[Slate] Bizarre but Beautiful 'Bella'... Turning Traditional Feminism Upside Down

Director Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Poor Things'
Bella, a child with an adult body, learns the ways of the world
Humanity enraged by inequality... breaking prejudice and bias

In Yorgos Lanthimos's film The Wonderful Things, Bella (Emma Stone) is a child with an adult body. She was resurrected in a bizarre way by the genius surgeon Godwin (Willem Dafoe). He jumped from a leg with a full-term pregnant body and transplanted the brain of the fetus from the womb into his head.

Bella learns to speak and write and comes to understand the ways of the world. She also shows interest in sexual pleasure. Led by lawyer Duncan (Mark Ruffalo), she travels across Europe indulging in the delights of sexual encounters. Their companionship ends in Alexandria after witnessing wealth inequality. Having exhausted her travel funds through acts of charity, she becomes socially isolated like a "duck egg in the Nakdong River."

Bella tries to solve her problems through prostitution in Paris. It is not simply to earn money. She is still thirsty for new experiences. "Let me explain my situation. I need sex and money. I could find a lover to rely on, but that would be very tiring. I want to work only 20 minutes a day and spend the rest of the time learning what kind of place the world is and how it develops. Please hire me. I want to work in your brothel that smells musty." "A woman fighting to claim her freedom... How cool, follow me."

This firm declaration resembles the voices that prostitution women, silenced for so long, began to raise since the 1980s. As social atmospheres recognizing diverse opinions and differences in existence were created under influences such as postmodernism, the discourse on prostitution began to change its nature and form.

They viewed feminist theories on prostitution as merely repeating traditional male-centered views rather than breaking social stigma or prejudice. They pointed out that feminist scholars advocating for the abolition or expulsion of prostitution used political rhetoric to leverage related discussions for their own power enhancement.

Emerging feminist prostitutes asked, "What is wrong with prostitution as a means of livelihood?" Men can purchase sexual services without social prejudice, so why can't women sell the same services without social ridicule, hostility, or shame? This challenging question greatly contributed to feminist prostitutes uncovering their hidden history.

Of course, most feminist theories still rely on the negative image of prostitutes. At the center is the political theory concept that prostitution is a typical case of female oppression by men. Regarding this, Dr. Lee Seong-sook, a British women's history scholar, wrote in her book Prostitution and Feminism: For a New Discourse as follows:

"It is merely an old and distorted concept reflecting male-centered sexual culture and attitudes. The current male-centered patriarchal capitalist society demands women choose various forms of coerced lives rather than offering opportunities for autonomous living. In this situation, prostitution is just one form of coerced life for women. Just as much feminist discussion has been made to change unreasonable marriage systems into desirable forms of marriage, discussions are needed to transform undesirable forms of prostitution into healthy forms."

As soon as Bella enters the brothel, she tries to change the existing framework. She proposes reversing the way male customers choose prostitutes. "The existing method will be replaced by a new one. That new method cannot last forever either. (Omitted) Our claim to choose the customers remains unchanged."

The madam (Katherine Hunter) seemingly agrees but points out it is just an idealistic thought. She soothes Bella, saying that sometimes one must comply with the world's demands even if it is overturned later. Bella fails to achieve her goal, swayed by the madam's persuasion. However, reflecting on her life before being called Bella, she achieves a greater subversion.

The result is not limited to freedom or sovereignty. She also enjoys the joy of liberation from prejudice. This would have been impossible if she had the attitude to dominate or submit to others. She could reach a happy ending because she had humanity that sympathized with those suffering inequality and felt anger at injustice. An open attitude that removes prejudice and accepts reality is the first step to solving all social problems, including prostitution.