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Pop Culture or Porn Culture?

cosmoLet’s just put it right out there; Popular Culture is pretty pornographic isn’t it?  Not only are there images and explanations of explicit sexuality everywhere, it seems to be getting worse. The media watchdog group ‘The Culture and Media Institute’ has just recently released a list of 11 upcoming movies, all of which deal with issues of graphic and dysfunctional sexuality. (You can see the list HERE)  From a movie about sex-addicts, to one about a teacher seducing his students, to one about prostitution, there seems to be a definite theme that runs through current movie making.  Topping the list as the most ‘porny’ movie of 2013 is the upcoming Joseph Gordon Levitt film ‘Don Jon’, which deals with a man with a pornography addiction and the consequences that it has on his relationships.

Of course these 11 movies are part of a larger trend.  Earlier this year, Amanda Seyfried starred in the biopic Lovelace.  This is a film about adult film star Linda Lovelace, who was made famous for her role in the cult classic ‘Deep Throat.”  December will see the release of Lars Von Trier’s ‘The Nymphomaniac.’  This movie is about a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac who recounts her many erotic experiences to the man who found her beaten in a darkened ally.  Staring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Uma Thurman and Shia Lebeoff, this movie has drawn controversy over claim that all the sex in the movie will be ‘real’ and ‘authentic.’  In other words . . . porn.  And who doesn’t have the slightest bit of uneasiness over the making of a film adaptation of 50 Shades of Grey?

Of course, this fascination with the porn industry isn’t just limited to movies.  Kim Kardashian posed for playboy, and even had a ‘leaked’ sex tape with then-boyfriend Ray-J.  This may seem like ancient history, but it was the sex-tape that helped rocket her into stardom.  Is it any wonder why Kim-Kardashian wannabe, Farrah Abraham, took things one step farther and released her own professionally made pornographic movie?  Not only did she release ‘Back Door Teen Mom’, but Abraham now makes regular appearances in strip clubs and adult entertainment conferences, and has just recently entered a contract to release her own line of adult toys.  She has fully entered pornographic sub-culture.  She isn’t the only one either. Courtney Stodden, is now reportedly trying to strike a deal to release her own pornographic movie. Hey, if it worked for Kardashian and Abraham, why can’t it work for her?

And let’s not forget magazines.  Many of today’s popular magazines not only contain articles about sex and sexual techniques, but also contain pictures of nude or semi-nude models.  Magazines like Cosmo, Cosmo Girl, FHM, Maxim, Esquire, Vanity Fair, GQ, Loaded, Nuts, Blender, King, Girls and Corpses, and Allure, all push the boundaries as to what is appropriate material for over-the-counter purchase.  Allure magazine, for example, runs an annual ‘Naked Truth’ issue where celebrities pose naked for the magazine.  Blender, Maxim, and Vanity Fair frequently contain images of explicit sexuality, and while Cosmo and Cosmo Girl may not include any naked people, why is it appropriate to tell 12 year old girls how to perform ’12 kinky quickies’?

We could dwell on questions of rightness or wrongness, but I am interested in the deeper questions.  Why is Popular Culture fascinated with porn?  Why is the porn industry, which was once viewed as seedy and repulsive, now becoming so mainstream?  I have a sneaking suspicion that the culture is simply highlighting the prevalence that pornography already has within the culture.

Consider these statistics:  It is estimated that there are over 1 million videos and images of child pornography on the web; Most children view their first pornographic no later than 11 years old; 1 in 3 visitors to adult web-sites are women; It is estimated that 40 million people in the US alone are regular visitors to pornographic websites; There are close to 42 million websites dedicated to pornographic content on the web – this represents over 370 million pages and makes up about 12% of the entire internet; The most popular time to view pornography is on Sunday.  (click HERE for a very informative infographic)

Maybe it’s not just a problem in Hollywood.

When we look deeper, we see that the current spotlight on pornography isn’t just about sex. Rather, loneliness, depression, abuse, guilt, self-hatred, acceptance, and the intense longing to be loved, are all issues that run beneath the surface of the cultural fascination with pornography.  Instead of solely tackling the issues of how much overt sexuality we see around us, perhaps we would do well to engage in these more systemic and spiritual issues that lie beneath the surface.   For if it is true that popular trends highlight ongoing conversations within the culture, perhaps the culture’s fascination with pornography is an attempt to say ‘Let’s talk about sex.’  Perhaps what is going on is not a glorification of sex, but a struggle to come to grips with the countless broken relationships and lives that occur because of the glorification of sex.

If this is the case, what would it look like for the church to engage this topic?  Of course, we aren’t talking about engaging in the topic in a ‘do this/don’t do that’ type of mentality.  That will get us nowhere.  Rather, how do we engage with people who struggle to see sexuality as a gift from God, but are continually told that sex is nothing more than that which can be exploited?’  How can the church respond to countless teens and adults that struggle with the heartbreak, the loneliness, and the shame that is felt when they realize the cultural ideal of consequence-free sex is blatantly non-existent?   When all the viewed, imagined, or played out scenes of pornographic pleasures lead to nothing but personal and relational destruction, how does the church breathe a message of healing and wholeness to the one who finds their life and reputation shattered?

If the fascination with pornography is a reflection of a deep and conflicted conversation regarding issues of love, sexuality, identity and relationship occurring within the culture, perhaps this means that the culture is in a place to hear and accept the church’s role in such a conversation.  Perhaps the good news in all of this is that we won’t be preaching to deaf ears; perhaps this tells us that all we need to do is enter the conversation and speak up.

How has your church addressed issues of sex and sexuality? Was it helpful? Informative? Awkward?

Kyle Norman

About Kyle Norman

I am a Priest in the Diocese of Calgary, serving the wonderful people of Holy Cross, Calgary. I watch reality television, I drink Starbucks coffee, and I read celebrity gossip columns. I am also a magician and often use magic tricks to teach the children at church the lessons of the Bible. I believe that God is present in the intricacy of our lives, and thus I believe that Pop Culture can provide intriguing lessons, examples, and challenges for our lives of faith. Connect with Kyle on
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4 Responses to "Pop Culture or Porn Culture?"

  • Kyle Norman