¶ … Love Got to Do with It? (1993): Tina Turner BEHS 453 (section)

Plot synopsis

The movie, 'What's Love Got to do with it?' is a biography of pop/R&B singer Anna Mae Bullock (stage name- Tina Turner). It records the struggle she underwent to escape the clutches of her violent husband, Ike (played in the movie by Laurence Fishburne). The first few scenes of the movie portray young Tina's (played by Angela Bassett) initial singing career in Nutbush, Tennessee, before Ike Turner discovered her. By the time they met, Ike had already become a household name in the music industry, as a guitarist, record producer, and songwriter. Under Ike's guidance, Tina became a star; however, he soon got jealous of her fame and began abusing her; Tina had to struggle hard to escape his control (MASLIN, 1993; What's Love Got to Do With It [1993], n.d).

The movie introduces a shy young country girl, Anna (played by Rae'ven Kelly), singing "This Little Light of Mine" at church, as a choir singer. The girl lets her radiance shine forth, much too brightly, for the choir mistress' liking. Singing is an inborn talent in Anna, and she cannot help it. The gift helps keep her from obscurity and poverty, transforming her into a renowned dynamo --Tina Turner -- and luring her into the jaws of Ike- a silver-tongued, sexy Svengali. Coerced into enslavement, in the show business, irrespective of how exhausted or sick she may be, Tina experienced several years of indignity in the form of marital infidelities, cruel beatings, etc. Tina ultimately became brave enough to get away from her husband and tell him to 'go to hell' (MASLIN, 1993).

Fishburne's splendid, mercurial depiction of Ike, complete with a pencil-thin mustache and pompadour, leaves no room for doubt, regarding how this graceful charmer could hold the sheltered, naive Anna captivated. In the early scenes, when she newly goes to live with her mother (who walked out on Anna when she was a child) in St. Louis, Ike appears to be genuinely likeable and attractive (MASLIN, 1993).

Initially, Ike is shown to smile, charm, and cajole Tina, to reshape her. His extensive expertise makes him grasp exactly how she must dress, move, and sing; Tina meets his every request. The movie, interspersed by several animated reminders of the duo's stage act as well as most popular numbers, delights in plotting Tina Turner's ascent to stardom. Anybody who is cognizant of Tina's career will recognize the justice done by the movie to Tina's attire, wigs and choreography (MASLIN, 1993).

Types of Domestic Violence

Physical

The film 'What's Love Got to do with it?' narrates Tina Turner's life and the domestic violence suffered by her at her husband's hands. The movie offers audiences an unsettling, cruel portrayal of abuse by intimate partners. Ike and Tina's marriage was turbulent and usually violent. The abuse depicted in the film represents a consequence of Ike's understanding that he has lost authority over his wife, owing to her emergence as a rising star who eclipsed him (Jackson, 2007).

Psychological

Tina is coerced into singing, despite being worn-out and ill. A clear representation of this is in the scene wherein Tina, admitted to the hospital for anemia after giving birth, is fetched home by her husband in the dead of night, by disregarding the doctor's orders.

Emotional

The movie also portrays emotional maltreatment, which may be especially dangerous, as women fail to see that they do, indeed, have a means of escaping their dire situation. Scenes from the movie illustrate the typical abuse cycle occurring with battered ladies. Ike lavishes attention and gifts on Tina after maltreating her -- this characterizes the abuse chain's "honeymoon" phase, in which the woman tends to believe everything will become fine if she does "the right thing." "

Economic

The finances are under Ike's control; in other words, Tina has to depend on him for sustaining herself. He controls not just Tina but her family, as well; the house her mother lives in was purchased for her by Ike. Tina owns only 36 cents when she finally gets away. To her chagrin, Tina has to request the manager at a hotel for a room - free of cost - for staying the night. Further, Tina didn't have any say in her career decisions, either; Ike used to make them for her (Brady, 1995).

Impact of Domestic Violence on the Character

The movie represents a forceful portrayal of a violent marriage's dynamics. It accurately depicts the abuse cycle as well as emotions (fear, guilt, and denial) felt by battered women. The movie also portrays emotional maltreatment, which may be especially dangerous, as women fail to see that they do, indeed, have a means of escaping their dire situation (Brady, 1995).

Explanations of Domestic Violence

Domestic abuse is often a means for individuals (usually men) to institute and exercise supremacy over intimate partners (i.e., wives, ex-wives, dating partners, or girlfriends) (SVAW - Domestic Violence: Explore the Issue, 2003).
The primary theory to be put forward in America considered abusive men to be mentally-unsound; also, women who continued to live with such men were also regarded as mentally-unsound. The theory was proved erroneous. Original psychologists failed at guessing the true number of such violent relationships. Further, psychological tests didn't back this theory (SVAW - Domestic Violence: Explore the Issue, 2003).

A second theory propounded that men's background was to blame for their abuse of women; i.e., such behavior was often acquired from their family of origin. While there does exist a statistical link between young boys who saw their mothers being battered by their fathers (such boys show 7 times greater likelihood to behave the same way with their own spouses), one cannot find any significant statistical link between young girls who perceived the aforementioned situation at home, and went on to become victims, themselves. Furthermore, there is evidence that numerous men who saw domestic abuse in childhood don't go on to abuse their own spouses (SVAW - Domestic Violence: Explore the Issue, 2003).

Yet, another theory stated that women were victims of "learned helplessness," owing to repeated battering, preventing them from walking out or, at least, resisting abuse (SVAW - Domestic Violence: Explore the Issue, 2003).

Finally, a fourth theory proposed that abusers follow a chain of violence, comprising alternating abusive and remorseful phases (SVAW - Domestic Violence: Explore the Issue, 2003).

Intervention/Treatment

Pivotal moments in the story where intervention made or might have made a difference for the character

The movie represents a forceful portrayal of a violent marriage's dynamics. It accurately depicts the abuse cycle as well as emotions (fear, guilt, and denial) felt by battered women. The movie also portrays emotional maltreatment, which may be especially dangerous, as women fail to see that they do, indeed, have a means of escaping their dire situation (Brady, 1995).

Tina Turner's friend should have supported and attentively listened to her, offering advice on what must be done next to save her from the traumatic relationship (Coventry Domestic Violence and Abuse Partnership, 2011).

The very first time Tina was beaten, somebody should have reminded her that the treatment meted out to her was not of her own making. Self-recrimination is common among victims of domestic abuse. Irrespective of the circumstances, abuse and violence can't be justified. Abusive spouses usually lay the blame for their behavior on the one they abuse. Knowing this, would help Tina take the necessary step and put an end to the abusive marriage much earlier (Coventry Domestic Violence and Abuse Partnership, 2011).

Another fact that would aid Tina was for her to never regard the abuse as not serious. Abuse victims sometimes minimize traumatic experiences, tending to mention only less serious occurrences. Knowing the above fact would ensure that Tina always assume herself to be at risk, thereby giving accurate information and learning how to act in case of emergency. The above-mentioned three measures of tackling domestic abuse would be greatly beneficial to Tina (Coventry Domestic Violence and Abuse Partnership, 2011).

Good Practice Guidelines (Strategy for Helping the Character) When Supporting a Victim of Domestic Violence and Abuse

The guidelines listed below are effective, while supporting a domestic abuse/violence victim.

Support --A victim who offers to express her abuse experiences should be lent a patient ear, offered emotional support, and assisted with deciding upon the subsequent step.

Bear in Mind to Refrain from being Judgmental -- Victims of spousal violence shouldn't feel any pressure, nor should they feel those they have approached for aid are judging them upon hearing that they had decided, earlier, to reconcile with their violent spouse.

Give Options to Victims -- Victims must be able to come to a decision by themselves, regarding how they will go about regaining control over their lives.

Repeat to Victims that Abuse/Violence was not of their Own Making - Self-recrimination is common among victims of domestic abuse. Irrespective of the circumstances, abuse and violence can't be justified. Abusive spouses usually lay the blame for their…