almostaugust

Somewhere along the way i think our moral compass got left behind. Im talking about the way that we (culturally) freak out about the odd swear word, sex scene and/or nudity when it is shown- when at the same time violence in its many forms is tolerated as decent entertainment. What are your thoughts?

Johnny Rotten

I think it's because we live in a violent, sexual, and profane world. Some live in a relatively modest version of it and are scandalized by such things. I think the "we" you are referring to, respectfully, is actually this modest contingent. Also, Those who "tolerate" it don't necessarily see it as "decent." They just tolerate it or avoid it completely. The novelty and sensation of sex, violence and profanity will always be a draw.

Perhaps this would fit better in the Philosophy forum?

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Spartak

In interviews Marilyn Manson says some very profound and intelligent things.

I remember one he did in '96 I think, he said something like this: "in the 50s people used to get all excited when a women's skirt would blow up, now she would need to be completely naked, riding an elephant with her head cut off for anyone to notice".

In a way he is right though, modern society has become so desensitised that in order to "freak us out" things have to become more and more outrageous.

Also theres the fact that a movie is a totally fictional and safe environment, I mean a gun battle on film looks cool, but being a bystander during a gun battle would be somewhat less entertaining.

But this is nothing new, the Romans loved to watch Gladiatorial contests from the safe confines of the Colliseum.

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CSflim

South Park the movie!

Philiosophy and fart jokes!

um...yeah.

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Averett

Because of the Media... Everything you see on TV or movies has to have some sort of gun fight or maybe a big chase scene to do anygood. Oh yeah, and tits and ass.

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Nefir

I guess we've become gradually desensitized to all of the above, so that it became part of our culture. I don't think I've ever been miffed at the sexual/violent/profane content in the media, but instead adopt a kind of cynical attitude towards it.

Some times it just seems like they put the sex, violence, and profanity in there just to meet some sort of "shock quota", even if its completely out of place and makes the experience worse. Can't name any offhand, but they're out there...

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JohnnyRock

Tits, Guns and the F word -- I'll watch that show anytime!!!

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Hrothgar

I think things are screwed up when sex is taboo when it's a natural biological occurence.
However, a movie is given a big X if full frontal nudity is shown for more then a couple of seconds but movies featuring disembowlments and decapitation and deviant gore peppered with flippant use of profanities are given R ratings.

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jvwgtr

I was just thinking about this...it takes a lot more to shock us, true, but in some ways we've become more uptight.
(Or at least the ratings board has)
Anybody else remember when bare breasts appeared in PG movies? Now, that's pretty much a guaranteed R.

dy156

I think it's because people like to push boundaries. It's much easire to show a little more violence and keep the rating. It's hard to quanitify gore or violence, but there are clearer boundaries for nudity/ bad language that directors can't cross to get the rating they want.

guenwyv

Interesting topic. When growing up, my friends father made him change the channel when there was violence on screen, but encouraged us to watch when there was nudity! His point of view being nudity is an everyday thing that is natural, and violence something that did not belong in one's head.

Prophecy

It's worse than that. Take the movie Showgirls for example that isn't rated R it's rated NC-17. I personally don't see what is in that movie that gives it a rating higher than R. Like Hrothgar said a movie like Kill Bill can cut, slice and dice and still manage a R rating, why can't topless women get the same?

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sexymama

Personally, I miss the days when more was left up to the imagination. Although, I must admit, The Secretary is one of my all time favorite movies. So, there is a time and a place. I think I just don't like sex for sex sake -- it needs to fit the script. The same with violance.

As far as any of this happening because we are more immoral, I would not agree. I think there is more violance because new technology allows for better special effects. There is more sex because of the "sexual revolution." As long as we are not allowing children who are unable to tell the difference between reality and fantasy watch the morrally questionable movies, and as long as adults have an informed choice to make, I don't see a problem.

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MikeyChalupa

Speaking of tits... is there such a thing as a female Fear Factor contestant that HASN'T had a boob job?

-Mikey

bond007

blame the MPAA for the warped ratings system.

H12

My thoughts exactly.

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santafe5000

I heard on one of the newsa entertainment show's that the "F" word was going to show up on a Nite time drama this year. They said it had become so much a part of the vocabulary that it wasn't extreme anymore.

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MikeyChalupa

My understanding is that it may be used as an expletive but not with the sexual meaning. For example, Sipowicz can yell "Get your fucking hands up!" but not "I heard someone is fucking your wife!"

-Mikey

Sledge

Tangent, but you're completely right. I was watching the clip from Bowling From Columbine where Moore interviews him, and he is a VERY well-informed man.

My girlfriend is a huge fan but regards him as something of a sell-out - someone with that much visibility could be doing amazing things for his political views, but instead he chooses to play to his audience. Frankly, I don't know which is more noble.

Skifter2

This is one of a host of symptoms that we are living in a world that is standing on its head.
Apply a modicum of objectiveness to any aspect of modern society and you will soon get nauseous.

almostaugust

Its a culture of TEASE my friends. Yes, in the 70s, movies had no qualms about showing naked chicks laughingly taking a shower before getting disembowled by the slasher. In today's equivalent flicks there is so much more emphasis placed upon showing some panties or some such. Its really very voyueristic. I prefer the older films approach personally, its way less torturous and seems far more honest. Instead of clawing your eyeballs out hoping to see another shot of the hot chicks cleavage you can rest easy after seeing her (or him) in a full frontal early in the film.

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