Casting couch
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2008-07-13T21:57:41Z
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/* References to "casting couch" */
The '''casting couch''' is a euphemism for a [[sociological]] phenomenon that involves the trading of [[Sexual intercourse|sexual favors]] by an aspirant, apprentice [[employee]], or [[subordinate]] to a [[superior]], in return for entry into an [[List of occupations|occupation]], or for other career advancement within an organization. Careers which are highly desirable and traditionally difficult to break into, such as the [[Film|movie]], [[television]] and [[music]] industries, have been the subject of casting couch stories in popular culture. Such trading of favors is an abuse of power, and can become a wider [[sex scandal]] if deemed newsworthy.
The "casting couch" concept in many respects is connotative of the [[entertainment]] industry, but may apply to any industry for which entry is highly desirable and competitive.
==Common characteristics in the social system==
The casting couch involves either the superior asking sexual favor from a subordinate in return for [[economic]] or occupational support, or the subordinate luring and seducing a superior with the aim of [[bargaining]] for career or economic progression.
The casting couch is not restricted to any one particular [[gender]] on either side of the [[trade-off]]. In its broadest context it implies all social contracts that involves the exchange of sexual contact in return for economic security or career enhancement. Casting couches are a form of [[Game theory|game theoretic]] trade off in social settings.
==Accusations of the "casting couch"==
* In her [[1991]] book ''You'll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again'', [[Academy Award|Oscar]]-winning producer [[Julia Phillips]] attempted to expose many of the underground Hollywood institutions, and confirmed that "casting couch" mentality was alive and well in [[Hollywood]].
* In [[2005]] India TV's ''[[India's Most Wanted]]'', an investigative TV show, caught ''[[Indian Idol]]'' host [[Aman Verma]] and longtime [[Bollywood]] acting legend [[Shakti Kapoor]] in a "[[Sting operation|sting]]" operation, and accused them of abusing their positions to force women to have sex with them. They even produced video evidence of Kapoor making advances on a planted girl. Verma, Kapoor and most of the Bollywood industry have defended themselves, calling India TV's claims unfounded and sensational, and claim that the video footage of Kapoor is misleading.
* In [[2006]] Zhang Yu, a Chinese actress, released 20 graphic sex videos that she made herself to document her allegations that she won many of her roles through the casting couch. [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6924667]
==References to "casting couch"==
[[Image:Couch Casting From California Adventure.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A direct reference to the casting couch in a Disney theme park.]]
Due to the public's fascination with this alleged underground economy, several movie, book, and TV plots deal with sleazy executives attempting to abuse their position.
* ''[[Disclosure (film)|Disclosure]]'' ([[1994]])
* In ''[[Friends]]'' Episode #34 ([[1996]]), "[[The One With Russ]]", [[Joey Tribbiani|Joey]] is forced to sleep with a studio executive to land a role in the soap opera ''[[Days of our Lives]]''.
* In ''[[Mad Men]]'' Episode #110 ([[2007]]), "[[The Long Weekend]]" Sterling enlists Draper to aid him in seducing twins with a part in an advertising campaign. Prior to embarking, Sterling says, ''"There's a casting call at 4.... I think we should go down to casting and see who's on the couch. Remember, Don, when God closes a door, he opens a dress."''
* In ''[[L.A. Confidential (film)|L.A. Confidential]]'' ([[1997]]), a young actor is promised a role on a hit television show if he seduces a local lawmaker who is causing trouble for a movie studio.
* In ''[[Honey (movie)|Honey]]'' ([[2003]]), the main character is [[Blackball (blacklist)|blackball]]ed from the [[music video]] industry because she refuses to sleep with a powerful video producer.
* A fake business in [[Disney's California Adventure]] [[theme park]] in the park's Hollywood Pictures Backlot area is named "Philip A. Couch Casting Agency".
*In a lyric from the song "I Wanna Be A Producer", written by [[Mel Brooks]] from ''[[The Producers (1968 film)|The Producers]]'', chorus girls sing ''"...He wants to be a producer with a great big casting couch!"''
*A Hollywood casting agency, [http://www.sandealessicasting.com Sande Alessi Casting], also goes by the name of The Casting Couch, Inc.
*In a Telugu movie "Khadgam", directed by [[Krishna Vamsi]], actress [[Sangeetha]] is forced to sleep with a film director to land a role in his film.
*In a song called "Couch Test Casting" by rock-and-roll band [[The_Mentors|The Mentors]], the narrator colorfully describes his use of the couch to "screen" aspirants.
*In season five of ''[[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]]'', [[Mouth_McFadden|Marvin "Mouth" McFadden]] is lured into an affair with his boss at the News Station in order to receive air time.
*In a song called "Roll The Dice" by [[Mickey Avalon]], he sings about a young male actor sleeping with producers in an effort to "get his face on the screen".
*In cycle 7 of America's next top model, The models completed a photoshoot in which they portrayed the stereotypes of the fashion industry. A.J Stewart was given the role of the casting couch model to portray.
==Bibliography==
* Anderson, C., & Berdahl, J. L. (2002). The experience of power: Examining the effects of power on approach and inhibition tendencies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83, 1362-1377.
* Thibaut, J. W., & Kelley, H. H. (1959). The social psychology of groups. New York: Wiley.
==External links==
* [http://in.movies.yahoo.com/050312/43/2k502.html ''TV Sting Snares Bollywood Baddie Shakti Kapoor''] from [[Yahoo!]] [[India]] Movies ([[March 12]], [[2005]])
* Known rumours that [[Darryl F. Zanuck]] invented the casting couch [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/08/sunday/main707725_page2.shtml ''The Zanucks: Reel Royalty ''] from [[CBS News Sunday Morning]] ([[July 10]], [[2005]])
* A selection of contemporary articles regarding [http://www.public.asu.edu/~ialong/Taylor41.txt the casting couch in the American silent film industry] from [[Taylorology]]
* An Indian author and journalist [http://flynnr.blogspot.com Flynn Remedios] has covered the phenomenon in detail in his book [http://thedoubleoffer.blogspot.com The Double Offer].
[[Category:Film and video terminology]]
[[Category:Human sexuality]]
[[Category:Sex scandals]]
[[Category:Show business scandals]]
[[fr:Promotion canapé (mœurs)]]