This weekend, I read the New York Times op-ed regarding Uma Thurman and her complicated, horrible relationship with Harvey Weinstein and Quentin Tarantino. In addition to the ongoing disgust I feel regarding the Miramax co-founder, something else struck me.
Not only was Thurman raped, sexually assaulted, betrayed, and intimidated, but professionally, she was reduced to an artistic object in Tarantino’s films. Rather than being given the ability to collaborate, partner, and contribute to films like Kill Bill, she was treated as merely a living, breathing object that existed only to create art.
For proof, look no further than the video of the February 2003 car wreck on the set of Kill Bill, which accompanies the article.
In no way, shape, or form do I wish to demean or minimize the devastating events that Weinstein inflicted upon her. But as I watched the video of Thurman crashing that car, I realized that moment wasn’t just about Weinstein. It was about her as a professional actor. An artist who on that day had no control over their creative rights, talents, or boundaries. And that’s a horrible disrespect no artist or creative individual should experience – on top of the other horrors she was dealing with.
Similar examples are everywhere, admittedly on a much smaller scale. And everyone who makes a living off their creative talents has stories of their talents being disrespected or minimized. Years ago, I personally had clients who couldn’t even write a two sentence email with correct punctuation tell me I can’t write. I’ve been stiffed on payments, paid months late, and received checks for less than the agreed rate. (It’s hard to stand up for yourself when you’re a freelance writer struggling to make rent, much less afford an attorney.)
More broadly, writers and designers often joke and vent among colleagues about clueless entrepreneurs seeking creatives willing to work for “exposure” (a slimy way of saying they don’t want to pay, so the artist or creative should consider the visibility of their work as payment in and of itself).
It’s a laughable concept, yet one that persists among clueless and arrogant business people who fail to recognize what it takes to become a professional writer, designer, web builder, photographer, filmmaker, or other such talented professions. And it’s infuriating.
If the thought of that concept makes you angry, then you ought to be outraged by Thurman’s treatment at the hands of director Tarantino. Other details from the story are nauseating, and certainly don’t need my fumbling recap once you’ve read the op-ed.
Such treatment from controlling “auteurs” such as Tarantino essentially sends the message that one’s artistic contributions are null and non existent; that rather than a creative contributor or partner, one is a merely a journeyman, hired to execute some sort of creative task to the satisfaction of their boss regardless of their own abilities and insights.
“Shut up, do the work, and go home,” is the subtext here, in my opinion. To say it’s demeaning would be an understatement.
I’ll fully admit that as a Gen-Xer who embraced Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction since they came out when I was in my early 20’s, Tarantino’s visual style and dialogue have impacted my own sense of voice and storytelling. At the time those films were released, they were fresh, new, and raw in a way that we had never seen as kids of the 1980’s.
Today, I still find the dialogue in the diner scene of Pulp Fiction to be some of the smartest of the past few decades. Yet other areas of Tarantino’s work hasn’t aged as well – particularly his treatment of women, who must always survive some sort of abuse, attack, or physical violence in order to become a hero. It’s unnecessary and says something about Tarantino’s psyche that this trend exists. (Don’t even get me started on his shots of bare feet…)
Thurman’s poise, intelligence, and professionalism have always impressed me, but even more so after reading this piece. Her story should serve as a sobering example for anyone who is a professional creative, as well as for those individuals such as myself who lead creative artists on a daily basis.
The talented writers, designers, editors, photographers, illustrators, project managers, filmmakers, musicians, web designers, and others you work with are professionals who bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and ideas to the workplace every day. They aren’t steps in an assembly line, automatons who execute mindlessly, or robots.
So treat them like the talented individuals they are and embrace their contributions. Your work (and morale) will improve drastically.