It can't just be intellectual....

Remember the blog project I did last year with three other women? Well, Froggie decided to resurrect it with me and we each got to invite another friend to join us. She invited a mutual friend (someone I met through her) and I invited a friend whose blog I really enjoy reading. So now it's Froggie, Mom of Many, Moma Rock and Merrylandgirl. Hope you enjoy the topics that we'll be exploring!

This week, Froggie picked the topic: Sexuality (open to whatever you have to say about it)

Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock

My subject line comes from the song "Sexual" by Amber, which started going through my head when this topic came up. Since sexuality is such a personal topic (or it can be), I've decided to take an entertainment angle on it.

I find it fittingly appropriate that Froggie came up with this topic, since she gave me the soundtrack to "Beverly Hills Cop 2" on my 11th birthday. On that soundtrack was "I Want Your Sex" by George Michael. As giggly 11 year-olds, this song was priceless to us. The word "sex" seemed so naughty! As a 35 year-old thinking back on it, this song was tame in comparison to the songs on the radio today. In 1992, "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred was a big deal. Really....he was just being egotistical. It wasn't even naughty, if you think about it. Nothing wrong with being attractive in a "sexy" way. Back in 1996, "Mouth" by Merrill Bainbridge was really popular. I thought it just had to do with kissing, but apparently it was about something in the sexual realm. The chorus went "Would it be my fault, if I could turn you on?" Nowadays, Lady Gaga is not "bluffin' with her muffin" which makes "Mouth" seem pretty clean, considering how much more subtle that was at the time. A lot of Madonna's music fits into this theme ever so nicely. "Erotica" anyone? I also remember the video for "Justify My Love" as being very controversial for how sexual it was. I don't think it would shock anyone in the 21st century though!

Sexuality is also found on television. When I was a kid, I didn't pay much attention to it, but I'm sure it was there. I watch syndicated shows from the 80's and can see what I didn't see in those days. For instance, Blanche from "The Golden Girls" talks about sex a lot and fancies herself to be sexually attractive. I'm sure the other women on the show talked about sex, as well. "Three's Company" also had a lot of sexual innuendos and their friend Larry was all about sex. He was like Quagmire from "Family Guy." And Quagmire even has his living room turn into a night lounge for the ladies. He also makes sexual comments all the time. In any case, the biggest example of sexuality on television is rather obvious...."Sex and the City." I loved that show and still do. I will watch it in syndication any time I can catch an episode. It was all about sex, which made it awkward to watch with my parents (although I ended up doing so from time to time). Samantha Jones, in my opinion, is the most sexual character from any television show. She just oozes sexuality and could give Quagmire a run for his money! Nowadays, "Glee" talks a lot about sexuality and even features some sexy performances (the Britney Spears episode ranking highest on that list). Even on "The Glee Project," one of the themes was sexuality. They paired up the six remaining contestants at the time to make sexually themed music videos together. They even had a gay pairing for one of the videos. The fact that sexuality was even a theme at all for a contest to appear on "Glee," says a lot about the show itself. It's not just your average "high school musical" type of show.

Sexuality is pretty obvious in movies and I'd be here all day talking about that. The biggest example of sexuality is Sharon Stone in "Basic Instinct." I've never seen that movie, but the image of her sitting in that questioning room is the first thing I thought of when sexuality in movies came to mind. A lot of movies geared toward adults are about sex. Some even have sex in the title or imply about the topic. ("The Opposite of Sex," "The 40 Year-Old Virgin," "Sex, Lies and Videotape," and there are even two movies for "Sex and the City.") There have recently been movies about men and women having arrangements to be friends with benefits. The most recent one is with Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, aptly titled "Friends with Benefits." There was also one with Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher that came out earlier this year. Sexuality (obvious or implied) has always been all over the big screen. I'm sure it was even in movies from the beginning of the film era.

Finally, I want to turn my attention to books. Since I read a lot of chick lit, most stories are about dating and relationships. Some relationships escalate to that of a sexual nature. Authors can either imply that it happened or take us into the bedroom for a front row seat. One of my favorite chick lit novelists, Sue Margolis, does the latter with her romantic scenes. I always anticipate something "exciting" from every book of hers, as I know what to expect. She leaves me blushing by the end of each of these scenes. Jennifer Weiner has also taken her readers into the bedrooms of some of her characters. If "Good in Bed" was any indication of what was to come with her later stories, then it was definitely a nice harbinger. Jane Porter also knows how to make things steamy for her characters in the bedroom. I've been known to critique books in my reviews if there's not enough spice to go along with the story, especially if the build-up or implication is right in my face.

Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, it is hard to avoid sexuality in the entertainment realm, unless we don't listen to music, watch television, go to movies or read books. The other safe route is to just do all of this but with child-friendly media. And that's how Merrylandgirl "c's" it. (Apologies to Sue Sylvester, once again.)