How come American audiences seem less comfortable with sex in the movies, then over sea's audiences??

Question

In many foreign films, the sex (and the sexuality) is very explicit, and the nudity can be quite prevalent, yet most European, and other over sea's audiences don't seem to mind, or feel uncomfortable with it. I mean, even a number of there commercials on regular TV, are very sexually charged. But if you screen that same film in the states, so much is made of the sexuality, that many people will walk out of the theater, cause some kind of a social uproar about it, or just not watch it in the first place (just a few examples: Last Tango in Paris, Eyes Wide Shut, etc...there was even some backlash against a pretty tame scene with Kate Winslet in Titanic). Are many (not all) Americans uncomfortable with sexuality in movies?? Do those in others countries see sexuality in a different light then those in the U.S.?? Is it just not so taboo in there culture??

Your thoughts??

Answer 1

No question: Sex and sexuality are not as much of a social taboo in Europe as they are in the U.S. One possible explanation is the fact that most Europeans declare themselves as atheists or agnostics but most Americans declare themselves to be Christians (even if they're not really good about obeying The Bible) and as a result Americans think sex belongs behind closed doors, not on the big screen.

Answer 2

I don't feel explicit sex is necessary for the big screen. It serves no useful purpose. It's mostly used to help a lame film such as Eyes Wide Shut, although it was a wasted effort. It's degrading to most actors such as Kate Winslet, and I feel bad for them. There are plenty of adult movie houses for people who get off on watching other people performing sex acts before cameras. I think of it more as tasteless than taboo.

Answer 3

Because America was founded by uptight religious nuts. If you look at the history of this country you will see a group of people that were kicked out of other countries for being too uptight. I personally think it's amazing that I can't watch 2 people making love on film but shoot them in the head and watch the blood fly is fine. I don't get it but I love the fact that people have the right to a different opinion.

Answer 4

I would like to add to sarge's comment about Christianity. Although many of us are non-practicing, we in our religion were taught to save our purities for marriage. In many romance movies (and soap operas), you see sex taking place outside of marriage (which is becoming the norm in our society.) In the case of the latter, though, it is often adultery, something else that is frowned upon by the Christian society. I don't agree with sex not belonging in the movies - just make sure that the people involved are really in love, and it isn't lust. Also the FCC has been down and acting like Big Brother when it comes to overuse of sex, ever since the 2004 Super Bowl, with Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's wardrobe stunt. Many people have families and children, and they would prefer to shield them from these things, to protect their innocence.

Personally, I wish they would just chill out and get over it.

Answer 5

Yeah, like film distributors really worry about religious sensitivities! They are out for the big money. Why attempt to distribute in a market that is predictably unresponsive to this particular type of "controversy"? I disagree with Jeremy Thomas' statement, "But in the US, outside of New York and LA, religion rules"- I live in NYC and people here are traditionally religious.

Answer 6

It's funny. My g/f and I rent movies and when the movie starts we bet on how long it will take before the movies show some kind of nudity. (32 secs was the fastest) the average is about 15 mins.

I'm a guy. A normal every day Joe who does his job and comes home to be with his woman. However, I am constantly bombarded with the nakedness of other woman around me. I am truly disgusted in it. I enjoy looking at my g/f's body. I do not, however, enjoy looking at other womens naked bodies. I don't want to close my eyes while making love and see that other woman. My fantasies involve my g/f and I don't wish to have them involve some self-disrespected woman try to invade my visual cortex.

As young as I could remember I have been fed that we should all be naked and prance around with our parts hanging out. Why? Why the heck did we invent clothes then? We were born naked but immediately are clothed in towels, blankets and onesies. (ah I'm rambling)

I go along with those who say that woman who take off their clothes only disrepect themselves. You might think differently but you're probably a male shovinist pig, or a liberal woman who thinks that parading around in almost nothing is harmless. I'm here to tell ya that most rapest do their crime over some woman who has pranced around in such a manner. (I'm NOT saying it's the womans fault---you were thinking that weren't you(idiot)) however, A woman can look just as smart, just as enticing, just as beautiful, just as powerful with clothes on. If a movie needs a woman or a man to show the "stuff" then I have an opinion, that movie probably sucks! I mean think of this; would you have liked "Starship Troopers if the red head didn't take off here shirt to expose herself?" or what about striptease? Did we really need to know that Demi Moore's boobs were that fake? Not to mention all of the horror flicks I've seen. My gosh. Sex sells because you watch it. You encourage it. You want it don't you? Perverts, all of you who do. You don't find pleasure in your mate so must fantasies on others you can't have. You that think that nudity in films sicken me! You all need therapy! (Ah I'm rambling again)

One more thing....Ooh Rah for Sandra Bullock. A very wonderful actress that has the skill, talent, and beauty to be an awesome person. She has never taken off her clothes for the silver screen. Live with that Nicole Kidman...no wonder Tom left you, you skanky ******* !!!!

Answer 7

I can't answer for anyone else, but personally, I don't WANT to watch anybody else having sex. That's just GROSS! I think it's much sexier / more romantic to leave things to the imagination like they used to in classics like "Gone with the Wind". I also think there is entirely too much sex & violence on regular tv these days...why glamorize that crap? Love and sex are NOT the same thing, btw....

Answer 8

i think its cause american parents dont want their children watching sex, they would rather have their kids watching violence, like on TV, on CSI they can show a 2 year old getting shot in the head or cut in half, but they cant show a pair of ****,
and a lot of it is the government, FCC and stuff like that
but its mostly the parents, they dont want to face the fact that sex is all around them and they're childern and that its natural
but people over seas probably do think about it more and how its just natural in life, its what keeps this planet going so they're more open with it

this is what i think about what your asking

Answer 9

Because America was founded by Puritans. Somehow, we never got over it.

I wish we would, though!

However, Last Tango in Paris and Eyes Wide Shut were boring. Nothing offended me, the two movies just bored me.

I guess I like my sex really exciting...

Answer 10

Us Americans are uptight. We can't handle sexuality like other areas of the world. We are just a bunch of old biddies and fudidudies.