I've decided, until my school year actually starts, ill go through a sort of challenge.
First, what am I doing? I'm going to record data how long can I go by in life without consuming anything that revolves around the line of modern-day "intimacy."
Lately I've come to terms that the media I consume is heavily directed towards sex. Whether it be a book, movie or song, there is no denying that "intimacy" is often covered no matter how big or small it's role plays in the plot. In my personal experience I genuinely can't find a movie or series for an adult audience that doesn't at least contain one sex scene. There's been too many instances where i start a movie with my mom, and twenty minutes in I busy myself with something in the kitchen to avoid the scene that would be currently on. I'm obviously old enough to watch such content, and my mother isn't strict either.. but no one wants to sit down to watch sex with their own mother next to them. Those who know, it's just downright awkward and uncomfortable.
If someone wants to pull "well some of those scenes are necessary," I'd like them to take a moment and think when a sex scene wasn't necessary. The ratio in undeniable. So much media loose potential the moment it focuses on making sure characters end up in bed together rather than building an actual bond.
I know the difference between romance and erotica/eroticism. And I can confidently say, a lot of erotic content gets mixed with the label of "romance." Not that I have anything against the genre itself, actually learning about it in genre study, then reading a book about was not bad at all. If anything, it was by far the most interesting book I've read my sophomore year. But I dont think it's good to get these two completely different things mixed up. I'll speak for those who haven't realized, or won't admit to it, but after consuming so much of this content I've wired my brain to deem this "normal"... A romance series where they never end up showing intimacy can be underwhelming to me, and is this healthy?? No. Not all depictions of love and bonding need to involve sex. Infact I belive there's healthier actions that are more intimate than sex itself.
Yes, there's always been this sort of content. Overtime we see that sex stopped being portrayed as a sacred act, the most tender way of soul bonding. Rather, in alot of media, sex is thrown at our faces as a "hobby" or a pastime. And i believed this all started the moment sex sold to the mass market. Industrialization tends to ruin passion, no arguing in that.
This isn't to shame anyone's sexualitly. Not mines, not yours. Sexualitly is a gift and heavily misunderstood. It's a very sensitive emotion to all us humans, which we shouldn't be ashamed of. But like every other feeling, we must learn to control it before it controls us.
So at last, here I am. Ranting about my current situation and finding ways to resolve it. Will this change the way I view things? Did this really have the impact I assume it does or am I simply... bored and creating my own burdens?