The Allegory in Life is Strange: An Analysis

cw for mentions of drugging, kidnapping, grooming, and r*pe

In Life is Strange, Mark Jefferson, a photography professor at Blackwell, drugs and kidnaps his female students and photographs them. He describes these acts as "taking their innocence." His character puts a lot of emphasis on innocence and clearly revels in the fear he makes his victims feel. We see this in his interactions with Max Caulfield.

In his first appearance in the game, Jefferson says, "I could frame any one of you in a dark corner, and capture you in a moment of desperation." While seemingly an innocuous part of his lecture, it's obvious foreshadowing in retrospect and works as a confession of his crimes. This despair and need for power drives Jefferson in his actions.

This capturing of photos is a thinly veiled allegory for r*pe. As we know, r*pe is about power. Jefferson clearly has power over his victims when he drugs and binds them. He also clearly enjoys making them feel fear, another way of exerting his power, as we see in his interactions with Max in the dark room. He already has authority over his students as their professor. He is more than a regular teacher; he is also famous. There is a clear power imbalance between him and all of his students, including Nathan Prescott. Jefferson describes his relationship with Nathan as a father-son relationship, thus increasing the power imbalance between them.

Given Nathan's relationship with his actual father, he is desperate to impress Jefferson and comply with his orders. Jefferson not only manipulates Nathan, but he takes advantage of his obvious weaknesses and insecurities. While Nathan is also a perpetrator, he is also a victim of Jefferson's actions. I'd argue that Nathan Prescott is a victim of grooming and financial manipulation by Jefferson. 

We can infer that Jefferson's actions are an allegory for r*pe in the way he describes his actions, taking his victims' "innocence." You'd have to be purposefully obtuse to not understand or see the allegory. The idea of innocence being associated with virginity is an integral part of our patriarchal society, and purposefully shames women, equating "losing your virginity" with a moral failing (A.K.A. the loss of innocence). 

Jefferson himself even plays into this patriarchal notion, especially in the way he discusses Rachel Amber and Victoria Chase, saying Victoria is "too harsh for [his] gentle lens." He also seems to shame Nathan for his "lust." Jefferson's emphasis on innocence plays into the misogynistic and patriarchal purity culture. His response to Nathan also demonstrates how purity culture negatively affects boys as well.

While it is explicitly stated that none of Jefferson's victims are sexually assaulted, fans have argued that the characters are very survivor-coded. I see this personally with Kate Marsh and Max. Both characters describe feeling disgust and violation with Jefferson's actions. Kate herself says she feels disgusting, despite not remembering much of it. This is extremely common with SA survivors.

I feel compelled to state that I, in no way, endorse purity culture and am staunchly against it. Virginity is a social construct made to shame women into subservience. I also feel compelled to say that survivors are not "dirty" or "disgusting" because of what they've experienced. They are just as whole and clean as non-survivors.