ftv,eye candy, sex in film 101

Date: 12th May
Time: 10.15pm


Discovery of the Moment: Fashion Television

Shite! We used to never get a clear reception on Fashion Television, FTV from now on, but due to some vague error made at our cable operator’s office, we now have crystal clear reception! It’s like a 24 hour feast for the eyes. Ok not 24 hours, but definitely at least 2-3 hours per day. I wake up today and since I was bored out of my mind I lend myself to channel surfing for a bit. HBO was showing some trashy horror flick with bad actors with even worse hairstyles. Star Movies was showing some 1970’s flick which of course I had no interest in because I like to see known faces. AXN was screening a particularly exciting episode of Amazing Race but like I said, I prefer to watch known faces and since I haven’t followed the latest season of the Race, I honestly don’t know who the bitchy or nice or lesbian or anorexic or overly-black couples are. Star Sports was showing the French Open with Juan Carlos Ferrero and Marat Safin on Centre Court at Roland Garros. Pretty damn electric the atmosphere was but after a while I got too sad to see Safin losing, so I changed the channel. And lo and behold, FTV switches on and I am hooked for the next 2 hours. They kept introducing these new models and I just couldn’t take my eyes off them. Sigh. I know now that I want to go to France this year for Christmas. Le sigh. Imagine, frolicking about the vineyards and squishing grapes underfoot and making sweet, exquisite love beside the fireplace? Dayem.

Speaking of amorous scenes, why is it that in every movie we see, there are only sexy, picture perfect, romantic scenes? Why is every romantic scene sensually and sexually idealized? I mean, if a love scene is not made incredibly hot, it is almost always because it’s not a love scene, but a rape or a sexual abuse scene. It’s always the case!!! Why is it never real? In real life the romance exists but it shares a comfortable resting place with the sweat and smell of everyday human existence. Is it very hard to imagine Diane Lane and Viggo Mortenson waking up and making a big effort not to smell each other’s breaths? We’ve seen such scenes before, but they’re always comic scenes, mostly between teenagers, with not a touch of romance.

You might argue that the inclusion of these ‘foul’ visuals might cause a scene to cease being romantic, but come now, we’ve all had relationships where sex and comfort zones have very easily co-existed, so why cringe at ‘real’ romance on screen? Maybe it’s because we look to the movies to provide an idealized world, but then how then can you explain our fascination with movies such as Saving Private Ryan, Silence of the Lambs and Hotel Rwanda? I think we, the audience can handle anything, even if it destroys the HOT (say it like your constipated) myth of sex.

With the sex we see on screen, it is hardly a wonder why generation upon generation keep growing up obsessed by sex. Romance is sex. Sex is romance. There is no room for romance to exist without sex. We look for sex, crave for it, masturbate over it, and commit crimes for it but then one day realization strikes.

That is why, when we end up in relationships, sex is seemingly less important. I stress the word ‘less’ because sex IS important, but just not AS important as intimacy or trust or…love. Sex is way overrated.

So what point am I trying to make here? I’m just trying to say that the movies idealize sex too much. They must make it more realistic. There is no doubt that films are probably one of the primary sources of influence on the youth of possibly every country. That is why, the portrayal of relationships and sex itself revolving around highly sexually charged idealized terms might not really be a good thing.

You must understand that I am not against showing sex on screen (hardly!) but I just think that portraying sex the way they do in most films just raises expectations beyond what sex can actually offer which is just pure release and momentary exhilaration. I shudder to think what I’m advocating here and I hope future generations don’t grow up completely devoid of a sex life but it would be nice to see sex being portrayed in a more realistic light. I mean sex can be hot, sensual, heart-stoppingly passionate but it can also be relaxed, comfortable, boring and obligatory. There needs to be an exploitation of all possible combinations. The 4 basic ones are:

Relationship-Hot Sex (sometimes portrayed, but quite rare don’t you think?)
No Relationship- Hot Sex (the only kind that has any place in most movies)
Relationship- Cold (or no) Sex
No Relationship- Cold (or no) Sex (ha ha, a ‘friendly’ movie perhaps?)

Sigh. If only I had the patience I would actually go back and articulate the mess that is above but I hope the general point is (relatively) clear. The general point, for reiteration’s sake, is:

1. In movies, sex shouldn’t always be passionate. Must be more realistic
2. In movies, and very interconnected with the above, sex, especially between two people in some kind of a relationship, shouldn’t be just about the sex.

Of course, if the storyline orders the stereotypical portrayal of sex, then so be it. However, an attitude change something along the lines of not viewing sex as some trick to get people to watch more intently and frequently is probably a good thing as it will enable Hollywood to churn out better informed films that are realistic and intelligent, i.e. not a porno.

Arghh.

P.S. Let this not discourage you. You are SURE of finding that perfect person who will arouse you emotionally, intellectually and sexually. But remember this person is also quite likely to piss you off, hurt you, drive you up the wall with their density and leave you craving for some hot lovin’. Muhuhaha.

Also, let me assure you, I am not a cynic. I’m a hopeless romantic but nevertheless quite objective which basically means that I try to ignore everything I write.