Over the years, what is considered acceptable in terms of sexuality shown in mainstream media has broadened immensely. From the 1950's and 60's images on shows like "Leave it to Beaver" and "I Love Lucy" where even married men and women are not shown to be sleeping in the same beds, to exposed body parts on the Superbowl half time show (example 1) last year. "The line between televisual content and pornography has shifted and blurred over the past decade" ( Mayer, p. 302) Although there was much controversy over Justin Timberlake's and Janet Jackson's staged performance of revealing her breast on mainstream television at prime time, the fact that this happened offers a telling glimpse into the ways our norms and views around sexuality have changed as a culture. Just opening up the a copy of the local paper, "The Portland Mercury" (example 3), one is able to find hot hookups in the "Lust Lab" from individuals describing in explicit details what they are looking for sexually from anyone willing to give them a call. There are also numerous ads and photos for ready and willing women and transexuals prostituting sex (for money?) as well as ads for "gang bangs" from local sex clubs like "Angels". It seems that sex is truly all around us, even when we are not asking for it. Women are portrayed as aggressive and dominant sexual persuers in ads like this Calvin Klein jeans ad (example 3), which even though they are clothed and actually pornographic, the idea that is alluded to is that this couple is preparing to have sex. Where are the jeans they are selling?
The 1984 film "Basic Instinct" (example 4) is infamous for Sharon Stone's scene of her opening her legs to reveal her panty-less and exposed vulva. Her character in the movie is portrayed as strong, but still highly sexualized. There is "reluctance (in media) to fully embrace strong female characters who might be seen as threatening" (Coon, p. 11). In 1984, this scene was shocking, but today, twenty four years later, this kind of nudity and exposure in rated R movies is so normal that we are desensitized. Pornography has even made it's way into mainstream live theater performances, such as "Puppetry of the Penis" (example 5), where two men twist their penises into different shapes that resemble images such as the Eiffel tower and a hamburger. The images are cast with lighting onto a screen to create a puppet show of their penises. Although highly controversial in some towns (Portland loves them!), their show has traveled the world with great success.
1. Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake Superbowl Half- time show
2. "Portland Mercury's" Lust Lab
http://thestranger.selectalternatives.com/gyrobase/Adult/?readDisclaimer=yes3.
4. Basic Instinct crotch shot
5. Puppetry of the Penis, live theater show
http://www.puppetryofthepenis.net/
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