Chloe Adams
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles has been criticised for its treatment of rape. The film, written and directed by John Hughes, centres on the high school romance between Jake Ryan and Samantha Baker. Despite being considered a sweet and romantic film, it has been criticised for its inclusion of a comedic subplot in which Jake's drunk and unconscious girlfriend Caroline is passed from one boy to another and raped. The film's star, Molly Ringwald, has since stated that the rape jokes in the film are unacceptable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Romantic comedy |
| Year of release | 1984 |
| Director | John Hughes |
| Rape scene | A drunk and unconscious Caroline is passed from one boy to another and then raped |
| Rape as a reward | Jake sets Caroline up for being raped as a "reward" for Farmer Ted |
| Rape as harmless hijinks | The movie treats rape as harmless hijinks |
| Rape jokes | Jake jokes that he could "violate" his passed-out girlfriend Caroline |
| Rape culture | The movie is considered to be an example of rape culture in the 1980s |
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What You'll Learn
The film's treatment of rape as a joke
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles, written and directed by John Hughes, has been criticised for its treatment of rape as a joke. The film is a high school love story and has been celebrated for its sweet and romantic tone. However, it features a subplot in which Jake Ryan, the male lead, hands his drunk and unconscious girlfriend Caroline over to another boy, saying, "Have fun". This scene has been interpreted as a date rape joke, with Jake's behaviour enabling sexual assault.
In the film, Jake is portrayed as the ideal dream boy of every teenage girl's fantasy. He is described as impossibly cool and beautiful. Despite his callous treatment of Caroline, he does not lose his dream boy status in the film. This reinforcement of his desirability sends a problematic message about consent and respect.
The scene in question has been described as "cringe-worthy" and "appalling", particularly in the context of the #MeToo era. Actress Molly Ringwald, who starred in Sixteen Candles, has spoken out about the rape jokes in the film, stating that what was acceptable then is definitely not acceptable now and should not have been then either. She acknowledges the positive impact of Hughes' films on sparking conversations among teenagers but opposes much of their content.
The treatment of rape as a joke in Sixteen Candles reflects the rape culture of the 1980s. At the time, there was a lack of clear understanding about sexual assault, and movies often portrayed what would now be unambiguously considered date rape as harmless hijinks. The normalisation of rape jokes in popular culture contributes to a culture that minimises and excuses sexual violence, perpetuating harmful attitudes and behaviours.
While Sixteen Candles has been praised for its compassionate and respectful portrayal of teenagers, its treatment of rape as a joke is highly problematic. The film's influence on audiences, especially teenagers, underscores the need for more critical engagement with media and the evolution of societal norms around consent and sexual violence.
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The romanticisation of Jake Ryan, who facilitates the rape
The character of Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles has been described as the ""ultimate dream boyfriend"" and the "perfect dream boy". He is the romantic male lead of the film, and his status as the object of the protagonist's affections has been described as what made the film iconic. However, the character also facilitates the rape of his girlfriend, Caroline, who is drunk and unconscious.
In the film, Jake hears that the protagonist, Samantha, has a crush on him. He immediately returns her affections, despite being in a relationship with Caroline, who is portrayed as a "party girl". Jake expresses frustration with Caroline's drinking and partying, and at one point says that he could rape her if he wanted to. He then sets her up to be raped by another character, Farmer Ted, as a "reward" for driving her home. Jake hands the drunk and unconscious Caroline over to Ted, telling him to "have fun".
This scene has been described as a "hilarious subplot" and a "comedic rape subplot", with the film treating the rape as harmless hijinks. Despite his role in facilitating the rape, Jake's status as the romantic hero of the film is not affected. In fact, his callous treatment of Caroline is justified within the moral universe of the film, as she is portrayed as "not the right kind of girl". She is introduced to the audience via a close-up of her bare breasts, accompanied by a cartoon sound effect, and Jake describes her as "potentially a little bit slutty".
The romanticisation of Jake Ryan, despite his role in facilitating Caroline's rape, is indicative of the rape culture of the 1980s, when the film was made and set. At the time, rape was often portrayed as a joke in popular films, and it was common for sexual assault to be treated as harmless or even funny. The romanticisation of Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles is a reflection of the societal attitudes of the time, which considered rape and sexual assault to be less serious issues than they are today.
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The victim, Caroline, is blamed for the rape
In the 1984 film Sixteen Candles, the character Caroline, played by Haviland Morris, is the victim of rape. Caroline is the girlfriend of Jake Ryan, played by Michael Schoeffling. In the film, Jake facilitates the rape of Caroline by handing her over to another man while she is drunk and unconscious. Despite this, Jake is portrayed as the perfect dream boy and his actions are not condemned. Instead, Caroline is blamed for the rape.
The film's portrayal of rape is highly problematic and reflects the rape culture of the 1980s. The scene in question is treated as a comedic subplot, with the rape being portrayed as harmless and even funny. This reflects a disturbing trend in 1980s films, where rape was often used as a source of comedy and was not treated with the seriousness it deserves.
Caroline is introduced in the film with a tight close-up of her bare breasts in the shower, accompanied by a cartoon sound effect. This objectification sets the tone for how her character is viewed throughout the film. When Jake expresses frustration with Caroline's partying, it is implied that her drinking and social behaviour make her deserving of what happens to her. This notion is reinforced by Jake's statement that Caroline "doesn't know shit about love".
The film's treatment of Caroline's rape is indicative of a broader issue of victim-blaming in rape culture. By portraying Caroline as promiscuous or "a little bit slutty", the film shifts the blame for the rape onto her, rather than holding Jake and the other men involved accountable for their actions. This reflects a disturbing reality where victims of sexual assault are often disbelieved and blamed for the violence committed against them.
The character of Jake Ryan is positioned as the ideal dream boy and his actions towards Caroline are not allowed to tarnish his image. This dynamic further reinforces the culture of excusing male perpetrators and blaming female victims. Despite his involvement in the rape, Jake is still portrayed as the romantic hero of the film, pursuing the awkward but innocent Samantha (Molly Ringwald) and ultimately winning her over.
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The film's impact on rape culture in the 1980s
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles, written and directed by John Hughes, is a romantic comedy starring Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. The film centres on the life of a 16-year-old girl, Samantha Baker, who deals with a seemingly unrequited crush on a high school senior, Jake Ryan, while also being pursued by freshman Ted "The Geek" Farmer.
The film has been criticised for its portrayal of rape culture. In one scene, Jake Ryan, the romantic hero, jokes about violating his passed-out girlfriend, Caroline. Jake also hands Caroline, who is drunk and unconscious, over to another guy, saying, "Have fun." This scene has been interpreted as condoning date rape and normalising sexual assault. In the 1980s, sexual assault may not have been immediately recognised as such by participants and observers due to the prevalence of rape culture in popular media. Films like Sixteen Candles contributed to this culture by portraying rape as harmless hijinks or comedic relief.
The impact of Sixteen Candles on rape culture in the 1980s is complex. On the one hand, the film normalised and made light of sexual assault, contributing to a culture that failed to recognise the seriousness of rape. This is evident in the way Jake Ryan's behaviour is portrayed as acceptable, and even endearing, despite his role in facilitating Caroline's assault. The film reinforces the idea that a man can be a "perfect dream boy" and an accessory to date rape at the same time.
On the other hand, the film and its stars have also sparked important conversations about consent and rape culture. Molly Ringwald, the film's star, has reflected on the problematic nature of some of the film's content, acknowledging that what was acceptable then is definitely not acceptable now. She also recognises the positive impact the film has had on teenagers, sparking conversations about their feelings and giving them permission to talk about their experiences.
Sixteen Candles also reflects the era's problematic attitudes towards race and class. The character of Long Duk Dong, for example, has been criticised as an offensive Asian stereotype, with Asian Americans reporting being taunted with quotes from his stilted English lines. The film also reinforces class stereotypes, with its characters either depicted as extremely wealthy or impoverished.
In conclusion, Sixteen Candles' impact on rape culture in the 1980s is multifaceted. While the film contributed to the normalisation of sexual assault and reinforced problematic gender dynamics, it also sparked important conversations about consent and empowered teenagers to express their feelings. Additionally, the film's portrayal of race and class stereotypes reflects the era's lack of progressivism.
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The film's legacy and modern-day reception
Sixteen Candles, a 1984 American coming-of-age teen comedy film, has been retrospectively considered to be one of director John Hughes' best films. It helped launch the careers of its lead actors, Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. A television series based on the film entered development in 2022.
The film has received generally favourable reviews, with Ringwald's performance especially praised. Variety called her "engaging and credible", while Roger Ebert wrote that she "provides a perfect centre for the story" in "a sweet and funny movie". Metacritic gave the film a score of 61 based on 11 reviews.
However, the film has also been criticised for its portrayal of rape culture. The plot includes a scene in which the male lead, Jake Ryan, jokes about raping his drunk and unconscious girlfriend, Caroline, and then sets her up to be raped by another character. In modern times, this scene has been described as "cringe-worthy", particularly in the #MeToo era.
In an interview with NPR, Ringwald reflected on her time starring in John Hughes' high school films, including Sixteen Candles, stating that while times were different, what was acceptable then is not acceptable now and should not have been then. She also acknowledged the positive impact of the films in sparking important conversations among teenagers and giving them permission to talk about their feelings.
The film has also been criticised for its portrayal of racism, with the character of Long Duk Dong considered a "potentially offensive stereotype" of Asian people. Asian Americans have complained that they were taunted with quotes of his stilted English lines.
Despite these problematic elements, Sixteen Candles continues to have a legacy as a beloved romantic comedy and a classic teen film of the 1980s.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the movie Sixteen Candles features a scene in which the male lead Jake Ryan jokes about raping his passed-out girlfriend Caroline.
In the scene, Jake Ryan hands his drunk and unconscious girlfriend Caroline to another guy and says, "Have fun."
Despite being praised for its sweet and romantic heart, Sixteen Candles has been criticized for its rape scene, with some considering it to be an example of rape culture in 1980s popular culture.
