casting Diandra Forrest. To top it off, Beyoncé even has the audacity to lift Lizzy's iconic trademark sequined bra:

 
 
GHOST
In "Ghost", Sasha Fierce is not herself, assuming the identity of Lana's Rosalita alter ego from her "Song of Myself" video for L'Officiel:

 
 
HAUNTED
The "Countdown" singer's video for "Haunted" begins with a hauntingly familiar countdown straight outta one of Lizzy's DIY "Gramma" videos:

 
Then in true diva style, Beyoncé makes her male servant light her cigarette for her like a little bitch like Barrie at a Lana show:

 
The whole video imitates the imitated Lynchian style of Lana's "Blue Velvet" promo for H&M complete with the requisite Doppelgangers:

 
Yet it borrows scenes from "National Anthem" & Tropico. Black guys gambling? Check.

 
Strippers giving lapdances to white businessmen? Check.

 
People in whiteface? Check.

 
Bubbles? Check.

 
Originality? ...Anyone? Bueller?
 
 
DRUNK IN LOVE
In addition to lyrics that sound like a first draft of "Brite Lites" ("Flashing lights, flashing lights, you got me faded, faded, faded"), this intoxicating concoction's potency is poured from "National Anthem", where Lana grinds on another snifter-wielding rapper, A$AP Rocky:

 
 
BLOW
The cotton candy confection of the music masks Lana-like lyrics ("Every time I close my eyes", "I'ma let you be the boss of me", "Give me that daddy long stroke" and an interlude in French) in a video easily summarized as "pin-up girls at the roller derby". We also see a close-up of a disco ball a la her DIY "Yayo" video:

 
And Beyoncé perched on the hood of a car in a fuck-me pose like Lana in the "Born to Die" video:

 
In this case, we're lucky that "Blow" doesn't Soileau. Bradley sucks.
 
 
NO ANGEL
In an inversion of Lana's "angels forever" refrain, the "Halo" songstress proclaims, "You're no angel either, baby." She asks, "Tell me do you want to ride?" Like Lana in "Ride", Beyoncé is Queen of the Gas Station, knocking off Lana's hot long curly hair and cut-off jeans look. Unlike Lana, at least she's responsible enough to only be figuratively smokin' at the pump.

 
We see chicks on the back of motorcycles:

 
Tacky word bling:

 
And pole dancers making it rain:

 
 
YONCÉ
In "Yoncé", she continues the ghetto theme, banging around with her gang of ghetto girls like Lana in Tropico:

 
Who does Beyoncé think she is to appropriate all these signifiers of ghetto culture from gangsta Nancy Sinatra? Rather uppity if you ask me.
 
 
CONTINUED...

PARTITION
In "Partition", the camera takes us inside a palatial estate that almost looks like it could have been the setting for the "Born to Die" video. See the exterior and interior below:

 
In the first of several scenes curiously similar to ones out of "National Anthem", we find Mrs. Carter seated at an immaculately set table, barely noticed by her rapper husband peering over his newspaper:

 
In her mind, she embarks on a sexual fantasy. Again she channels Rosalita:

 
Her rapper husband feels up her leg in a vehicle:

 
She puts on a show for him, donning a sequined flapper headdress like Lizzy wears in this photo:

 
Silhouette techniques like something out of "Summertime Sadness" are employed:

 
Beyoncé pole dances like Lana in Tropico over a sexy French spoken interlude like in "Carmen":

 
Like A$AP Rocky in "National Anthem", her rapper husband watches her performance voyeuristically, smoking a cigar:

 
 
JEALOUS
Beyoncé is a jealous, jealous, jealous gurrrrrl. This video begins in the same estate reminiscent of "Born to Die" as in "Partition". In one scene, the former Miss Knowles is draped over a pinball machine like Lana in "Ride":

 
In another we see a "tunnel lined with yellow lights":

 
 
ROCKET
Like "Blue Jeans", "Rocket" opens on a black & white close-up of a reflection of the artist's face in a ripple of water:

 
Later in each video we watch the artist submerge her face in water in slow motion:

 
 
MINE
Like Lana in the poster for Tropico, we find Beyoncé re-enacting Mary in the Pieta:

 
Also, is that another Shaun Ross cameo?
 
 
XO
In "XO", Beyoncé orchestrates perhaps the largest NYC land grab since Dutch settlers bought Manhattan Island from Native Americans for 24 bucks, stealing the famed amusement destination from the Queen of Coney Island herself:

 

 

 

 
 
***FLAWLESS & SUPERPOWER
Since I can't find any Lana plagiarism in either of these videos, I'm just gonna go ahead and assume they must be borrowed from the "Dark Paradise" and "Cola" videos that never materialized. @@Ultraviolence Watch these. One of them may be the closest thing you'll ever get to your precious "Cola" video.
 
 
HEAVEN
Here we have the biggest plot heist since Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds ripped off Gremlins. In "Heaven", Beyoncé portrays a woman mourning her deceased female bff in a series of flashbacks. Sound familiar? Of course it does. It's the plot of Lana's "Summertime Sadness" video. Not content to copycat one Lana video, "Heaven" filches from a few. A shot in a church mirrors the chapel in "Born to Die":

 
In a flashback, Beyoncé's girlfriend sprays alcohol at a campfire party echoing scenes in "Ride":

 
And we see her and her gal pal riding in a car like Lana & Jaime King:

 
She only barely tries to disguise her copying Lana's recitation of the Lord's Prayer in Tropico by saying it in Spanish. Oh, and speaking of Spanish, here's Rosalita yet again:

 
 
BLUE
Sure, there's another "tunnel lined with yellow lights":

 
The sequined bra is back:

 
And she evokes Lizzy's showgirl style:

 
But most saliently, this song is about Beyoncé's, uh, baby Blue love, the black baby daughter she had with a rapper. What a blatant "National Anthem" ripoff!

 
 
GROWN WOMAN
Last but not least, the video for "Grown Woman" consists of home footage of Beyoncé's childhood performances, a clear homage to Lana's DIY videos.
 
 
 

I was seeing her pictures on tumblr & some fashion magazines in 2011. I loved her eyes, how she tends to pose looking upward at the camera with no smile. I read that she was a musician, but I didn't bother looking her up because I felt like I already knew what she would sound like. I was wrong. So that year, around july-august, I visited my cousin in San Diego. She was listening to nothing but BTD and my first reaction was: such a haunting voice, sounds like billy holiday, sounds like my friend, as well (https://soundcloud.com/anne-wilson). I loved hearing BTD and asked my cousin who she was listening to.  So I learned about Lana Del Rey & Die Antwoord on that trip. BUT I forgot to look Lana up, or write her name down. So in the confusion of traveling, I forgot about her. I saw her more & more and bought BTD. I commenced stalking her on the inter web. I found like 50 unreleased songs and I loved them even more than BTD. I was endlessly intrigued and inspired. I became homeless in Oct. of 2011 and I really used music as my source of strength. By the time Ride came out, I was just barely getting my shit together. I was volunteering at a thrift shop in the daytime to have a place to stay indoors (and wifi). I hadn't thought much about Lana during my homeless months, I was usually pan handling or searching for work & shelter during the day. But I still remember that day Ride came out on youtube. I was folding clothes in the freezing back room of the thrift shop (no indoor heating), and I saw some FB announcement of Ride. So I watched it and I just remember feeling like someone was putting their hands on my shoulders and comforting me. Like every word and image was carefully chosen to give me a sense of courage & comfort. I started crying and feeling like all of Lana's vulnerability in that monologue resonated in me. I watched it all day till the shop closed and cried quite a bit. Crying really warms me up. I had been putting up a very strong front during my time on the streets, I saw the ugliness in people, but I also experienced the kindness of strangers. The instability of it all. It's painful to see the normalcy in everyday life, when you are struggling and grappling with survival. Most music at the time, seemed callous & indifferent to the suffering I felt on a daily basis. It all seemed to speak to the "it's the weekend, let's dance, it's so fun, light bubbly pop" crowd. So here was a song that just held me in it's arms and I knew then, that I was actually a non-apologetic fanatic. I felt electric. :D  

I was seeing her pictures on tumblr & some fashion magazines in 2011. I loved her eyes, how she tends to pose looking upward at the camera with no smile. I read that she was a musician, but I didn't bother looking her up because I felt like I already knew what she would sound like. I was wrong. So that year, around july-august, I visited my cousin in San Diego. She was listening to nothing but BTD and my first reaction was: such a haunting voice, sounds like billy holiday, sounds like my friend, as well (https://soundcloud.com/anne-wilson). I loved hearing BTD and asked my cousin who she was listening to.  So I learned about Lana Del Rey & Die Antwoord on that trip. BUT I forgot to look Lana up, or write her name down. So in the confusion of traveling, I forgot about her. I saw her more & more and bought BTD. I commenced stalking her on the inter web. I found like 50 unreleased songs and I loved them even more than BTD. I was endlessly intrigued and inspired. I became homeless in Oct. of 2011 and I really used music as my source of strength. By the time Ride came out, I was just barely getting my shit together. I was volunteering at a thrift shop in the daytime to have a place to stay indoors (and wifi). I hadn't thought much about Lana during my homeless months, I was usually pan handling or searching for work & shelter during the day. But I still remember that day Ride came out on youtube. I was folding clothes in the freezing back room of the thrift shop (no indoor heating), and I saw some FB announcement of Ride. So I watched it and I just remember feeling like someone was putting their hands on my shoulders and comforting me. Like every word and image was carefully chosen to give me a sense of courage & comfort. I started crying and feeling like all of Lana's vulnerability in that monologue resonated in me. I watched it all day till the shop closed and cried quite a bit. Crying really warms me up. I had been putting up a very strong front during my time on the streets, I saw the ugliness in people, but I also experienced the kindness of strangers. The instability of it all. It's painful to see the normalcy in everyday life, when you are struggling and grappling with survival. Most music at the time, seemed callous & indifferent to the suffering I felt on a daily basis. It all seemed to speak to the "it's the weekend, let's dance, it's so fun, light bubbly pop" crowd. So here was a song that just held me in it's arms and I knew then, that I was actually a non-apologetic fanatic. I felt electric. :D