Well, this literally means nothing. Domestic violence victims drop charges and protection orders ALL the TIME, largely due to psychological fuckery and pressure from their batterers.
Actually, all of the research and all of what we know about domestic violence is that it IS planned out. It is a pattern of behaviors chosen and planned by the perpetrator for the specific purpose of gaining control over his victim. Physical violence is seen by batterers as a perfectly acceptable form of maintaining "discipline" or control over their partner. The batterer is well-aware of what he is doing when he does it. He may very well consciously think "If the house isn't up to my standards when I get home, I'm going to beat my wife's ass."
To suggest that the abuser does not have control over his own behavior, to suggest that his "mental state" is the cause of the behavior, then suggests to some degree that the blame lies with the victim.
Also, I knew what you meant by a "crime of passion". It is still a dangerous misnomer.
This was likely due, in part or in whole, to the fact that Americans can tolerate violence much better than expressions of sexuality, because of how we are totally fucked in the head about sex. Thanks Puritans!
I really apologize, but I am about to get on a high horse. You can go ahead and skip this if you like.
Domestic violence is not a "crime of passion", nor does it occur as a result of a "fit of rage". Domestic violence is an entrenched belief system overwhelmingly occuring in men wherein they feel that they have the right to use power and control over their partner. This includes physical violence, verbal, sexual, and emotional abuse. Long before Chris Brown decided to beat Rhianna, long before a man decides to assault his partner, a cycle begins wherein she is systematically torn down mentally and emotionally. The beating and killing of women has, for far too long, been romanticized as a "crime of passion". It is not a crime of passion. It is simply a crime.
That you folks are guest-bloggerati makes me happy to be at work. Well, sort of. I mean, it's beautiful here, and today's a state shutdown day but I'm HERE at WORK (budget matters! state government!), but if I have to be here it's nice to have some wonderful guests on Videogum.
Best Picture: The King's Speech
Best Actor: Colin Firth
Best Actress: Natalie Portman
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale
Best Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld
Best Director: David Fincher
Original Screenplay: The King's Speech
Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network
Editing: The Social Network
Cinematography: True Grit
Art Direction: Alice in Wonderland
Original Score: The King's Speech
Orginal Song: 127 Hours
Costume Design: Alice in Wonderland
Makeup: The Wolfman
Sound Editing/Sound Mixing: Inception
Vusual Effects: Inception
Foreign Language Film: In a Better World
Documentary Feature: Inside Job
Documentary Short: Killing in the Name
Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Animated Short Film: The Gruffalo
Live Action Short Film: The Confession
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