The Evolution of Sex Scenes in Popular Film. Has it Gotten Out of Hand?

@crewgirl (191)
United States
October 29, 2015 1:11pm CST
I remember as a child of the 90's, I thought that sex was like a strange pajama sleepover between a man and a woman. Two people would go to bed clothed and wrestle around under the sheets until the next scene appeared moments later showing one person leaving the home the next morning. Sex was innocently shot back then. In fact, in the 40's and 50's, sex was never shown in popular film. All the audience would see were a fully clothed couple in pajamas kissing goodnight. The lights would turn off and that would be the end of the scene. It was never an unrealistic view of intimacy. Not everyone has sex every single night and whether a sex scene was shown or not, the audience could still tell that the couple were intimate and possibly loved each other. Isn't that the director's main goal of a sex scene anyway? Today, sex scenes are abundant in popular television and film. Not only are they abundant, but also more realistic and graphic as well. It seems like every time I sit down to watch a romantic movie, I have to sit through the brief uncomfortableness of watching a naked couple have sex. And now, sex scenes are even longer in some films, lasting minutes of awkward discomfort, especially if you are watching with your parents. Have sex scenes in film and television gotten out of hand? Here's my take on it: I feel like I'm being a voyeur when I watch graphic sex scenes. I'm not supposed to be there and I feel like I'm watching through a window with a pair of binoculars at the apartment building across the street. It's awkward. It makes me uncomfortable. I feel like if I want to watch porn in the privacy of my own home, then I will watch porn. I don't want a graphic sex scene to pop up on IMAX while I'm eating a bag of popcorn. Many of you may be familiar with the television series, Sex and the City, back in the early 90's. Even though the series was completely about sex and relationships, it never bothered me while watching it because the sex scenes weren't graphic. A decade down the road, and the series' first movie, Sex and the City, was released. I was excited to watch it because I loved Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte, and Samantha (note I didn't say Miranda). My mother made the mistake of bringing home the unrated version of the movie which provided a horse load of highly-awkward, graphic sex scenes that made me want to cringe. It was a huge turn-off for me and I didn't respect the film afterward. I certainly think that sex scenes are getting out of control and will continue to grow more detailed in the years to come. People may say, "Well this is a realistic depiction of intimate relationships." I'd refer back to the couple in the 90's, who had a sleepover party and playfully wrestled under the covers. For an adult, doesn't that convey the idea of sex enough while keeping young kids innocent until they Google "where do babies come from?" What are your thoughts?
7 people like this
7 responses
@amnabas (14714)
• Karachi, Pakistan
29 Oct 15
Ohhh my you are right they are out of control.
3 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
29 Oct 15
They are out of control definitely.
1 person likes this
• Israel
29 Oct 15
I have stopped watching a lot of tv shows because of that. I used to enjoy "orange is the new black" but no more, I have stopped watching when it started to be too much. I am missing seeing this series, it is pitty that such a good series is being ruined by that.
1 person likes this
@beenice2 (2967)
• Sackville, New Brunswick
7 Jul 16
It does harass your mind when they are too graphic about it. I personally think that they go too far.
@marlina (154130)
• Canada
29 Oct 15
My thoughts on this topic: It is getting disgusting.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
29 Oct 15
There is such a thing as "too much information" - it sounds like what you describe. I do have quite a vivid imagination, but I appreciate there are those who need, for whatever reason, to "experience" the full Monty... I don't have to watch it. And it can be very cringe-inducing.
1 person likes this
2 May 16
It depends. If the film is related to a real life incident and the act actually did happen then the director can show it. But the scenes should have aesthetic taste. If they lack it, then there is no point having them in the film.
@Beatburn (4286)
• Philippines
19 Nov 15
I don't think we will benefit from being bombarded by those things regularly. We are getting disensitized.