This was a bizarre read. I came in with a negative view and left entertained. An interesting diversion for sure.
Going one step further I looked up the author and intend to dive into more of her writing. It hasn't happened to be in quite a while.
Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it
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Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it
#272> This cinematic trend reflects the culture around it. Even before the pandemic hit, Millennials and Zoomers were less sexually active than the generation before them. Maybe we’re too anxious about the Apocalypse; maybe we’re too broke to go out; maybe having to live with roommates or our parents makes it a little awkward to bring a partner home; maybe there are chemicals in the environment screwing up our hormones;…
Being sexually active is a choice. Nothing's stopping you from going out there and meeting people. There's plenty going on if you're willing to step out of your house and meet people. (And no, swiping on apps doesn't count.)
(Pandemic lockdowns of course might get in the way, but I'm speaking generally when those restrictions aren't there)
Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it
#273Earlier quoted context omitted.
Having an R-rating didn't mean a lack of toys. "Alien" came out in 1979 to an R-rating. Yet a friend at the time (we were both 10) received a 12" (30cm) xenomorph action figure for Christmas.
Correct. But a movie about incest, rape or pedophilia would probably not quality. « Oh you got a les cousins dangereux dolls honey. So cute »
Game of Thrones is/was very popular despite featuring all of these (maybe except pedophilia)
Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it
#274There are interesting ideas here. Personally, I find the War on Terror explanation a little far fetched. I think a more likely possibility is that movies started specializing. In the decades before the Internet, cinema was one place where the average person who didn't buy dirty magazines could glimpse more skin than in everyday life. Then the Internet came along. Suddenly pornography was in everyone's home. Soon it w…
> The public had infinite access to the sexual equivalent of gourmet food If you think porn is "gourmet", you've not watched enough of it. Porn is the McDonalds of sex: repetitive, predictable, largely "safe" (with minimal care, you won't see what you don't want to see), and purposedly all-encompassing but still largely detached from the real thing. I'm an unabashed porn consumer and I have to tell you, I yearn for a…
This just depends on what you search for and think of as porn. I was exposed to a world of more female friendly hardcore porn by a female friend which I had little idea about. Other than that, porn bodies have a range that is far wider than mainstream media, you can find everything from SSBBWs to super skinny women, and lot of variations inbetween.
Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it
#275Pedro Almodovar made a similar point about how Marvel movies lack sex. And yeah, if you compare an Almodovar movie to a Marvel movie, it's astonishing how the Marvel is so bland and sexless in comparison.
I'm not sure if this argument extends to the vast cultural critique that the author makes about weight. Americans are overweight and should probably care more about diet than they do currently. Worrying about fitness isn't some sign that we're preparing to defend ourselves. That said, I've held the theory that diet and weight obsession is extremely class driven. The obsession with thinness is very much an upper class ideal. Good food, personal trainers, sports are all expensive. It's no surprise that Hollywood reflects the rich.
Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it
#276I think this is why British crime dramas / police procedurals seem to feel more real (to me, raised in a post-colonial country) - very few people look like temporarily financially embarrassed models slumming it as detectives.
I don't know if this is just what they picked for BBC America, but every single British TV comedy I've ever watched has a cast of 90% white haired elderly people sitting around and being sarcastic at each other. Last of the Summer Wine, Dad's Army, Are You Being Served, etc etc. These were also the only thing my parents watched, so it was a relief when I got to watch normal people TV and saw someone in their 20s.
I was so confused by this when I saw which British TV shows were being broadcast in America, I lived there for a year as a 17 year old. Suddenly dated stereotypes and the general lack of awareness about contemporary British culture, accents, etc. made complete sense.
Even back then (about 17 years ago) the titles mentioned above were equivalent to the lowest tier cable re-runs on one of those retro TV channels that thrives on being cheap.
Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it
#277Was really glad to see 9/11 mentioned in the article in relation to the American male body entering its militaristic phase. It validates an armchair theory I've had related to the correlation between media coverage / dramatization of Special Forces operations in the early to mid 00's and the general trend of American dudes getting very ripped and growing beards. At some point around 2005-2008, I just started noticing…
At least it's healthy and linked with great health outcomes, so maybe it's a good thing :)
We’ll know if it’s more than a fad if we ever elect someone to President with facial hair again. Hasn’t been a thing since Teddy Roosevelt, right? Hitler and Stalin absolutely murdered the mustache brand (along with millions of people).
Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it
#278Earlier quoted context omitted.
Personally I use escorts, it is not easy finding an independent, good looking, permissive, not-very-expensive girl but by my calculations that's a far more efficient way of satisfying my inner-chimp until I want to get married and have kids. I do not want to participate in some mating ritual that involves two persons lying to each other in order to just relieve some sexual tension. In Romania I do not feel that gener…
Not trying to insult but genuinely curious: how do you derive any kind of satisfaction (mental I guess) from this interaction? Don't you feel disgusted with yourself once it's over with? Why is just jacking off not a better option than this?
Why would I pay money to make myself feel disgusted? I am not a masochist. I derive great pleasure and satisfaction from this. My stress levels are kept well below my friends who are desperate to find girls and have sex but are disgusted by sex workers. I have much lower anxiety around women in general too and I am able to communicate with them normally without the overwhelming need for sex.
I just believe that mouthwash and soap works. Been doing this for 5-6 years now and it only gets better as I get better at treating them better, being more relaxed which makes them more relaxed etc.
> Why is just jacking off not a better option than this?
Why are you watching videos in 720p+ instead of using magazines? It's just a higher resolution experience.
Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it
#279Pedro Almodovar made a similar point about how Marvel movies lack sex. And yeah, if you compare an Almodovar movie to a Marvel movie, it's astonishing how the Marvel is so bland and sexless in comparison. I'm not sure if this argument extends to the vast cultural critique that the author makes about weight. Americans are overweight and should probably care more about diet than they do currently. Worrying about fitnes…
Look at a Ruben painting. The rich used to be fat. Mostly because everyone else was thin and poor. No we live in a calorie wonderland. To be thin is to be virtuous
Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it
#280Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are almost 7.7 billion people on the planet already, even with less than replacement birthrates, I think we're good on human count for the next 300 years or so at a minimum so unless the birth rate really catastrophically collapses. We could lose an order of magnitude of people without endangering genetic diversity, take significant load off of the environment, and frankly, quite probably improve the human cond…
There are going to be real, significant consequences from us as a Western society collectively deciding to commit civilizational suicide. Every day I see attractive, intelligent, productive, highly empathetic couples justifying their decision to not have children because of abstract "environmental concerns" amongst other decadent reasons (all highly abstract and indicative of civilization in decline, "first world lux…
Most childless couples I know feel it's unethical to have children with impending environmental collapse. Why would you want to bring children into the world with global warming, mass climate migration and other horrific things likely to happen within their lifetimes?