Maria San Filippo, Emerson College

Writing during what seems – in retrospect – to have been the wildly carefree summer of 2019, Washington Post film critic Ann Hornaday lamented that “sex is disappearing from the big screen.”

Fast forward two years, and, improbably enough, it’s conservative New York Times columnist Ross Douthat who’s pleading for “sex and romance [to] make a comeback at the movies.”

Both commentators blame this sexual stagnation on what they see as an abstinence-only policy in Hollywood, fueled by the Weinstein effect on one hand and family-friendly franchise fever on the other, where libidinal energy has been sublimated into buff-yet-sexless superheroes. To Hornaday and Douthat, sexual prudence seems to be tipping into prudery.

Hornaday and Douthat are correct that the traditional sex scene – a tasteful “pas de deux” between glossy stars, typically straight and vanilla, presented as a spectacle for our visual pleasure – has become increasingly rare.

But after devoting hours to watching sex scenes as research for my book “Provocauteurs and Provocations: Selling Sex in 21st Century Media,” I can reassure the randy and romantic among us that sex onscreen isn’t disappearing. Far from it.

Instead, over the last decade, it’s simply changed – and mostly for the better.

What’s hot: honesty and humor

Today’s sex scenes are first and foremost fun – as ideally sex itself should be – and emphasize the truthful over the tasteful.

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In some cases, you’ll see likable, relatable characters revealing perverse predilections, such as the all-consuming hots that Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s protagonist in the TV series “Fleabag” has for a clergyman she dubs “Hot Priest.” Or when Kathryn Hahn’s character in Joey Soloway’s directorial debut “Afternoon Delight” drunkenly confesses to her gal pals that she’s “masturbated to that scene for two decades.” The scene she’s describing? The gang rape from “The Accused.” What’s more, her friends agree it’s hot.

Other moments make for embarrassing yet endearing waypoints en route to real intimacy. In Desiree Akhavan’s “The Bisexual,” a bout of postcoital queefing cracks up a couple and dispels the awkwardness of their morning after. And in a carnal scene from Michaela Coel’s “I May Destroy You,” neither sanitary products nor a blood clot manages to kill the moment. It’s the latest woman-created show – joining “Girls”, “GLOW” and “I Love Dick” – to shatter the taboo against mentioning, much less showing, menstruation during sex.

Other filmmakers bulldoze the boundaries of which bodies the culture industry deems fit to depict. For this we have “Girls” creator Lena Dunham largely to thank; the actress famously insisted on baring all in the face of brutal fat shaming and portraying her show’s privileged protagonists’ sexual escapades in all their cringe-inducing candor.

Alongside defying the opposition and outrage meted out to artworks or artists deemed obscene or unattractive, some filmmakers have sought to redefine the sex scene altogether.

In my view, some of the most arousing sex scenes put to celluloid are ones where clothing stays put and verbal foreplay takes center stage. In “Laurel Canyon” and “Take This Waltz” – again, works created by women – would-be philanderers engage in dirty talk as a means to sublimate their desire, but in such smoldering terms as to arouse the viewer. https://www.youtube.com/embed/C_8fbYOtG90?wmode=transparent&start=0 Sexually charged dialogue permeates ‘Take This Waltz.’

Romcom’s morning after

While not clinching my case that the sex scene is flourishing, these films repudiate Douthat’s assertion that there’s “a cultural void where romance used to be.”

It’s all part of redefining what romance looks like on screen.

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And I don’t mean merely making the couplings and casting more inclusive: “Crazy Rich Asians” relies on the same Cinderella-style premise as “Pretty Woman.” I’m talking about the sunsets-and-soulmates wish fulfillment fantasies that, for decades, served as the template for most romantic comedies: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl.

As my new edited collection “After ‘Happily Ever After’: Romantic Comedy in the Post-Romantic Age” points out, recent films like “Appropriate Behavior,” “Before Midnight,” “Medicine for Melancholy” and the Netflix series “Love” rejuvenate the romantic comedy genre by actually addressing the realities and complexities of intimacy.

In these works, issues of coming out, growing old, being Black and staying sober are what drive the plots – and true love doesn’t conquer all.

Queering the scene

Regrettably, outside of art cinema, queer male characters rarely get naked or have sex onscreen. But given that straight sex on screen got a huge head start on queer sex, it’s no surprise that same-sex couples aren’t getting it on with gusto at the multiplex.

Queer male intimacy more often finds mainstream success by inviting viewers to relish unrequited romance in films like “Weekend,” “Moonlight” and “God’s Own Country.” Even films focused on queer women are getting in on the swoon-worthiness of not getting off, a phenomenon mocked by Saturday Night Live’s recent parody “Lesbian Period Drama.”

In some cases, queer filmmakers have stretched the boundaries of the sex scene by exchanging explicit sex acts for erotic insinuation, as with the suggestive shots of one woman’s hand penetrating the other’s armpit in Céline Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” or the infamous scene of Armie Hammer’s character slurping cum from a hollowed-out peach in “Call Me by Your Name.”

Safer is … sexier?

An outgrowth of the #MeToo era is the on-set intimacy coordinator – a professional trained to ensure that safe practices are in place when shooting sex scenes. In many ways, their presence is long overdue in an on-set environment where nudity quotas were, for a time, the norm.

Rather than delivering a cold shower for spectators, these more ethically and safely executed scenes are arguably sexier – perhaps in part because the performers feel safer and less inhibited, and perhaps because viewers might feel less morally compromised while watching them.

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As in real life, consent is what makes scenes of sexual degradation and endangerment hot. A film like Jane Campion’s “In the Cut,” in which Meg Ryan’s character is clearly heard consenting to having rough sex with Mark Ruffalo’s character, is exemplary in this regard. So, too, are the intimacy-coordinated sex scenes in last year’s “Normal People,” along with those in “Duck Butter,” which even gave the performers the opportunity to co-script the scenes themselves.

[Over 106,000 readers rely on The Conversation’s newsletter to understand the world. Sign up today.]

Though I find that Hornaday’s and Douthat’s laments leave out a lot, I share their view that preaching abstinence takes a blinkered approach to art, as to life. The repercussions of rendering sex invisible – unseen and unacknowledged – aren’t just aesthetic. In times of political division and social unrest, sexual freedoms and sexual minorities are more strictly regulated and persecuted.

This threat of silencing makes it all the more important that filmmakers continue screening and – as radical sex theorist Gayle Rubin titled her landmark 1984 essay – “thinking sex.”

So far, filmmakers are meeting the challenge.

Maria San Filippo, Associate Professor of Visual and Media Arts, Emerson College

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Star Trek: The Next Generation

As a lifelong fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, I’ve journeyed through the stars with Captain Picard and his remarkable crew, absorbing the profound lessons and intricate storytelling that have come to define this iconic series. After watching all the episodes, I’m excited to share my selection of the top ten episodes, chosen for their storytelling quality and their impact on fans over the years.

1. The Best of Both Worlds

This exhilarating two-part episode redefined the stakes in Star Trek lore by introducing the sinister Borg, an alien collective that assimilated cultures into their own. The chilling narrative intensifies as Captain Picard is captured and transformed, culminating in a heart-stopping showdown that forever changed the landscape of the series. It’s a masterclass in tension and character development.

2. Yesterday’s Enterprise

In this gripping journey through time, the Enterprise-D is unexpectedly thrust into a parallel universe where the Federation is embroiled in conflict with the Klingons. The emotional return of Tasha Yar and the poignant sacrifice of the USS Enterprise-C convey deep messages about the costs of war and the weight of choices made. This episode beautifully explores the concept of parallel timelines and what it means to fight for a cause.

3. The Inner Light

Often hailed as one of the show’s finest achievements, this episode sees Captain Picard knocked unconscious and lives an entire lifetime in just a few minutes. It delves into love, loss, and the bittersweet nature of existence, leaving viewers with a profound message about cherishing moments and relationships. The storytelling here is a testament to the art of character-driven narratives.

4. All Good Things…

As the series finale, this two-part episode brings Captain Picard’s journey full circle. The narrative weaves together time travel, existential dilemmas, and the fate of humanity in a thrilling fashion. With beloved characters standing by, it offers poignant reflections on growth, friendship, and the enduring spirit of exploration, all while delivering a satisfying conclusion that fans cherish.

5. Chain of Command

This intense two-part episode confronts the harsh realities of warfare and the ethics surrounding torture. With Patrick Stewart delivering a performance that lingers in memory, Captain Picard’s capture and subsequent torment by the Cardassians elevate the discussion of morality in times of conflict. It poses challenging questions about humanity, resistance, and the choices we make under extreme pressure.

6. The Measure of a Man

This landmark episode scrutinizes the essence of sentience and rights of artificial intelligence as Data finds himself on trial to determine if he is a person or merely a machine. The thought-provoking dialogue and ethical dilemmas resonate deeply, prompting viewers to consider what it truly means to be human. It raises timeless questions that continue to echo in today’s discussions of AI.

7. Darmok

In a remarkable exploration of communication and cultural barriers, the Enterprise encounters an alien race that communicates solely through allegory and metaphor. This captivating episode demonstrates the challenges and triumphs of understanding between disparate civilizations, ultimately illustrating the universal need for connection. It’s an inspiring reminder of the power of language and empathy.

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8. The Offspring

When Data creates a daughter, we’re invited to explore profound themes of parenthood and the definition of humanity. The emotional depth of this episode, combined with Brent Spiner’s standout performance, makes this a heartwarming and impactful story about creation, love, and the responsibilities that come with it.

9. The Wounded

This thought-provoking episode addresses the moral complexities of warfare and the pursuit of vengeance. Captain Sisko’s struggle to stop a rogue Starfleet captain who is targeting Cardassian ships examines the toll that conflict takes on both sides and the lingering scars of resentment. It urges viewers to consider the ramifications of our actions and the possibility of redemption.

10. Cause and Effect

Caught in a gripping time loop, the crew of the Enterprise-D faces the challenge of breaking free from predestined events. This cleverly crafted episode provides thrilling suspense and delves into themes of fate and free will. The intricate storytelling, combined with a clever resolution, makes it a standout installment that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.

Conclusion

These ten episodes exemplify the greatness of Star Trek: The Next Generation, showcasing powerful storytelling, richly developed characters, and the thought-provoking themes that inspire generations. Each episode has left lasting impressions and continues to resonate with fans, contributing to the enduring legacy of this beloved series. So, whether you’re a longtime follower or a newcomer, these episodes are a must-watch as they encapsulate the very essence of what makes Star Trek a cultural phenomenon. Boldly go where few have gone before!

Experience the full series on Paramount +.https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/star_trek_the_next_generation/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation

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A Show About UFOs

Project U.F.O. was an American television series that aired on NBC from 1978 to 1979. The show ran for two seasons, with 13 episodes in each season, and was based loosely on the real-life Project Blue Book. The show was created by Jack Webb, who pored through Air Force files looking for episode ideas.

The show was a production of Mark VII Limited in association with Worldvision Enterprises, now CBS Television Distribution, and was Webb’s last weekly series produced before his death. It was also one of the rare times that Webb did not produce a series with Universal Television or Warner Bros. Television, with whom he had collaborated on every series he made following his departure from Warner Bros.

Project U.F.O. features two U.S. Air Force investigators with the Foreign Technology Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, charged with investigating UFO sightings. The first season starred William Jordan as Maj. Jake Gatlin alongside Caskey Swaim as Staff Sgt. Harry Fitz. Swaim, who had never had any significant acting experience before landing the role, added diversity as a Southerner with a pronounced accent. In season two, Jordan was replaced by Edward Winter as Capt. Ben Ryan.

In the pilot episode, Gatlin informed the newly assigned Fitz that their job was to prove that each UFO sighting was real by researching and disproving possible alternate explanations. Gatlin also told Fitz that he himself had once seen “something I can’t explain” while flying as an Air Force pilot, which led to his interest in Blue Book.

Project U.F.O. was an intriguing show that explored the mysteries of UFOs and alien sightings. The show’s attention to detail and realism, combined with its intriguing storylines, made it a hit with audiences. The show was also notable for its use of real-life Air Force files and reports, which added to the show’s authenticity.

Project U.F.O. was a groundbreaking television series that explored the mysteries of UFO sightings. The show’s attention to detail, realism, and intriguing storylines made it a hit with audiences, and it remains a classic of the science fiction genre.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_U.F.O.

https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/

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