Sexually Explicit Content

As the demand for sexually explicit content in the media grows, it could be argued that it's all been taken a step too far. It's very easily accessible, with a quick Google search for 'pornography' returning thousands of results that need to be hidden away from young audiences. It's not just the internet, though. You see such content in magazines such as Nuts and if you turn to page 3 of The Sun, you are greeted with a half naked woman. Is it really appropriate to sell these products in a supermarket where young children are exposed to it? 

Fifty Shades of Grey

Fifty Shades is a British-American erotic film and is one of the most controversial productions of recent times. It is adapted from a trilogy of books which were controversial enough without the need to display it all on the big screen. Anastasia Steele is a college graduate who ends up involved in a BDSM relationship with a young entrepreneur, Christian Grey. It sparked a lot of controversy over the fact that a lot of Grey's actions could be classed as abuse rather than BDSM which is characterised by a safe, playful arrangement between two consenting people.

I was shocked to see people's responses in which they defend his actions, and people on social media were hyped up over the books (which I personally thought were just mediocre) and the explicit trailers for the film. I know a lot of people who were very excited upon the release of the first movie but upon actually viewing it, were disgusted over how the world of BDSM was portrayed. It's sending out the wrong message to audiences, a lot of whom may think that his actions were acceptable and justified, just because they were being shown on a screen.

The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street is another film that received a lot of criticism. It's an American biographical black comedy film, adapted from a memoir by Jordan Belfort, and recounts his career as a stockbroker in New York City and how his firm Stratton Oakmont engaged in corruption and fraud on Wall Street, ultimately leading to his downfall.

It constantly glamourises the use of drugs and sex, focusing on prostitutes and men's sexist treatment of women. To make matters worse, the film was hugely successful and won awards which again send the wrong message to audiences. The content of this film, and of Fifty Shades, should not be considered 'normal' by any means and definitely shouldn't be so easily accessible to younger generations who are so easily influenced by the mass media. 

Pornography

Porn stars are also glamourised, and people seem to think that everyone they have some form of relationship with is going to look and act like one. It falsely represents sex and relationships, and a lot of young people watch explicit videos on their laptops and phones without any restrictions, and are then lead to believe that this is what sex is like for everyone. Sure, for some people it is, but for a lot of people it isn't so x-rated. Everyone thinks that being a porn star would be ideal because you get so much money so easily, but audiences fail to realise that there are huge consequences about putting yourself online like that. Once again, the mass media is normalising sexually explicit content.