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How and why has the liberation of female sexuality simultaneously led to its commercialization? How is sexuality represented and perceived in the media?

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How and why has the liberation of female sexuality simultaneously led to its commercialization? How is sexuality represented and perceived in the media?

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-unrealistic beauty standard

-people are attracted to beauty

-beauty and health

-the release of female sexuality from patriarchal constraints has allowed it to become deeply intertwined with capitalist commodification, including media imagery

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Go into groups of 3-4. Choose one of the following topics

- the biological perspective: the evolutionary view and its significance

- ⁠the sociological view of the human body

- ⁠the individual view of the human body :

Utilitarianism and liberal humanism

- the economic view of the human body : labor and capitalism

2. Summarize the topic and prepare to present relevant info. Consider the following questions :

- What is a body ?

- Who is the founder of the theory ?

- ⁠What is the concept of the chosen body?

Please, keep it short and sweet!

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What are the alternative theories on the sources of homosexuality, and how do they challenge traditional understandings of sexual orientation as either biological or cultural?

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What are the alternative theories on the sources of homosexuality, and how do they challenge traditional understandings of sexual orientation as either biological or cultural?

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Collect the most important information of the three text sections. Try to compare these aspects (dancing bodies, clubs&ecstasy and erotica).

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Collect the most important information of the three text sections. Try to compare these aspects (dancing bodies, clubs&ecstasy and erotica).

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Homosexuality is a basic biological or generic orientation

—> existence of a “gay gene“

Gay orientation is formed through particular cultural groups and modes of expression

—> various cultures have differing views on homosexuality.

Hyper-masculinity and patriarchy are sources of the rejection of heterosexual relations

Everyone has the potential to experience same-sex attraction

—> one needs to experience certain influences

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„ […] when Williams considers hard-core pornography: on the one hand, hard-core might be conceived as a matter of the free expression of a variant female sexuality; on the other hand, it might represent a form of sexual exploitation.” (P. 256) What do you think about Janes Williams thoughts about pornography? Do you agree or disagree?

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„ […] when Williams considers hard-core pornography: on the one hand, hard-core might be conceived as a matter of the free expression of a variant female sexuality; on the other hand, it might represent a form of sexual exploitation.” (P. 256) What do you think about Janes Williams thoughts about pornography? Do you agree or disagree?

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-hardcore porn might influence the imagination/prefrences of the consumer for sex in a negative way

-often women get harrased in the videos

-might not be always a free expression of a variant female sexuality

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How does queer theory seek to deconstruct traditional notions of sexuality and identity, and what are its implications for understanding same-gender attractions and expressions?

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How does queer theory seek to deconstruct traditional notions of sexuality and identity, and what are its implications for understanding same-gender attractions and expressions?

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„in-between“ normative gender roles

collapse of hierachical binary structure like hetero/homo

identity as an open concept

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How do the idealized portrayals of same-gender sexual cultures in media contrast with the actual experiences and challenges encountered by individuals within these communities, particularly regarding age diversity, attractiveness levels, relationship stability, and emotional fulfillment?

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How do the idealized portrayals of same-gender sexual cultures in media contrast with the actual experiences and challenges encountered by individuals within these communities, particularly regarding age diversity, attractiveness levels, relationship stability, and emotional fulfillment?

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Answer:

social media romanticizes same gender sexual cultures but in real life there are still struggles, like mental illness or psychological trauma that are not mentioned in social media

social media idealizes the physical attractiveness and in real life the people look normal

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Compare and contrast the portrayal of good and bad sexualities in televisual culture. What are the key features of good sexuality as depicted in media, and how do they differ from the portrayal of bad sexualities?

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Compare and contrast the portrayal of good and bad sexualities in televisual culture. What are the key features of good sexuality as depicted in media, and how do they differ from the portrayal of bad sexualities?

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Answer:

good values and traditional norms are connected to “good sexuality” (for example monogamy)

gender stereotypes (for example all the women have to be “good house wife’s” and the men have to work and earn some money)

bad sexuality (for example man who show emotions and cry or women who prefer a career over being a house wife) (or sex that involves violence or unequal power relations)

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Power of bodily pleasure has extended into broadening areas of cultural activity

Dance= a significant ritualistic practice for storytelling, kinship, fertility activities

Sensation practices of sexual display and courtship

It implicates the maintenance of social and cultural rituals

Dance practice -> femininity, masculinity, transgenderism, homoerotica

-> are accentuated through specific modes of dress, rituals and styles of performance

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Discuss the origins and evolution of legislative prohibitions against homosexuality, particularly focusing on the discourse surrounding its perceived unnaturalness and pathology.

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Discuss the origins and evolution of legislative prohibitions against homosexuality, particularly focusing on the discourse surrounding its perceived unnaturalness and pathology.

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What are the broader implications of media representations of sexuality, including their impact on societal norms, attitudes, and behaviors towards diverse sexual expressions?

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What are the broader implications of media representations of sexuality, including their impact on societal norms, attitudes, and behaviors towards diverse sexual expressions?

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it can either challenge or reinforce societal norms and stereotypes —> impacting the behaviors towards diverse sexual expressions

positive portrayals can promote acceptance

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How was sex and sexuality described in the last century and in today's culture? How has feminism changed our understanding of sex and sexuality?

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How was sex and sexuality described in the last century and in today's culture? How has feminism changed our understanding of sex and sexuality?

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-homosexuality was forbidden

-Liberation of patriarchal control

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What is a body?

The body is a material item and object.

Who is the founder of the theory?

Karl Marx founded the theory based on the capitalist and classist systems in place at the time of his life.

What is the concept of the chosen body?

If a worker wishes to be employed, they need to sign their body away to their employer and be legally bound by that contract. Their body becomes the property of their employer in that moment, and to reclaim ownership of their body, which is merely a commodity that can be purchased or sold like any other material item, they have to pay their employer.

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Taking drugs like ecstasy is part of the experience, making you feel more in touch with your body and sensations.

Some people used to think that dancing was only for girls -> But actually, guys have always been part of dancing

mosh pit,' has become a place for guys to show off and sometimes be aggressive

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Historically the middle class has developed highly skilled and specialized forms of dance

e.g. classical ballet, tells stories and explores ideas

Presentation of women on stages started with classical ballet evolved to table-top dancing

Satisfaction of the viewers

Table-top dancing blurs the boundaries between performance and prostitution

Pole dancing classes - for fitness, personal development, auto-erotica

Brian McNair: this new sexuality represents the "democratization of desire" -> pleasure for everyone

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Quickly scan over the text again.

Afterwards discuss the following questions in your group and collect your thoughts in some bullet points:

1. ﻿﻿﻿How does the text change the way we think about the body and sexuality?

depending on how we dress we think differently about a person

Body can be read as a text

not just about biology

2. ﻿﻿﻿Do you agree that language and discourse shape human experience? Why or why not?

It does, specifically culture shapes how we communicate and interact with people.

Human experience is different when you grow up somewhere else (e. g. China)

With learning other languages you might also change your way of thinking about those cultures.

3. ﻿﻿﻿Why are essentialist beliefs about race and ethnicity harmful?

Stereotypes assume our picture about other people and change how we interact with them (WW2 Holocaust)

the essentialist beliefs harm our thoughts because it makes us judge people based on how the look like

We should not judge other people by their appearance -> still a problem

4. ﻿﻿﻿How does culture influence our understanding of sexuality?

Different cultures have different traditions (men having more than one wife)

It’s formed different in every culture

Conservative surroundings give you very strict frame of your own sexuality and also the sexuality of people around you

More liberal cultures might be more open about sexualities

There’s a wide spectrum of how to think about sexuality

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What are the differences between eroticism and pornography in art and how are they perceived by society?

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What are the differences between eroticism and pornography in art and how are they perceived by society?

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-erotic intended to evoke feelings of desire, passion, and intimacy

-porn is characterized by explicit and graphic depictions of sexual acts or nudity with a primary focus on sexual arousal and gratification