Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood by Maureen Ryan

8 reviews

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.25

Sadly, nothing new (only in that this BS has been happening since Adam). Will be hard to watch Lost in the same way ever again, though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Ableism, Alcohol, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Self harm, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Violence, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racism, Suicide, and Physical abuse

saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad slow-paced

3.5

A very dense book that could have done more with its reporting. I'm involved enough with discourse around Hollywood that the systemic problems discussed were not surprising, but I did find a lot of the specific examples fascinating.

Some especially eye-opening discussions were the ones about how entry-level workers are abused, how Nicole Beharie was abused on Sleepy Hollow, the racism on Lost, the lack of diversity with the 2015 Muppets show, SNL's toxic environment, and the positive environments of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and WandaVision. I applaud the author's in-depth reporting and thorough research!

I did find the book a bit too dense, at times feeling like a textbook. It also felt repetitive at points, especially when it tried to discuss the overall systemic issues. The book is much stronger in how it talks about specific examples. I also found part two of the book weak, although there's good ideas presented for how Hollywood can change, a lot of it is too broad or vague (advice like "fire bad people" or "don't be racist") or it's not considering alternative systems enough. Especially the advice on how entry-level people can protect themselves is weak.

Overall, Burn It Down is well researched and eye-opening in many ways. Though it is not as radical as the clickbait-y title suggests and its prose is far too dense and dry. I'd recommend the whole book for people who aren't familiar with Hollywood's systemic abuse, for people who are familiar I'd recommend maybe skimming around the novel for whatever shows or examples you're interested in reading about. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Racism, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Homophobia

jackiepreston's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

The two halves of this book feel very different. I understand the purpose of part 2, but it's not nearly as compelling as part 1. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia

rachelingrisano's review

First of all, I’m not sure of the motivation of the author. She seemed very knowledgeable of the industry – as a critic. But I don’t really understand why she was writing this book, and then constantly defending herself of why she was writing this book. I would’ve rather heard from an actual industry insider. Many of the stories are so vague that it’s hard to become invested. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Body shaming, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, Fatphobia, and Alcoholism

wlreed312's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative slow-paced

5.0

Brilliant, challenging, at times infuriating. I especially liked the discussion about SAG-AFTRA in one of the later chapters, given the strik that is currently happening. It offered a lot of insight 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia

Minor: Alcohol and Drug use

moonytoast's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative slow-paced

4.75

We have to remember one big truth about the entertainment industry—not just as it is presently constructed but as it has always been constructed. Those who run it care about power and money. Profits that used to be measured in millions now are measured in billions. Every penny has to be squeezed from every possible corner of the industry. [...] If those with power think it saves money to ignore monstrous behavior—if it save money to not care about who gets damaged, broken, or otherwise abused during the creative process—well, that's what happens.

I think this is a must-read nonfiction book for anyone loves film and television, even those who may not be as tuned into the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. It breaks down so many issues that have plagued and continue to plague Hollywood, which often create a toxic and abusive work environment for writers, actors, assistants and various workers across the entertainment industry, particularly lower to middle-level workers.

There is so much that this book digs into regarding various workplaces and an abundance of harrowing personal experiences from those she interviewed, but it's not a book without hope or a vision for a better future; Maureen Ryan demonstrates that Hollywood does not have to be this way and there are demonstrable changes that can be made to create a better, healthier work environment for everyone.

I, for one, hope that future comes sooner than later. If the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes put enough pressure on the AMPTP to come to the table and cede to the demands of those unions, that won't nearly solve all of the issues Ryan brings up in this book. But it would be a good start. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Racism

scottnap's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

5.0

This is a hard read but a necessary one for anyone looking to go into the entertainment field.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Racism, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Cursing, Sexism, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

jeoonwoo's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Physical abuse, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Racism