All My Children

I am an advocate of soap operas. I believe that they are purley for entertainment and that sometimes they are analyzed correctly and other times incorrectly. Like the reading we did today.

It was about how a rapist on "One Life To Live" was brought back as redeeming. Now i agree with all the outrage about how he was horrible and did nasty things. How could someone who raped a woman then tried to do it again twice be redeemed. However the interesting thing isnt how they brought him back into the "good" side of soaps, it is that right now in the show they are dating. The story leaves off with Todd, who raped Marty some 10years ago. She now has amnesia and Todd is taking care of her in a cabin. They are falling in love and Todd is planning to purpose. Now if this isnt the same storyline as Luke/Laura on "General Hospital" i dont know what is. Now the fact that they are making a former rape victim fall inlove with her rapist is disgusting but everyone seems to be on board. while this rarley happens in real life, i can see what kind of message it can send. That mens violence is really a sign of love. I disagree whole heartedly, that when a man hurts you, you should move on. However people need to realize that these people are doing this of free will, that people in a writing room are doing this. And it was brought to my attention that there are now 6 male writers to 3 female writers on OLTL.

The next point i found intersting is that the actor who orignially portrayed Todd during the rape story line, actually quit over the transision. He said that since his wife and he worked a rape crisis center, that having a rapist redeemed was against his belief. I commend him for this action.

Now while i agree that rape storylines are indeed portrayed correctly and analyzed to signifigance. Things i do not agree with is that women are not allowed to focus on careers and are to have a family life. In "All My Children", Kendall Hart is a career women, with two boys and a husband she seems connected with. While she co-owns a company, Fusion, with her best friend, everything else is going well. Also in AMC there is a women named Krystal who runs a bar, has a new baby and husband and is happy. She is also middle aged with a twenty something daughter. In "General Hopspital" there is a women named Carly who is independent, has a family and job. She was at one point dependent on men but they show her struggle with getting free. Now i know that this may not be typical on all soaps. but i feel that they have come along way. They have come along even since the most recent article, as they happen on a daily basis.

I will continue watching soaps for a long time, i started before my teens with my mom. I enjoy the storylines, although sometimes predictable. Its nice to dive into someone elses drama every once in a while.