380 Final Paper

Running head: LOOKING INTO THE “GREY” AREAS OF S&M 1
Looking into the “Grey” Areas of S&M: A Rhetorical Criticism of 50 Shades of Grey
Ashley Wilhelm
SCOM 381
April 21, 2015
Author Note
This paper was prepared for SCOM 381, Section 1, taught by Dr. Brigham.

LOOKING INTO THE “GREY” AREAS OF S&M 2
Abstract
With the rise of S&M in romance also comes the rise of sexual assault and violence in romantic
relationships due to the viewers idealizing 50 Shades of Grey. This study closely examines the
juxtaposition of the current fight against sexual assault and violence versus the excessive
featuring of S&M content in this film. By looking at previous research on the use of S&M and
the affects it has on women, one is able to connect current sexual assault controversies to the
content of the film by using Burke’s Dramatistic Pentad. This study will also identify gaps in
previous research that need to be looked into more in the future.
Keywords: S&M, rules, punishment, assault, romantic, relationships

Looking into the “Grey” Areas of S&M: A Rhetorical Criticism of 50 Shades of Grey
With all of the criticism and controversy circling the newly released film, 50 Shades of
Grey, researchers have looked into the possibility of the film condoning the act of sexual assault
and violence in romantic relationships. With all of the sexual violence that is appearing
throughout the media, it is a possibility that the film’s content directly affects today’s society and
people’s actions. The main purpose of this research is to understand the juxtaposition of the
current fight against sexual assault and rape culture versus the featuring of S&M content in the
film 50 Shades of Grey. The current use of sadism and masochism was brought to the public’s
eye when the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy was first published in 2011, but the controversy
skyrocketed once the film hit theaters in February 2015. By studying this topic it will dig a little
deeper into how S&M is portrayed throughout the film and how it affects people in the real
world. This paper will focus on the artifact and context in which it came about, previous
research that has been done, the method used to analyze it, the analysis, and how this research
will contribute to the world of rhetorical criticism. The sexualized act of Christian making Ana
cry by beating her is molding the minds of growing adults into thinking that S&M culture is fun
and healthy in an intimate relationship, and not dangerous or destructive. This country will
never see an end to sexual assault or rape if those acts continue to be portrayed as desirable or
pleasurable to viewers.
Artifact and Context
The film’s main characters are Christian Grey, a charming and mysterious businessman,
and Ana Steele, an innocent and awkward college student. Christian slowly gets Ana’s attention
by sweeping her off her feet with his lavish lifestyle, only to surprise her with a contract
regarding their intimate affairs. Christian settles Ana’s nerves by disclaiming that he will not do

anything in the bedroom that she does not consent to and that he is open to changes in the
contract. Once the negotiations are made, he shows Ana his “playroom” which is soundproof
and guarded under lock and key, that is filled with whips, handcuffs, and other unidentified sex
toys. Once Ana consents to being Christian’s submissive, she realizes there were rules regarding
touching him and sleeping next to him, and if she does not obey those rules she would be
punished. Christian’s love of being the dominant is something that he keeps from his family
because he appears to be ashamed of it, and as a part of the contract, Ana is not allowed to
disclose any details of their relationship. After a somewhat short period of time after their sexual
relationship began, Ana became so intrigued by Christian’s past that she wanted to witness how
bad he could actually be to her, so that she knew what she was getting herself into. After asking
Christian to perform his absolute worst punishment on her he laid her down on a wooden table
and beat her with a belt six times. In order to increase his pleasure and her punishment, he made
Ana count out the number of lashes as he beats her. When Ana realizes that Christian’s intense
pleasure was cause by her pain and tears, she runs out of his apartment disgusted, which
concludes the first film.
Before the films release, most people already had an extreme desire to see it opening
night, or vowed to never watch it. However, even though there were thousands of preconceived
opinions, it drew in people mainly because of curiosity. Robbins found that while the film was
mainly targeted to the woman viewer, 32% of the audience on opening night consisted of men
(2015). Even though that is just a third of the total audience, it was not expected that so many
men would attend a predominately female film. Robbins also found by interviewing some
viewers that most of the men were there not only because of curiosity, but because it was
Valentine’s Day and they felt like they “had to go” with their significant other (2015).

Throughout the film there are many instances where the painful whipping and lashing of
a partner sexualizes and glamorizes the possibility of sexual assault and violence. Those scenes
in the film stand in juxtapose to this current moment in terms of concern for the rising rate of
sexual assault and rape culture that is predominantly in the media. This film is scrutinized more
than any other because of the current sexual assault scandals ranging from Ray Rice physically
assaulting his wife in an elevator (Margolin, 2014) to James Madison University being federally
investigated due to an act of sexual assault that occurred on spring break in Panama City Beach
(Kingkade, 2015). Sexual assault and rape culture is too serious and too common to be
something that couples should be fantasizing about; instead on should study how S&M affects
women and their self-identity.
Literature Review
Research on the Use of S&M
BDSM, also known as bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism, normally shortened
to S&M, is not something that began with the 50 Shades of Grey book trilogy or film. S&M has
existed for years, frequently appearing in romantic novels and pornographic films, however this
film hit a little closer to home for some women. Al-Mahadin extensively researched the success
of these books and found that they became so popular so quickly because they cushioned the use
of sexual sadism and it made it seem normal and natural (2013). Al-Mahadin’s research also
found that in most cases there is a direct link between the use of S&M and being abused as a
young child. It was found that the books and the film used BDSM as a fantasy for women,
which uncovered the unfamiliar world of the dominant and the submissive. After completing a
psychoanalysis of the entire series, Al-Mahadin found that the readers viewed it as a pleasurable
fantasy that they wanted to keep a safe distance from (2013). This study proves what most

understand to be true, the fact that this film is something intriguing to the viewer but seen as too
aggressive and in some cases, immoral, to partake in. In another study, Stevens takes a feminist
viewpoint when analyzing 50 Shades of Grey and its use of a female submissive (2014). Similar
to previous research, Stevens also links Christian Grey’s love of S&M to an unhealthy
childhood, however his pure desire for power over a woman is not thoroughly explained.
Stevens takes a deeper look at Ana, the female submissive, and notes that she sign a contract
regarding their sexual relationship, which states things she is and is not allowed to do, or else she
will be punished. The signing of this contract which is seen as the signing away of her natural
rights as a woman symbolizes her transition from a woman to Christian’s object. The contract
requires the greatest act of submission from Ana, and in return fulfills Christian’s desired role as
the dominant.
The 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon sparked an interest in the S&M fantasy, however in
some cases it was not just a fantasy. A news story was released shortly after the movie’s premier
that spread like wildfire. According to Karerat, a University of Illinois student was arrested and
charged with rape because he attempted to reenact S&M scenes directly from the film (2015). It
was stated that he sexually assaulted a young woman by wanting to see “how much she could
take” and wanting to make her cry (2015). However, the student argued that it was consensual
and he was set free. In this case, a young man took exactly what he saw from the popular
blockbuster and tried to use it on a fellow classmate, who could have consented or not.
Researchon the Affects of S&M on Women
The book series and the film were solely created to provide entertainment to the
audience, however women’s rights and gender equality issues arose once the female submissive
hit the spotlight. Van Reenen, like previous research, takes a feminist perspective when

researching 50 Shades of Grey. Van Reenen argues that S&M culture tries to make the
subordination of women accepted in popular culture (2014). However, this acceptance also
results in a large increase in gender inequality. Van Reenen found that American culture needs
to support positive sexual encounters and should not make a woman a man’s submissive, but the
man should recognize the woman’s true value (2014). Van Reenen’s argument is one that has
been made for decades, that men and women should be treated equally, without one or the other
having more power or control in their relationship. In this film it is clear that Christian Grey
chose the dominant role to feel a sense of power over Ana, and when he uses S&M on her and
beats her with the belt he is abusing his power. Similar to previous research, Du Mez takes on a
unique viewpoint, that of a Christian. Du Mez studied the book trilogy and the new film and
argues that it portrays the sexual abuse of women as something that is not wrong, but pleasurable
(2015). Du Mez also found that many other religions agree that they want nothing to do with
any aspect of the 50 Shades of Grey franchise because it is not morally or spiritually right to treat
women in such a negative way. The erotica fantasy that the books and film provide the viewer
with has a direct impact on them whether they know it or not. By reading the books, watching
the film, purchasing the line of sex toys, or even trying to carry out some of the scenes like the
college student, all make the possibility of sexual assault and the lessening of a woman seem
“sexy”, when really it is wrong.
Green was more interested in studying how this film not only affects women, but also
how it has destructed both women and girls. Green found the film to parallel domestic violence
and abuse and not charming and intriguing like everyone else (2015). Green thought that the
film could cause a response in women and younger girls that would make them feel belittled
compared to a man. Green also thought that the book series and movie were both emotionally

degrading to women as well as making it seem natural for a man to be so controlling of a
woman’s emotion life (2015). This research ties back to Al-Mahadin’s research on the control
that Christian exuded over Ana by making her sign a contract regarding their sexual life. The
contract was so binding that it made Ana appear as less of a person, or even a small child
because she had so many rules and punishments. Christian made Ana out to be less of an equal
human being by controlling the personal, emotional, and physical aspects of her life.
Many researchers have agreed that the 50 Shades of Grey franchise is physically and
emotionally destructive to both men and women. It empowers men to think that they can behave
as Christian Grey did and control a woman and make her his submissive, and it makes women
feel like they are no longer equal to men. 50 Shades of Grey destroyed the progress that gender
equality enthusiasts have made and has tainted many sexual relationships.
By studying the topic of S&M in 50 Shades of Grey and its affect on the current stance
against sexual assault and rape culture I thought that further research should be done on this
topic. In my research I to included how it makes all ages of women feel about themselves
compared to a man after watching the film or reading the books. By studying previous research
on a woman’s self-perception and self-identity after viewing the film, I found that women saw
themselves negativity after watching Ana’s transition from a woman to Christian’s sexual object.
Some things that I did to further study a woman’s perception after the film was interpret not only
the feelings of the woman but how different religious groups viewed the act of S&M as well as
how feminists felt about it. I think that something that would further the current research of this
topic would be to interview the young woman who was allegedly assaulted by the college
student. I think that would add to the limits that I have attempted to fix by asking her how that

situation made her feel about herself and how she thinks it will affect her future romantic
relationships.
Another gap that my research addressed was a male’s perspective on the act of S&M and
if they feel like it would be appropriate to be a dominant and do some of the things Christian
Grey did to a romantic partner. By studying the case of the University of Illinois student, the
research showed that the film’s content does in fact have a direct link to male’s actions in
romantic relationships. With further research on the male population I would be able to identify
with the their perceptions of S&M and their feelings for or against those acts, sense I believe that
many are against it. That research would be able to identify with the common man who has not
had a difficult childhood and who does have a typical relationship so that the perspective on
S&M is not as extreme as it is in the film or with the sexual assault case.
The final limit that I fixed with my research is if the film made sexual abuse and violence
more prevalent and normal in romantic relationships, or if the act of S&M will fizzle out and
become forgotten. Many women thought of S&M as something intriguing that they wanted to
watch in a film, but never intended in partaking in, while men also agree that it is something to
fantasize about but stay very far away from. This aspect of my research shows that to most
regular men and women, the films content is ineffective. However, in some extreme cases, the
film’s content is effective because when the act of S&M being done on a sexual partner appeals
and entices some to give it a try. Studying previous research helped me to identify any gaps that
I wanted my research to address and fix. Throughout this research I intensely studied the act of
S&M and the affects it had on the audience, so that it could help explain how this film
glamorizes an act that is seen by many men and women as assault or torture.

Method
50 Shades of Grey is one of many movies that was labeled as controversial, however, this
one stood out from all of the others. This film not only advocated the role of the male dominant
but it glorified the possibility of sexual assault in romantic relationships. In order to analyze this
film’s content and the controversy that arose around its release, I am going to be using Burke’s
Dramatistic Pentad.
Before Kenneth Burke created the Dramatistic Pentad, he developed the method of
dramatism to analyze human relationships. Burke strongly emphasized that the most important
concept of dramatism was the motive (Overington, 1977). Years after the concept of dramatism
was developed, Burke published the Dramatistic Pentad as a method in his book titled, A
Grammar of Motives. The Pentad also found motives to be extremely important, but it was made
up of five key elements: act, agent, agency, scene, and purpose. By analyzing those five
elements the Pentad is able to discover the motive of human relationships as well as pieces of
literature.
The Pentad is a great method over all the rest because the five elements are a part of a
larger worldview and do not represent just an objective reality, and it encourages the audience to
adopt a certain idea or concept. Dickinson backs up that argument by stating, “language is a
form of action that literally creates the reality or worldview in which humans act” (2009). The
Pentad is also able to analyze current situations in every day life, like Ray Rice and the scandal
at James Madison University, as opposed to focusing strictly on literature like some other
methods do. Another reason why the Pentad is such a highly used method is because it analyzes
not only verbal language but nonverbal language as well.

I believe that using the Pentad will help to produce the best analysis for 50 Shades of
Grey because it is able to parallel specific scenes from the film to the controversy that is
occurring all over the nation and throughout the media. This method is also able to break down
specific scenes and magnify elements such as the purpose and agency, instead of just briefly
analyzing the film as a whole. Another way that the Pentad is beneficial for this artifact is
because the five elements basically address: who, what, where, when, and why. Those key
questions can break down any scene or situation in the film as well as the controversy that is
occurring because of it. However, no single element can fully explain the rhetorical situation, a
researcher must utilize every single element for it to make sense. The pentad is also an effective
method because it makes it easier to understand the motive of the story as well as why sexual
assault and rape are being tied to the film.
In order to conduct an effective analysis using Burke’ method, the research must first
“isolate components of the theory” which will help to identify the motive of the rhetoric
(Kneupper, 2009). The components of the theory that are going to be isolated include: act,
agent, agency, scene, and purpose. The act is what is being done, the agent is who is doing the
act, the agency is how the act is done, the scene is where and when the act takes place, and the
purpose is the motive of the act. After identifying the five elements, the researcher will then
analyze the rhetorical situation and consider possible ratios. Ratios analyze the relationship
between two of the elements and how they work together; some of them include: scene-act,
agent-act, agency-act, purpose-act, and act-act. The first element in the ratio is necessary for the
second element to properly work, and the first element determines the second element. By using
a ratio the researcher is able to “discover the dominant relationship operating in a given drama”,
and the dominant term then points to the rhetor’s motive (Dickenson, 2009). The next step that a

researcher can do to take his/her research further is to identify key words and concepts that
reoccur throughout the rhetorical piece and connect them to certain elements of the Pentad to
gain a better understanding.
The Dramatistic Pentad was created to focus strictly on literature but it has expanded to
encompass many other topics. Shearer wrote about how the Pentad can also be used to “provide
an understanding of narrative as a particular kind of knowledge” by using a “scenario
construction process” (2004). Shearer wanted to use the Pentad to understand narrative as a
piece of rhetorical criticism, which was done by predicting the logic of future actions. Shearer
stated, “an explicit accounting of the underlying assumptions may be necessary for the decision
makers to grasp a complete understanding of the potential implications on policy option” (2004).
Basically it was understood that once all of the elements of the Pentad were identified and
analyzed, that a researcher could possibly predict possible future events or outcomes that could
occur because of different situations. The possibility of predicting the future applies directly to
my topic because if E.L. James, the author of the book trilogy, and the producers of the movie
did so, they could have potentially avoided the controversy and intense scrutiny that came with
the film’s release. However, with the film’s controversy came the possibility of increased
interest and profit because the film stood out from all the rest because the trailer sparked a sense
of curiosity in the viewer.
I am going to use this method to analyze my artifact because I want something that
allows me to tie the movie to what is currently happening in the world regarding sexual assault
and rape culture. I want to show how the movie parallels with the current situation where
women are being taken advantage of and losing their rights to men, which is willingly being
done in the film. I want to use the Pentad to highlight areas throughout the film like the signing

of the contract, the following of rules, and the constant threat of punishment. By looking at those
three scenarios and incorporating them into the Pentad I am able to develop a better
understanding of how it all ties to the sexual mistreatment of women in today’s society. I also
find it extremely interesting that the Pentad can also be used to predict future actions, which is
something the filmmakers and producers could have done better. Lastly, I want to compare
current situations with moments from the film that are extremely similar, such as the arrest of a
freshman college student for reenacting scenes from the film on a young girl, claiming that he
wanted to make her cry. That young man’s behavior directly mirrored that of Christian Grey’s in
the film, and I am sure that the desire to be like Christian does not end with him.
Rhetorical critics have used Burke’s Pentad for years to analyze many different types of
rhetorical pieces. Dickenson used the Pentad for an anti-drug media campaign that focused on
teenager’s perspectives on the Meth Not Even Once advertisements. Dickenson used the Pentad
to uncover the dominant ratio that was most prevalent throughout all of the commercials (2009).
The Pentad was also used to analyze an address given by Ronald Reagan on October 27th, 1983
on Lebanon and Grenada (Birdsell, 1987). The Pentad is extremely diverse and can be used to
analyze many different types of rhetoric.
Analysis
There is a multitude of ways to go about analyzing this largely controversial piece of
rhetoric. One of the first ways to begin this analysis is to break down certain scenes and
character actions that can be symbolically interpreted into a whole different meaning by framing
it in pentadic terms. Throughout the film the audience gets a close look at the agent, Christian
Grey, and feels like there is something not quite right about him, even though he is extremely
successful and well off, however it was never explicitly addressed. In many different scenes

throughout the film the audience sees multiple scars on Christian’s chest and stomach that he
does not openly discuss with Ana, so it is inferred that those were from a traumatic and abusive
childhood. Potentially being abused as a small child, Christian could have felt helpless and in
someone else’s control, which could have added to his power-loving role as a dominant. The
importance of Christian’s childhood should be clearly stated to show that his behavior
throughout the film is due to a greater cause as opposed to a love for thrilling sexual
relationships.
During one of the most important scenes of the film, the contract negotiation, Christian
informs Ana of how much he hates being touched by a woman, so he put in the contract that Ana
must not touch him at any time while they are in the playroom. Christian telling Ana what she is
and is not allowed to do is one of film’s main agencies because he is subtly taking control of Ana
and making her out to be less of a person and more of an object. It can be interpreted that those
feelings stem from something else he confided in Ana about, the fact that when he was a young
teenage boy, he was a submissive to a dominant older woman. One gets the feeling that after not
having any power as an abused child, Christian felt nurtured and safe having a woman as a
dominant, but then somehow the scene changed and he transitioned from the submissive to the
dominant, as he grew older. It could also be believed that through his time as the submissive he
could have been turned against all women and their touch. His transition from the submissive to
the dominant also could have made him think of women as sexual objects rather than equal
human beings, because that is how he could have been treated as a just a sex object when he was
the submissive.
Lastly, the signing of the contract is one of the largest symbolic events, as well as
agencies, throughout the entire film. Christian writes out all of the rules and punishments and if

Ana does not follow them then she will be harshly punished. Because Ana is so naïve and eager
to please Christian, she signs the contract with just a few negotiations. Once Ana signs it, she is
legally bound to obey all of Christian’s rules, like a child is to obey his/her parents to avoid time
out or getting spanked. The signing of the contract represents Ana’s transition from a young
independent woman to Christian’s sexual object that is at his disposal.
By analyzing symbols that appear throughout the film like the negotiations, the contract,
and the rules and punishments, I was able to understand how the film not only degraded women
as a less equal gender but also what could have occurred to make Christian the way he was. My
research is different than previous research because it shows a casual relationship between to
variables: Christian’s childhood as a submissive and his self-proclaimed role as a dominant.
Another way to analyze this piece of rhetoric is by applying the Pentad’s five elements:
act, agent, agency, scene, and purpose, to different rhetorical situations throughout the film.
While there are specific scenes throughout the film that could easily fit into the Pentad, it is more
affective to not only analyze what is occurring in the film, but also what is going on in the real
world because of the film.
The main focus of this research is to show how the scenes in the film parallel today’s
society and the rise of sexual assault and violence. The act is the sexualized and glamorized use
of S&M content throughout 50 Shades of Grey that could be interpreted as sexual assault, which
created a large controversial issue among viewers and critics. Even though the act is done subtly
through the signing of the contract, the blindfolding of Ana while in the playroom, and the fact
that she has to follow rules or get punished shows that the dominance of her by Christian Grey is
not done out of love or lust, but done out of an intense desire to please himself by controlling and
injuring her. The act is quite disturbing to someone who looks a little deeper into what is

actually being done because it is something that most people are capable of doing to a sexual
partner. While many are warned about rape and domestic abuse, most people are not informed
that sexual assault and violence could still occur with a consensual partner.
The most prominent agent throughout the film is Christian Grey because he is the one
carrying out the act of S&M on Ana. Christian’s character as the agent is composed of many
different roles. In the beginning of the film he is the mysterious businessman that is trying to
sweep Ana off of her feet with extravagant gifts and impromptu trips in his lavish helicopter,
however he changes as the film goes on. Once the act of getting Ana’s attention is completed, he
moves on to trying to get her to sign the contract. Christian’s agent role then moves to him
trying to persuade her to sign his sexual contract, by dancing, playing his piano, and telling her
all of the benefits of their future sexual relationship. Not long after the contract is introduced,
Ana signs it with a few minor negotiations, and he as an agent, has accomplished his desired act.
The final role that he plays is that stands out from the rest of the film is that of a punisher. His
act is then to punish Ana because she wanted to experience his worst possible side, and so he did.
The film comes to a close once Ana storms out of the playroom after being lashed with a belt six
times to find that the punishment did not spark remorse in Christian, but pleasure. Throughout
the film Christian’s role as the agent is changing as his acts are carried out and as their
relationship transforms.
Another agent that should be considered is all of the viewers that would want to mimic
Christian’s act in real life, which is where the film most closely parallels today’s society. While
many think that it is just a movie and that the content will go unnoticed, is completely wrong.
Any person that watched the movie is likely to be effected by it, when could then influence
his/her future behavior. That is concerning to researchers because content condoning sexual

assault and violence should not be released. Instead, filmmakers and producers should focus on
positive and healthy relationships to influence teenagers and adults.
The agency is that S&M is being done under a negotiated and signed contract to represent
that it is not being wrongfully carried out, when it is still considered wrong to cause another
human pain for one’s own pleasure. While S&M can sometimes be consensual, like in Ana’s
case, the physical and mental abuse of another human being in incredibly immoral, whether done
under a signed contract or not.
Another possible agency is the justification of sexual assault and abuse because a viewer
simply saw it in the film and wanted to give it a try. While everyone has the possibility of being
persuaded by the media, the acts that Christian Grey carried out on Ana need to be labeled as
abusive and not arousing. By simply seeing it on the big screen, the viewer can be persuaded
that S&M is something that is common in intimate relationships that is lacking in their own,
when really it is still considered an unspoken taboo in our society.
The scene is the increase in sexual assault lawsuits taking place on college campuses like
the University of Virginia and James Madison University, as well as with professional athletes,
which counters the sexual and desirable performance put on by Christian Grey. Even at James
Madison University, my own college campus, there was a heated and controversial question of
whether or not 50 Shades of Grey should be shown at an on campus location. One student
argued in the campus newspaper, The Breeze, that everyone was being ignorant for wanting to
show the film because he/she was a rape victim who was shocked that “fellow Dukes would
promote the culture of sexual and domestic violence” (Darts & pats, 2015). While it is perceived
that college students would be interested in that kind of film, many argued against showing it
because many research studies have shown a clear example of the link between the film and

sexual assault and rape culture. The scene proves that the threat this film is posing is extremely
real and not something to look over because it was just a part of an erotic film.
The constant purpose throughout the film is for Christian to gain control of Ana in their
sexual relationship. Christian shows a side of himself that could possibly love Ana and treat her
differently than all of his other submissives, but that abruptly comes to an end once he punished
her. While watching the film, I got a feeling that Christian’s overall purpose was to show the
audience how physical and emotional abuse as a child can have strong effects as an adult.
Christian’s main motive was to please himself, which backfired in the end because he took his
sexual game too far with Ana.
Lastly, I believe that the purpose of this film is to portray S&M as something to want in
an intimate relationship, when really controversy arose strictly because of the film’s content.
Many articles explain that when experimenting with a sexual relationship, it is extremely
important to know the other person’s boundaries and what constitutes as sexual assault and/or
domestic violence. The purpose of all of the controversy surrounding the film’s release is to
encourage the audience to be more knowledgeable to sexual assault and violence and to know
how to identify it, cope with it, and help put a stop to it.
By doing a rhetorical analysis of certain scenes throughout the film, it was found that the
question of sexual assault arose due to the inclusion of S&M in Christian and Ana’s relationship.
This film unknowingly created an urgent need to analyze why these acts are being done out of
pleasure when they are causing pain and even harm to Ana, the submissive. Another aspect of
the film that was rhetorically analyzed is the mental and emotional stability of Christian Grey.
Causing harm to Ana by lashing her with a belt six times gave Christian pleasure, which is not a
typical human response.

Contribution/Discussion
I think that the method I chose to rhetorically analyze 50 Shades of Grey stands out from
a lot of other previous work because by using the Pentad I was able to not only analyze the film
but also look at how what is currently going on in today’s society parallels much of the film’s
content. The Pentad also allowed me to identify multiple acts, agents, agencies, scenes, and
purposes so that I could look at the film’s affect on what is going on today. By considering
popular news stories and current controversial issues, I was able to find that a large majority of
the population finds the film to be a direct link to current and even future sexual assault scandals
and cases. Looking at current events and analyzing them makes this research unique because it
is not strictly focused on the rhetoric of the media, like films, but it also encompasses every day
rhetorical situations.
Another interesting aspect of this research is that while the content of 50 Shades of Grey
is distasteful when analyzing it, the film still made millions of dollars and is thriving in popular
culture. However once it is broken down, it changes many people’s opinion of the best selling
erotic novel and multimillion-dollar film. The culture that we are currently living in is much
more open to sexual content in television shows, movies, and music, which made the audience a
little jaded to the repulsive and dehumanizing acts. I think with this culture where everyone
turns a blind eye to the fact that sexual assault and violence are frequently occurring, it should be
more important to recognize how the belittling of women affects their self-worth and how the
film could empower a man to the point of sexual violence. Many organizations have worked for
years to make sexual assault and rape something that should be addressed and not be kept secret,
but now those possibly harmful acts are being desensitized by this film to show the audience that
they are in fact are okay to perform on a partner.

This research is an addition to the world of rhetorical criticism because it is not
something that is commonly studied or discussed by scholars. Sense the book trilogy and the
film are still new and incredibly popular, it is important to study whether or not it has a positive
or negative affect of society and the people make it up. The act of S&M is incredibly new to the
media and especially the big screen, so the amount of research in this field that is still available
to do is immense. While the topic is a bit scandalous and sometimes overlooked, the mental and
emotional aspects of it and the effects it has on individuals and their relationships opens up a
door to a new type of research.
Conclusion
While watching 50 Shades of Grey for the first time I had no idea that so many small
parts of the film could be analyzed and interpreted using different methods. I found how
negatively the act of S&M affects the viewers and how it can destroy a woman’s self-identity. I
believe that analyzing this film is extremely important for today’s society because both men and
women that have seen it need to understand what is really being said and done throughout the
film, and how closely S&M is related to current sexual assault and rape cases. By analyzing 50
Shades of Grey using Burke’s Dramatistic Pentad I was able to uncover hidden meanings
throughout the film and develop a better understanding of how important symbolism is as well as
the act, agent, agency, scene, and purpose are in any rhetorical situation.

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