Victorians exploring newly unearthed Pompeii destroyed pornographic frescoes. How far have we come, sexually?

Question

Two thousand years ago, fornication was done in public.

One hundred years ago, Western Culture and piety were joined at the hip.

Now, vanity and sexuality are our primary social drivers. The people who have these traits consider themselves to be the lucky ones. Yet, theirs lives always seem to be filled with every kind of malady and malfunction.

We don't want our kids to see violent movies on planes, but we are indifferent about Viagra and Cialis invading every kind of media.

Is there something wrong with this picture?

And...looking back, would we rather have prudish manners or the ancient art that shamed some people into destroying it?

Don't get me wrong. I like fuccadillo.

"Back in the cave, Mr Zug Zug!"

Answer 1

I feel that we were founded by the wrong people, and that Victorian means "befuddled." One must also look at the financial attitudes as well as what was going on between Europe and America: Gilded Age and a disparity between the haves and the have-nots (or deserve-nots, as determined by the haves). The piety extended to social value: if you were poor, it was because you deserved it. Raw sex was not genteel, not part of the criminal class that established the financial hierarchy that continues today. The inexcusable activities of the rich achieving wealth meant that they had to take on the trappings of piety ("The Corleone family will be legitimate within 5 years.").

Answer 2

Well, it does go in cycles.
If the culture is perceived as restrained then some will want to loosen it up ( the 1960's), then it becomes too loose and needs to come back to a level at least where children and those on a level plane can feel safe from bombardment (like today).
However, today we face a greater challenge to reverse the indulgence and desensitizing that has caused things to go to far because of mass-media and the sweeping liberal permissiveness.
The culture has to change, and sadly it would have to be driven by money in many ways. For example - advertisers and producers would have to see that people want more wholesome ideas and themes and respond to it because it would sell products or be better received.
There has been some backlash in movies and thinking against the permissiveness, but can it go back to a reasonable level is a very good question.

Answer 3

I think there is indeed something wrong with this picture.

I also don't think "we" have really come so far at all. I think that a vast amount of people still think everyone shouldn't be exposed to everyone else's sex lives and share Victorian ideas about sex: look at all the Family Planning protests and porn shop picketing.

Answer 4

Today pornography is available to every child old enough to use a computer or turn on the television, which is usually about the age of 3. Children can see every manner of sickness on the Internet, on their television, in magazines (even when just glancing at them in a store), in newspapers, etc. This is the difference between then and now: easy access not just for a city, but for every man, woman and Child upon the earth.

Answer 5

the past civilizations; one of the aspects that lead to their demise was promiscuity, pedophilia, and immorality...which lead to STD's...many of the so called leaders and officials of the ancient world were diseased, dying of or crazy from syphilis, etc...

we are going down that road again with the media's help...90% of people do not want to view such on their TV or in flight movie, etc...but we are forced to watch....if you can't get to the remote in time....

Yes, there is something wrong with this picture when the industry pushes garbage down the consumers throat....

The media industry is trying to convince the "normal" person that they must be "a super model / bimbo/ blond barbie or ken " to be anything of importance in this world....

the other countries see this trash....the muslim /islam people see what we are depicted as on tv and that is how they decide who we are as americans....

Yes, there is something wrong with this picture when the lack of morality and decency is now regarded as an admirable character trait...

Answer 6

Every age has repression and excess, even Victorian culture. Try a few lusty novels.

Answer 7

The religious obsession with control people's sex lives never ceases to creep me out. If you think sex is so bad, do us all a favor and don't breed. The recent Iranian president's comments about "no homosexuals in Iran" is truly telling of what happens when one allows themselves to be consumed by the religious delusion. Christians and Muslims 3 billion people who like to pretend they don't have sex.

Answer 8

we have gone backwards for a 100yrs thank to the victorians that is why films and t.v is censored because of them look it up in the history books

Answer 9

You ask hard questions. I have a big mahogan, so I like walking around with my pants off.

Answer 10

Read the good book :

“There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were hung like donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses.

You longed for….. youth, when in Egypt your buttocks were caressed and your young firm breasts fondled. “ (Holy Bible - Ezekiel 23:20-21)

“……for in her youth men had lain with her and handled her youthful teats and ejaculated upon her breasts. “ (Holy Bible - Ezekiel 23:8)

….