Sex on Movies : Impact on America vs. Europe

By: Sebastian Alvarez

Throughout the history of film making the depicting of sex on movies has been seen as none other than a unfaithful act against the masses. In the United States where movies have been made for over a 100 years the depiction of sex has been critically punished and sometimes has been banned from the general audience. This has cause a major controversy between those who think sex depiction is a normal  act that does not affect general audience and the individuals who think of sex as an act that should label as a pornographic material while also not being allowed in theaters. Though many may say that it is harming children in reality they are not able to see how normal sex and how it is a part of everyone's life. The rating system that is used in the United States ranges from General Audience, PG-13, R, to NC-17. A rating system that dictates the appearance of movies in theaters.  An example of such films would be Cashback (2006) a British film depicting nudity, sex, and pole dancing. A movie such as this would have been banned in the United States due to the rating system not allowing such films to be shown in theaters. Another example of the harsh film rating, The Cooler (2003) an American movie which was rated NC-17 due to a glimpse of Maria Bello's pubic hair. The view of the public has dramatically changed from an era such as the 1960's when the depiction of sex and nudity was not shamed, but instead was embrace as part of you human nature. Many individuals at the time had a great broad view of sexuality in America, but as sex starting being marketed the public felt the need of regulation to ensure the "protection" of their youth. Due the rising number of movies depicting nudity and sex in the 1960s the pro-conservative movement took upon the necessity to ban such pieces of art for the interest of their own. Many believe that the reason for such harsh view on sexuality is due to the religion in America. "Much of the American stigma concerning sex, sexuality, and nudity has to do with “traditional Christian values” as defined by fundamentalist Christianity"[1]  All of these changes of trying to censor sexuality has cause many great problems in America such as rise in pregnancy rate and sexually transmitted diseases. This can also be attributed to the failing health care system that does not teach the public about safe sex and contraceptives.  "Of the many industrialized nations, the United States has the highest pregnancy rate"[2]

Unlike the United States, in Europe the depiction of sex and nudity is tolerated and is mostly embraced. Though the use of rating systems is practiced in almost all of Europe it is not followed with that much interested and rates movies with a more liberal view. Sex is a part of life which many Europeans don't find it wrong for their kids to watch such material in movies due to the normality that is  portrayed along with it. Due to all these liberal views Europe has had a declined birth rate and diseases. This can be attributed for the outstanding health care system which provides every citizen the ability to have safe sex.  Another big difference is the banning of many violent films in Europe due their depiction of violence and vulgarity. These difference are described as being more liberal, but in my opinion these differences are just a more humane approach to secure the future of our children while allowing  free expression. This are the many differences that are seen across Europe and that many American don't agree with, but have shown a great deal of change towards the younger audience.

[1] 08-11/14. “Atheism 101: Why Has Christianity Demonized Nudity, Sex and Sexuality? .” Accessed . http://www.examiner.com/article/atheism-101-why-has-christianity-demonized-nudity-sex-and-sexuality.

[2] 2007. “Video: Teens & Sex in Europe: A Story of Rights, Respect & Responsibility.” Accessed . http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/publications-a-z/719-video-teens-and-sex-in-europe-a-story-of-rights-respect-and-responsibility.

Who is Hugh? -Abriana

Who is Hugh?

By Abriana Cantaffa

Who is Hugh Hefner? Before I state the obvious, which is what everyone already knows about him. I am going to give a little back ground information. Hugh is the oldest son of two conservative parents. In high school he founded the school newspaper and served as president of the student council. After graduating high school Hugh joined the Army as an infantry clerk and drew comics. After being discharged from the Army, Hugh went on to get his bachelor’s degree in 2 and a half years. While taking a semester of graduate classes Hugh wrote a paper investigative sex laws in the United States in relation to the research done by Kinsey. Hugh did marry. He married his classmate Mildred Williams. [1]

http://cdn2.thegloss.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/young-hugh-hefner.jpg

Hefner worked as a copywriter at Esquire. Then Esquire was moving to New York. Hefner was not moving to New York so he was going to say and begin his own magazine. He was not able to get the financial help in order to begin his magazine. He was working for Publisher Development Corporation when he was convinced that he was the person to start a sophisticated men’s magazine.  [2]

The first issue of Playboy had not cover date because Hugh did not know if there would be another. The first issue of Playboy had sold more than 50,000 prints. Enough were sold so that another issue could be printed. Hugh never again doubted the success of the magazine. [3]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4b/Pb1253.jpg

Playboy was not the first magazine that was to be aimed at the male population. Rather it was the first to show explicitly nude women. The magazine encouraged readers to take pleasure in what women could offer without emotional involvement. [4]

Hugh created a sexual empire from his ability to know what men want. The magazine sales increased rapidly and a quarter of the copies were sold on college campuses. [5]

Of course the conservative population did not agree or like what Hefner was accomplishing. Women were not to be shown the way he showed them off. Hefner openly attacked the American anti-sexuality. [6]

I do not agree or disagree with what Hugh Hefner has accomplished. He saw an opportunity and seized it. He is a smart man. He had the ability to know what men wanted and made an empire off of it.

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[1] "Hugh M. Hefner Foundation." Hugh M Hefner Foundation. http://hmhfoundation.org/site/?page_id=20 (accessed April 29, 2014).

[2] Ibid

[3] Ibid

[4] Moore, Crystal. "The Sexualized Society." Class Lecture. April 2014.

[5] Ibid

[6] Ibid

Haight-Ashbury Street&the 1960's- Caroline Christy

Haight- Ashbury Street

By: Caroline Christy

            For my blog this month I wanted to get more research and learn more about Haight- Ashbury street, from watching the movie “Sex in 69” it really got me interested in the 1960’s as well as this famous street.

            Haight-Ashbury Street is deemed as the birthplace of the hippie movement. [1] People from all over the world knew about this famous street, which was the gathering ground for most hippies, tie-dye, and drugs. This street was full of dreamers, lovers, and of course hippies. One thing that was essential to hippie life was LSD, which you could buy along with marijuana on Height-Ashbury Street. [2] One thing that was said to unite this famous street was drugs, because this was the place to get drugs and a place where everyone did drugs with no judgment. Not only did this street house hippies but it also housed some of the best rock bands. So many people, such as, college students, teenagers, family vacationers and even military personal on leave visited this cultural utopia.

            In 1967 Haight-Ashbury Street started dwindling down due to cops coming in and taking action with the drug use. Shortly after homeless people took the streets and the street become somewhat of a bad street.[3] Still today it has a certain charm to it I just wish I could have seen it in its golden days.

            To me Haight-Ashbury Street and for that matter all of the 1960’s were very important to history and the change over from conservative views to more liberal. The people living on Haight-Ashbury Street were an example of people who didn’t care about the norms of society anymore, they are the start of a sexual revolution so to speak. If it were not for the hippies and the home of Haight-Ashbury street then I cant even begin to think about what the world would be like today. The people living on Haight-Ashbury street showed the world that it was okay to live like they do, and they showed how happy and free they were. I think some people thought the world would crash and burn if the world was like Haight-Ashbury street but it didn’t it survived and prospered. I remember learning in class that sex for women was strictly for procreation and that was not for pleasure and that even women weren’t supposed to enjoy it. But thanks to the 1960’s, Haight-Ashbury street and sexual liberalism now the world knows.

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[1] Schwartz, Carly. "Haight Ashbury In The 1960s: A Vibrant Hippie History (PHOTOS)." The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/15/haight-ashbury-in-the-1960s_n_1967664.html (accessed April 29, 2014).

[2] Wikimedia Foundation. "Haight-Ashbury." Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haight-Ashbury (accessed April 29, 2014).

[3] Sex in 69, movie

LSD and Sex-Carson Cherry

LSD and Sex-Carson Cherry

http://vietnamartwork.wordpress.com/what-is-the-hippies-movement/

When we see the three letters LSD we think of hippies, Volkswagen vans, and music. We all know the time period of which when the drug was most popular but what is it about this drug that made it so powerful and addicting. The three letters LSD stand for Lysergic Acid Diethylamide[1]. The drug was created by a man named Dr. Albert Hofmann from Switzerland. He first discovered this drug in his laboratory on November 16, 1938 from an ergot fungus, which infects rye grains. At the time he created LSD he did not know that it was a form of drug. The project that he was working on that produced it was put on the back burner. He decided to reopen the project in April of 1943. He was working in the laboratory one day and accidently spilled some of the solution on his hand which was then absorbed into his skin, this is when the first “trip” off of LSD was experienced[2]. In 1947 LSD was introduced to the public as a drug that could possibly help with mental issues. We have all heard the rumors about the CIA using the drug for experiments and yes that is true. They used the LSD, also known as Delysid, for mind control. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognized LSD as an investigational new Drug in 1963 and by 1968 the possession of LSD was illegal[3]

Now that we know the history behind LSD let’s talk its effects and how it was so powerful in the 60’s and 70’s to use during sex. The most common way to take the drug during that time period was through swallowing an acid tab. After the tab was swallowed the user would start feeling the effect within 30 minutes to an hour with the peak of the “trip” being from 2 to 5 hours with effects that could last up to 12 hours. After taking LSD the person tends to be more turned on and eager to do erotic things and act on fantasies. The drug changes what you think is reality and your judgment basically falls of the map. Not only did people take LSD for the “trip” but they also took it during sex because it made it seem like the sex lasted longer[4]

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2014/03/tampa-bay-police-report-lsd-tainted-meat-exposure/#.U1_OV01OWUk

           

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[1] "LSD or Acid (1960′s)," Mortal Journey, http://www.mortaljourney.com/2011/01/1960-trends/lsd-acid (accessed April 29, 2014)

[2] “LSD or Acid (1960′s)," Mortal Journey, http://www.mortaljourney.com/2011/01/1960-trends/lsd-acid (accessed April 29, 2014)

[3] “LSD or Acid (1960′s)." Mortal Journey, http://www.mortaljourney.com/2011/01/1960-trends/lsd-acid (accessed April 29, 2014)

[4] "Sex. Love. Life," Acid, http://www.tradesexualhealth.com/sexual-health/sex-drugs/acid.html (accessed April 29, 2014)