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Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it

bloodknife.com

101–110 of 699 posts

Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it

#101

I think social media has made us such narcissists that we demand the beauty as an ideal and eschew the vulnerability of sex.

I wonder if the proliferation of easily accessible porn on the internet may also be a factor. People literally have access to porn 24/7 in their pocket if they have a phone.

Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it

#102
post #27

This was a fun read, especially as someone who grew up with those 80s and 90s movies. That said, and as the author touches on, the action/super hero of today is a PG-13 one. Studios need to reach the widest audience possible to make the most money, so it's a safer bet. Sure, back in the day studios had the same imperative, but the licensed toy game was still young, so they didn't realise that maybe if they made Die H…

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.

Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it

#103
post #55

Earlier 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…

The math is more dismal than that. With a 1.5 birth rate (common in Europe) the population drops by more than half in three generations (about 100 years). This causes the economy to collapse—stock valuations have baked in assumptions of future generations of consumers existing. But it can get worse. South Korea has a fertility rate below 1 and Taiwan is headed that way. At that rate, the population drops by almost 90…

Poorly constructed economies predicated on ever increasing growth have no business existing. Economies will adapt (and should! it just means more economic drag to provide for seniors until the larger, older cohort has aged out and equilibrium at a lower population level has been reached).

Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it

#105
post #90

Her take on the Starship troopers shower scene seems to be an american point of view. Nudity in an unisex shower isn't about flirting and sex for a european. Paul Verhoeven was naked too while filming it, because the actors felt uncomfortable at first.

Robocop also has a scene with male and female cops in a locker room together. I always thought those scenes were meant to shock American audiences and therefore make it clear that the cultures we're seeing are futuristic (if only slightly).

Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it

#106
post #55

Earlier 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…

The math is more dismal than that. With a 1.5 birth rate (common in Europe) the population drops by more than half in three generations (about 100 years). This causes the economy to collapse—stock valuations have baked in assumptions of future generations of consumers existing. But it can get worse. South Korea has a fertility rate below 1 and Taiwan is headed that way. At that rate, the population drops by almost 90…

The stock market isn’t the only aspect of the economy. The events you propose aren’t universally held to be bad.

Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it

#107

There 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…

Sadly I feel that Hollywood movies are made for 12 year old boys. Parents sent their kids to the movies (before the pandemic), it was a form of independence. One more granted to boys than to girls, unfortunately. Other demographics tend to spend their time/money elsewhere. Girls mature quicker and quickly moved on to other interests than hanging around the movie theatre part of the mall.

In the 1980s parents still tagged along, so the movie couldn't be too comical...and, the kids wouldn't get the mature part anyway.

Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it

#108
post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's precisely what I mean. It's specialization in mass market genre entertainment. Action films are more purely about action; fantasy films are more purely about fantasy. There's no need to mix in sexual titillation anymore. Separation of concerns.

How does Game of Thrones fit into your theory?

It's not a mass market film? Relatively mass market television series, but there's like 40 times as much run time as a full length movie.

Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it

#109

Earlier 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…

If your fertility rate is too low, the pention system and the economy collapses

Perhaps a system that relies on ever-expanding populations is bad?

Re: Modern action films fetishize the body even as they desexualize it

#110

Earlier 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…

I appreciate your honesty. For the last several years I have supported a charity that helps women to escape this cycle of oppression in Romania. I've heard some of their stories, how difficult life is after they've found a way out. All I can say is that victims abound despite appearances.

Thank you. I believe I have enough experience to tell if a girl is enjoying her time with me or not and go out of my way to make her feel good (I perform oral and am generally not defensive). When I say I look for 'permissive' girls I mean I look for girls that permit kissing and "sports fucking". I don't choke / slap / hair pull or whatever. If a girl gives signs that she doesn't enjoy sports-fucking I don't persist, finish quickly and simply never visit her again.

I have heard my share of sad stories from them and I don't revisit those. Regardless of my participation or not in this trade I know the trade will go on, there will always be men who seek this kind of service so I appease my conscience by treating the girls well and not revisiting those that don't seem to genuinely enjoy my company.

I simply can not believe one can act so well in front of me and on the side be forced to do this. I mean moaning is simple to fake but the 30 min of conversation of the 1h I pay for? Keeping a cheerful vibe while opressed is hard to do.

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