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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
10A SEX on the Hill
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007
sex symbols
From 'Baywatch' to Britney, nothing seems to shock us anymore
BY JENNA MITTELMEIER
editor@kansan.com
Looking back on the development of society, it's easy to see that today's college students enjoy more freedoms compared with generations of the past. Not only has life progressed socially, but also in the forms of personal expression.
When we look specifically at sexual expression, it's hard to escape the idea that, as a whole, our generation has a much different idea of what is explicit or overt than generations of the past.
"Today's generation has more access to sexual materials through technology and media,"
said Barbara Barnett, professor of journalism and mass communications.
"They see more images and come to expect
increased sexuality," said Barbara Barnett, professor of journalism and mass communications.
American society.
It is nearly impossible to ignore that this explicitness exists. In all actuality, what was considered scandalous in the past would hardly be noticed in 2007. An excellent example is the world-famous 1955 appearance of Elvis Presley on "The Ed Sullivan Show," where cameramen were instructed to only film the singer from above the waist to avoid showing the world his sexually suggestive dance moves.
Indeed, today's society has a plethora of entertainment right at its fingertips. From television to the Internet, the world has become media-obsessed. With such an emphasis on entertainment and self-expression, today's youth has progressed to become arguably the most sexually communicative generation in the history of recent
In the 1970s the rise of television's popularity in American homes made sexual provocation more accessible to the public.
Another example from 1955 is the infamous subway grate clip of Marilyn Monroe in "The Seven Year Itch." Not only was her white dress considered racy for fashion of the day, but the
idea of the public seeing so much of the starlet's legs in the movie was considered by tabloids of the day to be the breaking point in her
marriage to Joe DiMaggio.
In the 1970s the rise of television's popularity in American homes made sexual provocation more accessible to the public. Take, for instance, the controversy surrounding the "Charlie's Angels" women. Because the women were tightly-clad and considered easy on the eye, newspaper and magazine critics were quick to label the show "Jiggle TV" or "T&A TV", for Tits & Ass Television.
The birth of MTV in 1981 brought a new wave of sexuality to the mainstream. From Billy Idol's "Dancing with Myself" to The Vapors' "Turning Japanese,"
whose lyrics themes of masturbation, sexual innuendos began to fill the airwaves. More controversy emerged with the introduction of Madonna's "Like a Virgin" in 1985.
begun focusing more on entertainment. Celebrities can now make a living just by being sexy," Barnett said.
Progressing way past the days of Elvis' hip shaking, today's
"Today's generation has to up the ante and push the envelope more. It is, however, up to the individual to develop values based on what he or she sees.
Madonna shook the stage of sexual expression when nude photographs taken in the late 1970s were published at the height of her fame. Instead of embarrassment, the singer defiantly announced that she was not ashamed.
BARBARA BARNETT Professor of Journalism
Additionally, the emergence of MTV's annual spring break footage further promoted the sexuality of the '90s by depicting bikini-clad women dancing provocatively or couples licking whipped cream off of each others' nearly-naked bodies.
In the 1990s, "Baywatch" entered American culture, bringing forth admirers of the bikini-wearing cast. Made world-famous by the slow motion running of its well-ended actresses, "Baywatch" featured provocative women such as Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra and Brooke Burnes.
society is no stranger to sexuality and controversy. From the Internet age of celebrity pornography (Paris Hilton, Chyna Doll, etc.) to Janet Jackson's 2004
"Over the years,media has
"wardrobe malfunction," we have far surpassed subway grates and short white dresses. In today's age, tabloids are no stranger to crotch shots of women without underwear (Britney Spears, anyone?) or women kissing women at the Video Music Awards.
"In the '50s, '60s, and '70s, sexuality was more implied, whereas Madonna-onward, sexuality has become more adverten't," Barnett said. "Today's generation has to up the ante and push the envelope more. It is, however, up to the individual to develop values based on what he or she sees."
All in all, the increased sexuality is hard to ignore. This, above all, gives today's generation two distinct choices on the matter: correct that fact or embrace it with everything we've got.
Edited by Elizabeth Cattell
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AYBAYBAY
Students confess best and worst pick-up lines
Girls: What's the worst pick-up line you've ever heard?
EMI TORRES
Lawrence freshman
"I would ask you for your number,
but I know you wouldn't give it to me."
KARLA STONE iola junior "is your dad a thief? Because he stole the stars in the sky and stuck them in your eyes."
SEEMA AMIN
Shawnee junior
"One that I heard is, 'Do you have any Jewish in you?' You're supposed to say, 'No,' and then comes'I can fix that for you."
VANESSA GREEN
VANESSA GREEN
Fredonia sophomore
"Are you tired? Because you've been running through my mind all day."
Guys: What's the best pick-up line you know?
MATT BROBERG Salina Junior "If you u w were a geometric shape, you'd be a cute triangle."
JAMES BECK
Libertyville, Ill., sophomore
"If you were a cabin, I'd rent you for the summer."
DUSTIN LAMOREUX Shawnee freshman "Is your dad a thief? Because he stole the stars and put them in your eyes."
MARK BROWNE Kansas City, Kan., junior "Is that a keg in your pants? Because I want to tap that."
http://www.besekure.ku.edu