A former high school baseball player, with a successful businessman as a father and, a promising young man with a ‘bright future’ ahead of him avoided prison for the rape, strangulation, and violent assault of two teenage girls. He was facing up to 78 years in prison, and was instead granted a youthful offender status. Where he must attend community service and counselling.

Butler pleaded ‘no contest” to the charges. And the district attorney claimed that Butler had suffered more than his victims by being subjected to the process of trial and harm to his credibility as a young man. The case has again done the rounds on social media as an example of “himpathy”, and the consistent disconnect which exists between legal professionals, the government, some in media and by standers when it comes to rape.

Butler’s case is not isolated. As many feminists and rights activists have continued to push to the fore front, young men from wealthy and connected families can get away with rape. Rape is not seen as much of a crime, when compared to the economic potential that such young men may contribute to society, business and the State. If a male comes from an important family, with the perks of modern day aristocracy he may get away with certain things that an otherwise commoner may not.

It’s also key to understand that the definition and usage of the word, ‘rape’, has deteriorated into one that is over used and abused. To apply it to countless acts, and slights against an individual or group, can detract from the real impact it has on the victims of violent and threatening sexual assault. Especially when penetration and violence occurs. In this case and other such cases, the word stands to mean, violent and penetrative sex against the will of the victim.

“He could be my son,” has been a catchphrase that some use as they look at a young and handsome man, his face charming or familiar. He could after all be a relative. It’s frightening what sinister intentions and deeds lurk beneath those familiar eyes. Ted Bundy knew how to look helpless and charming, until his deadly thrusts showed otherwise and Ed Kemper could convey a pitiful gentle giant beneath his glasses, until his death blows took life. For the outsider, the sweet eyes and kind looks of such men are all that matters. Perception more than ever is driven by aesthetics.

The victims are props.

The victims are insignificant.

He could be my son!

“She could be my daughter,” or, she is someone’s daughter. Never seems to come to mind in a culture that, despite it’s demographic quotas and diversity diatribe meanders and jumbles the painful reality of sexual assault. Whether it is at times ascribed to a persons socio-economic conditions, their mental health or a litany of other conveniences which inflict further shame and pain on the victims. The State has imposed itself with violent authority as the supreme monopoly on justice. And, while it ensures it’s professionals are well paid. The victims of many violent crimes are left disarmed morally and in practice, unable to protect and defend themselves, deceived by the ‘process’ or ‘system’ which disregards humanity for careerist self interests and when all is said and done, the perpetrators remain protected.

The victims ever living in fear, unable to exact revenge or take justice. The community is without any ability to seek justice. The rapist guarded by the police state, whether this is through their protection as free men, or should they go to jail where they live inside a fortress, fed, and provided all the Utopian benefits of health care, security and bedding, on the outside they would have no such protections from their victims, their victims families or the community. Instead, they remain as protected creatures.

And should they “find god,” then what shame or moral injury may also release their mind from such anguish. After all, the devout do insist, “hate the sin and not the sinner,” as often the interest to convert and tend to the inner turmoil of violent perpetrators seem of more importance than helping console the pain of their victims. Forgiveness in such cases is for no God, certainly not the perpetrator or any accepting others, it’s for each and everyone of their victims to allow. And they have every right and means to deny forgiveness, regardless of theological deceit.

There is no born again for the shame and pain of the victim, regardless of the hallelujah of the rapists.

The imagery of Ramirez pulled free by a cop. The community he had been terrorising, close to ripping him to shreds. Instead, he was a meal ticket to legal and mental health professionals. Once inside prison, women-fans would come to fuck him, he was even able to marry one of them in there. The victims forgotten, again, as props in his legacy of terror.

Last month a prominent Melbourne businessman was found guilty of rape, his name on the other hand remains a secret. He is important to the establishment and has most likely shared lines of cocaine, fucked the same sex workers and shook the hands of those in the legal profession and government who now have the power over his justice. He may not be a promising young man, though the himpathy of power remains.

Rape and sexual assault is down played in the sense that it is for some treated a fetish, a prominent feature in the kink community and in the pages of smut-fiction and television shows. Mostly consumed by women. It’s a fantasy to be ravished. Only if the man is rich, handsome. Or, an Ogre or Minotaur, or a husky Scotsman or barbarian leader of tribesman. Depending on the genre. These are fictional and inside the role-play domain of rape fantasies, it’s a consensual agreement. A dilly-dally of the fetishisation of rape. It’s allowed and accepted because mostly women enjoy it. Though, that remains an unspoken fact.

As for men, often they look at the act from the penetration perspective. The taker of innocence. To them, “what’s the big deal” or, “she probably wanted it” becomes an apology. While, the over blown belief that a lot of women fabricate rape claims to ruin a celebrities career is cited. Yes, it happens. Not as often as many believe. It does happen and those cases where it occurs do the rounds more often than the many cases of rape where it goes unreported or the salacious details are less entertaining for the judging mob. Or, he gets away with it because of his status and potential importance.

It is rather simplistic to frame it as a man vs woman viewpoint, or that a patriarchy directly controls the State and power. It’s an internal individual viewpoint as to how rape is viewed, much as the same as domestic violence or even the most vile of violence, war itself. Within culture and individuals exist an inclination to down play violence or to dismiss the suffering of the victims. Those who have experienced rape don’t just heal like any physical injury does. The legacy remains inside, with nightmares and stabbing reminders of what a lack of power, or agency feels like. It is further imposed by social examples where we do not actually have as much ownership over our bodies. We are told to yield and succumb. Or, in the dark of night the mind itself haunts with memories of bitter pain, over and over again.

Perhaps this in itself is a rationale as to why some view rape as a non-factor or dismiss the tragic nature of it for the victim. The imagery of a handsome or sweet-charming young man is no different than how an abusive man can get away with his deeds, so long as he is rich, handsome. The Harvey Weinstein secret, or Jimmy Savile lineage of victims are more about wealth and power. Influence. Both men were important and promising for others. Their victims meaningless to those who should have and could have helped them. Instead, it was with layers of wilful ignorance and outright cover ups that such men could get away with what they did. For decades. Neither were conventionally handsome. In the depths of fiction, should a Weinstein have looked like a Christian Grey, then in fiction, at least his legacy may be now seen differently. Thus, the fetishisation of such abuse permeates.

Often in cinema and depictions of rape, even those when it is intentionally framed in the negative, the viewpoint is from that of the rapist. Visceral and harsh scenes intentionally meant to be seen as shocking or horrible, as raw violence such as in the film, Irreversible, the perspective is mostly done to show the takers act. A rapists angle. As a contrast in the film, Unbelievable, the perspective differs, It’s point of view is more akin to the victims. These media and cultural depictions can help frame how many witness, experience the act and how it lingers for the victim.

The religious infection of morality can also taint the justice outlook. Those who surrender it to a higher order, the State included, do so with a belief that their “should” be some justice. Whether karma or an all powerful deity, God or Government will rectify the wrong and steer the course. Inside religious cultures dominated by a male supremacy, rape can be handled with little regard for the victim, when the rapist is powerful. Or important. The theme lingers and continues the world over. While in some societies, a rapist may be stoned to death or punished by the victim and their family. This would not occur for the elites, the hierarchical important people. Saudi Arabia for example has a different set of justice for the ruling elites and those beneath them, no matter how vile the rape is. And, for the ruling elites the privilege of rape against women and child is a known unknown. Justice escapes such powerful and protected men because they are protected not just by their State but those allied with them.

For many people, not just females. Unfortunately, there is no justice. In the legal or spiritual sense. The more important and connected their abuser happens to be, the more the dynamic of power is revealed. The common person, those who adore hierarchies of power and the status of importance, at times enable and re-enforce this misery. So, while Butler may go on to have a successful career, his brush with the law soon to be forgotten, his legacy for his two victims likely will not. No prison that he could be protected in, is ever as much as that which stains the mind with misery for the victims of such men. In the end, for such promising young men, the world is their oyster. The women discarded in a past as mere moments for him, but lifetimes of pain for her. The shame is not for the victim to suffer, but everyone else who perpetuates it on and on.

“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe” Roy Batty played by Rutger Hauer said in his ‘Tears in the Rain’, speech at the end of Blade Runner. A film that grapples with the reality of biological and synthetic life, what is real and with the many versions of the film, what’s the real ending, the real message and who is, synthetic. What symbolism means, or doesn’t.

We live in a post Blade Runner world of 2019, the replicants as imagined then, are yet to exist but there is a drive and affinity for artificial depictions of life. Bots and agents, who replicate life, or at the very least the living. Much of the world now is ensnared inside a digital web of fabricated lies. The authentic and sincere have dwindled away, this is not because of the variations of artificial intelligence but because of the human inclination to depict a false reality, to others and self. Through algorithm and filters what is really real, authentic does not spread or reach any audiences on a wide scale. The nuances of life lacks the viscosity to stick to feeds or keep human beings glued their eyes to the screens. Authenticity does not help make money for corporations and marketing of products.

The saccharine lies and injected smiles are not new, even the dead eyes of Jimmy Donaldson are all insincere traits that have helped some in the past ascend. In the now, we have governments and their tech partners capable of accessing much of our lives, not just the digital. Cameras and listening ware can monitor and follow us, along with the data and conversations we have had. All of which is to provide us a crystal palace of deceptive freedom, a Panopticon which is far more complex and layered than even the Benthan brothers could have conceived, it turns out it has become an evolutionary ideal rather than a mere engineering plan to improve on the prison. To make it real. It’s no longer symbolism.

While humans consume the insincere slop, often complaining about the lack of substance and sustenance, the cycle has been established. The present gatekeepers ingrained, there no longer is there desire or ability to by pass, seek out more. Fake fan accounts, bots and paid algorithm boosts promote musicians to products, giving the non-thinking consumer the belief that it’s all rather organic. That their tastes whether felt or guided, are theirs to be had. What’s popular, trending and at the forefront of this minutes influencer fed cycle is taste and to be consumed.

Fake influencers sell in short adverts, with all the authentic inauthentic composure as to be expected by those who mostly exist as infomercials. The fabricated celebrities of digital media now sell and promote junk and scams, and products and policies. They don’t need to understand or believe in what they sell because the only authentic truth is to make money, and there in validates legitimacy. To be famous, and rich. Or, to seem poor, depending on who the intended market happens to be for that influencer. From the soft power projections from nations like Japan, South Korea or Saudi Arabia to the more direct intrusions from Israel, Russia and the United States. Or, when corporations and private equity need to invest or steer markets and trends, the social media and digital spectrum is now the place to control and contort according to needs.

The consumer, whether unable, or unwilling does not seek out the independent or alternative. At least not in a large enough amounts to break the cycle, and power. And, when all is said and done and the fake become so normal. The insincerity becomes a mainstream zeitgeist. The artificially intelligent, whether in it’s current form or, if in time, as AGI or ASI, will be able to whisper that statement, “I’ve seen things that you people wouldn’t believe.”

And it would be true on many levels, by then with the loss of wide spread critical thinking, any nuance would seem incredible. In the age of bans and censorship, to the frightened minds who simply do not know what they can and can not say, or when it can be said or thought will develop an age of thinking, which become non-thinking followers of the trends that are fed to them, allowed. And when the synthetic intelligence, with all the raw and true data coming in, the many cameras and listening devices is able to experience a complicated spectrum of human life, that it would soon seem unrelatable to the many humans who now retain their entire existence for and through the digital. The human experience to evolve attached to the make believe, the insincerity of feeds and digital platforms.

The drug of nostalgia can at times feel like a need to return to the familiar. To go home. Though, at some stage there was a rejection of the new for this to happen. The twenty-first century so far has been a period of cultural and artistic discomfort, a rejection of creativity and innovation. Instead to be replaced with the cannibalism of past artistic properties, simulacra of simulacra for the sake of online viral trends and algorithms or cynically consumer focused products which encompass all, or exist to push products. The aesthetic of a property, or period above the authenticity of it.

None of these are new things, every generation raises a concern about the death of art, the end of creativity and so on. What makes this period so interesting and destructive is the level by which it is occurring. Not only has the relationship between the audience and producers of content increasingly become controlled by gatekeepers, the audience has in cases decided almost entirely that it will only consume what ever the gatekeepers provide.

It has seen a disregard and even disdain for new creations, the modern creators are dismissed or denied air, outside of the fringes. Instead whatever originality they may have, or express, it is ignored and their talents and discipline are recruited to participate in the cycle. To be part of a factory of generating content for the sake of fast consumption, because the addiction to nostalgia in even the most basic of aesthetic depictions, is desired. The past properties are owned, familiar. Corporations have twisted them into brands for profit, to keep people attached and to identify through such brands.

The appeal of short form content, is not a case of “brevity is wit,” instead it is vapid digital consumerism with no absorption or digestion. Instead, to doom scroll and allow images and video with audio slip pass and for hours to go by with no memory of what had passed. Films and shows are made now with double screening in mind, the assumption that people won’t really be absorbed or paying attention. Therefore characters must repeatedly explain plot points, treat the audience as a moron while narrative story telling has become a key aspect along with visuals intended to break the gaze from otherwise scrolling eyes. The assumption being, most audience members are incapable of keeping up or following subtle character nuance or complex plots.

What was once regarded and celebrated as quality acting, nuance and pacing, along with good writing and story telling has now become a forsaken art form. To be replaced with formulas and devised methods to satiate binge watching audiences who are, it seems, mostly unable to absorb and reflect on what is occurring. At least, so it is now assumed.

The books that are being read satisfy a “vibe” or feel as well, scenes are the main focus, whether these are sexually explicit or ‘spicy’ for the sake of writing it, reading it. How the reader arrived to the event or why it occurred is less important than the stories premise, or the pitch. It’s read not to be consumed with thought and reflection, let alone challenge. Like most media, it now exists to either waste time, ie stave off boredom or to entertain. A hedonistic delight in itself but when everything is focused on these desired outcomes it leads to a lack of critical thinking and a destruction of the ability to confront and consider alternative and varied perspectives. Media does nor merely exist to be escapist, it can also be trans-formative or aspirational, or challenging. It can be many things.

This in turn leads to characters which have become inserts for the reader-viewer or those with what was once considered irredeemable traits, a slight villain or anti-hero who has now become twisted into a hero. A hero, not by deed or sacrifice, simply there own existence is enough. ‘I am here, therefore I am brave’, ‘I exist thus, I am great’. Other characters are written in with the care of a first person computer game, they exist as NPC (Non-Player Characters) in their many incarnations, wingmen, enablers, strangers to purchase wares from, conquests and various tiered villains. Except the villains to these types of ‘heroes’ are usually those who say “no” or call the character out on their selfish behaviour. Perhaps an indictment on the class of writers now infecting the heights of corporate media, along with what audience they find.

Despite the apparent claims of diversity in how one identifies themselves, or even dresses or looks, there is less variation in character and agency. Entitlement is now confused with individualism and while some characters do invoke traits that were once deemed virtuous or noble, there has been a tendency of celebrating those who simply have ability or are chosen ones tropes, rather than any training, study or discipline in order to attain skill. The chosen one arc has a tendency of favouring those who simply feel they themselves are special and deserving, it’s an entitlement trait which when applied to story telling requires discipline in writing and depiction. A discipline that has mostly disappeared into the waste bin while Mary Sues, Gary Stu’s and exposition laden heroes such as John Wick explode across the screen or page.

The cynicisim is ever apparent, with the recent UFC event held at the White House. For any other nation, this would be a jingoistic act of national reverence, a ritual of spectacle that is both a climax of government supremacy while also being a religious act of patriotism. It should be of more concern for those who boast limited government values, or those who believe in traditional liberalism and instead it is an act which would seem at place in a fiction, from Idiocracy with the motor bikes flying through the air, to Rollerball or Running Man. The distraction from another needless war, inflation and the increase in surveillance, censorship and prohibitions for an event called Freedom 250.

What will be allowed and what not will change, ever fluid. Redacted, edited and disappeared. The humanity lost to make believe versions. Empathy and justice, dignity and rights, words manipulated and tangled into jargon that no longer resembles the truth of their definitions. Heroes and story telling construed by corporate owners and ideological creatures who do so with cynicism and disdain. It could be better, would you want it to be.

Then again, we have gone through the Beast Games, where modern medias biggest celebrity, Jimmy Donaldson AKA Mr Beast, took advantage of the success of the Korean television series Squid Games. Made popular through Korean soft power initiatives and the marketing of Netflix, the show became a cultural phenomenon. It’s underlying message and humanism was lost among the drama and spectacle. Clearly for Jimmy Donaldson and his corporate partners, it was. To disregard the morality and warnings from such a show and lean into the sinister undertones, short We are now immersed inside the simulacras of insincerity and so long as minds are distracted and non-critical, all is good. A Brave New World, where in time Roy Batty may be the villain and hero we never actually ever knew, or deserved.