Peddling Sleaze
While I was at home last night - I came across a television program that was intended to arouse shock and anger in viewers. Unfortunately, I think it's fair to say it aroused much more than that. Produced by NBC Dateline, To Catch a Predator follows a variety of men as they arrive at a house expecting to have sex with a thirteen year old, but instead are greeted by host/journalist Chris Hanson and a swarm of police.
 Although on the surface this may seem to be a show with decency - to me, the show felt suspiciously like an old-style sexploitation film. Just like a sexploitation film, this show was as much (if not more) a vehicle for descriptions of explicit sexual situations as it was about catching predators. Why else would the producers choose to feature - in graphic detail - the lengthy online chats that the men participated in? What's interesting is that the dialogue (which could never be aired in any other circumstance during prime time) is no less erotically charged because it is shown under the guise of 'public awareness'...
There is no question that children need protection from predators and that potential pedophiles need help. But is that really what this show is about?
As far as I am concerned, there is a real problem when the people producing the show come off as just as sleazy as the predators.
Posted by BerryGrl
Wednesday, February 28, 2007 12:25pm
Wrinkles and Beauty
After watching the 79th Oscars and the inevitable outcries of, "Oh, My, God," (said with much punctuation), "look how much work she's had!" Or, "Eeewwww... has he ever aged!" and then seeing the grotesque picture of Jenna Jameson below, I have to scream out "Why are we all so afraid of aging??!!" Why can't we as a culture accept the fact that we all have to get old. Ok, it doesn't help that I turned 40 this year (wow, I said that out loud?), but come on... where are our role models for aging with dignity and self-respect - and yes - sexiness? Why are we culturally conditioned to feel that we can't be sexy as we age? And let's examine the word Plastic (as in "Plastic Surgery"): Phony. Synthetic. Superficial. Malleable. I don't see the words: Substance, Character, and Sex Appeal. Aging and sex appeal... aging and sexuality are not disconnected concepts. In fact, I'd kinda argue they go hand-in-hand. Let's look at the word "Work" as in "she's had work done". Let's start saying, for those women and men who avoid plastic surgery, she's let herself "go free." Isn't it all about freedom and confidence anyway? So, I'm posting a picture of Juliette Binoche (born in 1964) as a response to Jenna Jameson's picture below. Wow… Wrinkles… and Beauty. I haven't seen those words together in the same sentence for a long time.
Posted by Michelle
Wednesday, February 28, 2007 12:09pm
The GayVNs
While you were at home on Sunday evening watching the yawn-worthy Oscars, another (untelevised) movie awards ceremony was taking place elsewhere in California. Although you may have never heard of the GayVNs - there was a surprising number of parallels to be drawn between the two events: both were hosted by wacky gay rights activists, both celebrated the work of a large number of homosexuals, and both gave awards to people who like displays of public masturbation.
Congratulations to Michael Lucas who apparently walked away with 14 Awards for his controversially titled movie, “La Dolce Vita”. I had the pleasure of hanging out with Mr. Lucas in NY a few weeks ago and he was simply delightful. Stay tuned for our upcoming feature on him in March.
Posted by BerryGrl
Wednesday, February 28, 2007 10:28am
The Porn Wars
Does anyone else think that the U.S. government should be focusing their money and efforts on other tasks instead of trying to restrict or eliminate pornography? Aren't there other crises to focus on, like say, a war somewhere or the rebuilding of a certain city in Louisiana?
And they always use the same tired arguments - "American culture is saturated with pornography, and it has profound consequences, eroding families, increasing violence against women, warping perceptions of sex and helping child predators groom victims." Using that same logic, does that mean that gun and ammo magazines and the NRA can be held responsible for warping people's perceptions of death and helping groom future murderers?
Related story: Nation's porn prosecutor fronts war against obscenity
Posted by Matthew
Tuesday, February 27, 2007 12:53pm
Oh, Jenna...
Jenna Jameson is quite possibly the world's most recognizable, and stunning, porn star. She has made dozens of adult films, and has a world-wide fan base…however, this recent photo of the New York Times Bestselling author of How to Make Love Like a Porn Star suggests that she has gone under the knife, and the results are, at best, terrifying.u!
Posted by Nicolas K
Tuesday, February 27, 2007 10:02am
Spanking New Blog!
Welcome to our spanking new blog! (Please note: that reads, “spanking new blog” not “blog about spanking” - although we may, from time to time, discuss corporal punishment for pleasure.)
We do hope you'll visit regularly for some provocative insights, reflections and commentary on anything and everything sexual. There is definitely something delicious and exciting about unrestrained and impulsive acts of communication - regardless of the reason or outcome.
Our website is in the beginning stages of a major overhaul so please bear with us as we iron out the kinks. If you’d like to leave comments about the blog or anything else we do – send them to sextv@citytv.com.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Posted by Sextv
Monday, February 26, 2007 9:34am
|
