The World of YouTube: "What Girls and Guys Do"

            Jenna Marbles, real name Jenna Mourey, is currently one of the most popular YouTube stars. She has over fifteen million subscribers, making her the seventh most subscribed to channel on YouTube as well as the most subscribed to woman.  As such, she serves as an interesting case study that could contribute to Roxanne’s work on the sexualization effects of the YouTube community. Her first video, “How to trick people into thinking you’re good looking” has been viewed over sixty-three million times- more than double that of any of her other videos.

While at first this video seems to be a makeup tutorial, in reality it’s somewhat of a commentary on the lengths many women go to when altering their appearance to be viewed as more attractive. The video is littered with quotes such as, “if you’re thinking about going for a more natural look, lets be serious you’re way too ugly to pull that off” and the powerful “The next step is, go out and get yourself a job that is super degrading. I picked dancing in my underwear, before I go to work I like to pump myself up by crying over my masters degree.” In this vein it seems possible that certain “YouTubers” may not enforce traditional gender roles and sexualize females but rather criticize a broader culture that already does so. However, this interpretation is of course subjective. If viewers do not pick up on Jenna’s sarcasm they may understand this video as reinforcing beauty ideals that tell women to just, “cake a bunch of makeup on your face.” This interpretation may be further enforced by her video series “What Girls and Guys Do.”

This video entitled “What Girls Think About During Sex” along with many others from the series enforces the heterosexual script that women are primarily valued for their physical experience- as evidenced by quotes such as “oh my god is that what my thighs look like, I need to go to the gym” (Kim, 2007). While these videos are made to make viewers laugh and perhaps again critique dominant gender norms, this message may not always be apparent. As these videos continue to rack up millions of viewers, dominant ideologies may be challenged or enforced. However, these effects have largely gone unexplored. While there is a wealth of research on the effects of these scripts in mediums such as television, more work must be done in online worlds such as YouTube.

Kim, J. L., Sorsoli, C. L., Collins, K., Zylbergold, B. a, Schooler, D., & Tolman, D. L. (2007). From sex to sexuality: Exposing the heterosexual script on primetime network television. Journal of Sex Research, 44(2), 145–157. http://doi.org/10.1080/00224490701263660 

Class Lecture

S&M Promoting Rape Culture?

Are depictions of BDSM in the media promoting rape culture?  Law & Order: SVU episode “Twenty-Five Acts” illustrates an example of how S&M has the potential to quickly escalate, taking a serious turn for the worse and resulting in rape.  The episode begins with a talk show host, Adam, briefing the audience on his next guest, the young bestselling author of a raunchy BDSM novel.  Things escalate quickly, as Adam and the author, Jocelyn, later go to dinner.  Jocelyn acts promiscuously throughout the night, flirting with Adam and insinuating that she wants to have sex with him.  But, the situation intensifies quickly (in a bad way) when they head back to his apartment. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLI0Ntxm9oA

This episode demonstrates a number of issues that arise when people engage in BDSM behaviors.  One of the bigger issues being brought up here, obviously, is the fine line between pleasure and discomfort and/or harm.  For the first few seconds, Jocelyn seems to be enjoying the game of domination.  Adam quickly takes it too far when he slaps her with his belt and begins choking her.  Because boundaries and limits were not set, he didn’t understand what the limit was – which is where he clearly crosses the line from sex to rape.  He made an assumption that because she wrote a novel about erotic and dominating sexual activity, she came on to him, and she acted promiscuously, anything was fair game.  Even when she said “no,” it didn’t really count. 

In her article “Mainstreaming Kink: The Politics of BDSM Representation in U.S. Popular Media,” Margot Weiss asserts that “increased exposure to representations of SM has not resulted in progressive or politically useful feelings of acceptance or understanding” (Weiss, 105).  I would argue that this episode shows the opposite effect.  Jocelyn’s raunchy novel becomes a bestseller, and when she comes onto the talk show, she is clearly receiving praise and respect from the host, the audience, and the world.  To me, Law & Order: SVU is sending the message that BDSM, in some cases, can become understood and accepted to a degree too far.  These behaviors certainly are more mainstream, as Weiss posits in her article; but because they have become more and more widely accepted, they have the ability to easily cross over into the territory of rape.  This is undoubtedly extremely problematic, and is a direct result of not educating people on the finer, more intimate details of actually taking part in these sexual acts.  Rather than discussing the non-sexy topics, such as safe words, what one’s limit are, when to stop, and where the line is between pleasure and pain, the media only shows the actual encounters (not the before and after).  Law & Order: SVU illuminates the consequences of such depictions.      

Jocelyn eventually decides to file charges against Adam, even though initially she didn’t plan to do so.  As she expects, the case is an awfully difficult one given the circumstances.  It is challenging to prove that she was raped, when she had clearly demonstrated enjoying activities borderlining rape in the past.  Her attorney gives a powerful scene in the court room (below) where he provokes Adam (as he naturally denies having raped her, claiming that the sex was “consensual” and she wanted to be choked). 

BDSM, while it may be “fun” for some to consume in the media and engage in themselves, has the potential to be very dangerous.  As Weiss explains, “The mainstream public documented here continues to look to BDSM as an inspiration for norm violation, a location that promises an attack on borders, boundaries, and closed-down options” (Weiss, 129).  With these representations come people wanting to break through boundaries and go to a place where there is no discipline and there are no rules.  If proper boundaries are set, people can engage in these activities in a fun, yet safe way.  But if not, these media representations may result in a real harm to consumers.  It is the media’s responsibility to show the risks, responsibilities, and precautions that people must take if they want to participate in and enjoy BDSM activities, and this episode accurately demonstrates this idea.   

Citations:

1. Wolf, D. (Writer). (2012, October 10). Twenty-Five Acts [Television series episode]. In Law & Order: SVU. New York City: NBCUniversal Television Distribution.

2. Weiss, M. (2006). Mainstreaming kink: The politics of BDSM representation in U.S. popular media. Journal of Homosexuality, 50(2/3), 103-132. doi: 10.1300/J082v50n02_06

     

Knocked Up: "I was drunk"

In 2007, Universal Pictures released the comedy Knocked Up, following the story of an unexpected pregnancy between two strangers. While the movie is remembered for its comedic value, important lessons can be learned from the main storyline that depicts themes such as casual sex, alcohol’s role in sexual decisions, and the consequences of risky sex. 

Television portrayals of sex often focus on it as a casual activity, failing to show the very real health and life consequences that can accompany it (Collins et al., 2003). When watching television today, when the consequences of risky sexual behavior are shown, it is often in unrealistic ways or ways that are very stereotypical. On the flip side, however, Collins et al. (2003) also present statistics that suggest that media can also be used to promote valuable lessons about sex, “by modeling responsible behavior or pointing out the consequences that can result from careless sexual activity.” When looking to Knocked Up, the consequences of risky sex are illuminated, also showing the role of that alcohol can play in increasing the chances of engaging in risky sex, consequently increasing the likelihood of unintended outcomes.

For example, the idea of casual sex is promoted as a central theme throughout the movie. Ben Stone (Seth Rogan) and his group of friends are known to frequent bars and pick up women. Their focus on sex is further brought to the forefront when their career goals are exposed – a porn website that shows viewers nude sex scenes of their favorite celebrities in movies. The most significant instance of casual sex is when Ben and Alison (Katherine Heigl) leave the bar together after a night of drinking. They have an awkward and hazy one night stand and part ways the next day assuming to never cross paths again. The one-night-stand has been popularized in many popular television shows and movies, making it a relatively common ending to a night out at a bar or party. Unlike many other popular depictions of one-night-stands, Knocked Up, as suggested by the title, takes a turn to focus on the consequences of alcohol-induced sex.

Shown in the clip above, alcohol played a central role in the outcomes of that evening, first in the initial flirtation between Ben and Alison, and later in the miscommunication they faced in bed. This scene highlights the way alcohol infused a risky sexual situation that ended in an unplanned pregnancy.  Therefore, Knocked Up, and this scene in particular reflect the reality that risky sex is increased when alcohol is involved. As discussed in lecture, the film depicts the ways that alcohol can alter one’s ability to make choices, particularly those related to sex. In a way, however, this movie can be used as a positive source of sexual education, particularly in regards to risk. Much like the Friends episode examined by Collins et al. (2003), the movie provides a narrative of the consequences of condom failure, or in the movie’s case, miscommunication caused by alcohol consumption. Therefore, in the long run, Knocked Up can serve as an educational opportunity for viewers on the risk of alcohol-induced sex, as well as proper communication in bed.  

References:

Collins, R. L., Elliott, M. N., Berry, S. H., Kanouse, D. E., & Hunter, S. B. (2003). Entertainment television as a healthy sex educator: The impact of condom-efficacy information in an episode of Friends. Pediatrics, 112(5), 1115-1121. doi: 10.1542/peds.112.5.1115


Lippman, J. (2015). Lecture November 12: Alcohol [Lecture notes].