Paper On Rape Culture

I have chosen to write my paper on the discourse of rape culture in Western society. I hope to break down the rhetoric of rape in the media and in everyday life to determine how it is framing people’s perceptions of sexual assault. A focus of my paper will by on my analysis of the conversations and ongoing themes in Kesha and Dr. Luke’s court battle. In summary, Kesha, a musician, is trying to break her recording contract on the grounds that Dr. Luke, her producer, sexually assaulted her and prevents her from recording and releasing music. By looking at the media and the public’s responses, this case study displays not only the legal repercussions of the parties involved, but it also supports my topic on how rape culture is supported by the media and in public

In review of the main course themes I will use in answering my research questions, I will apply Lakoff’s (2003) ideas about power in relationships. Lakoff argues that differences in gender expectations not only limit how people act or what they say, but also dictates how we negotiate our expectations of a person based on their gender. This is exemplified in how a male who is confident in his sexuality may be called a “stud” (positive connotation), while a similar woman may be shamed and have her power reduced by being called a “slut” (negative connotation).

I will work with the definition of discourse by focusing on how rhetoric is built up to ultimately form greater meanings and representations. This is useful in examining how the Kesha and Dr. Luke case contributes to the discourse of rape culture. In the same conversation, I will use Butler’s (1997) discussion of how language works to create larger impacts and consequences. In Butler’s article, she examines how language is discursive, and thus creates a chain of meanings that lead to ideologies. In the context of rape culture, the ideology is that rape is