JMC 1100 1st Edition Lecture 22 Media Uses and Effects Sex in the Media Sexual Content is not new 1930 Betty Boop gets it started o Religious groups go nuts over her look and boop boopy doop 1933 Czech film Ecstacy features nude swim and sexual intercourse o First time sex is on screen 1942 Child Bride features skinny dipping 12 year old Content Producers Take No Chances Fears of sexual content cause moral panic o 1930 MPAA creates Hays Code no more horizontal kissing scenes o 1950 1960 TV couples use separate beds Art imitates life Sexual Revolution in Film o 1972 last Tango in Paris Promoted sexual relationships without commitment 1977 Look for Mr Goodbar Promoted one night stands TV mirrors culture too 1972 Maude o Maude has an abortion a few months before Roe v Wade made it legal 1989 thirtysomething o First scene of gay characters in bed together These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Today sex dominates Content 88 of R rated movies contain sexual content 82 for PG rated films 68 for G rated films Different Content Different Messages Slasher films connect sex with violence o Halloween Friday the 13th Scream etc Targeted adolescents so children have easy access Explicitly links sexual arousal with violence o More on this when we talk about porn Slasher Horror films content Average sexual behaviors film 9 3 times o Over 33 of sexual actions concluded with murder or victimization o Female characters who act sexually are much more likely to be victimized than the good girls Not just in Movies 68 of TV shows contain sexual content 65 contain talk about sex 27 present some kind of sexual activity Problem Real messages conflict with real life Media depictions of sex are presented as extreme to get attention More than Just Sex Scenes What are the underlying themes and messages in these films o 50 Shades of Grey o Don Jon o 500 Days of Summer Why is this an issue 72 of Teens say watching sexual content influences their behavior Studies 13 19 year olds who view high levels of sexual content o Have sex earlier increased pregnancy risk o Have more partners for casual sex o Engage in unprotected sex and other safe practices The Real Dangers of Sexual Content Unrealistic Expectations men and women tend to expect mates and sex to be perfect Desensitization Effects o The ore we see sexual violence the less effect it has on us the less impact we may think it has on real people s lives Media create our reality 1 Dating is treated as a game or competition based entirely on physical appearance 2 Few characters mention protection consequences STD s etc Sex has few physical or emotional consequences Specific Media Messages to Men 1 Sex Defining characteristic of Masculinity 2 Sexual Harassment is fun and funny study found a 84 of TV episodes contain sexist comments or acts 3 Sex is power the only point to a relationship Media Messages to Women 1 More Media watching Less acceptance of old fashioned courtship norms a Ex Men pay for dinner dating etc 2 They must be all things to all people a Must be both pliant cute sexually available and deferential AND rebellious tough enterprising and shrewd b What if you don t want to be any of those things More than just Sex Ex Media portrayals of Sexual Relationships o Sex during 1st meeting great idea not always o Love makes you a mind reader o People can change their partners Result Real Experiences Unrealistic Traumatic o Majority of women feel pressures into sex but feel unique in that feeling Media depictions everyone enjoys it all the time o Men regret no sex situations women regret sexual situations