We were founded by Puritans. And while there is a lot to be said in defense of Puritans on a lot of issues, when it came to sex they were pretty much as fucked up as the sterotype suggest.

Also (pure speculation) could it be that full frontal nudity on TV reduces the market for porn - maybe because for a lot of people if there is full frontal nudity, they don't need more explict shots?

You Americans amaze me.

Such is America, jimi. A weird and wonderful and terrifying place. And the public reticence on sex is probably much of the reason for the huge porn industry. Terrified of sex, and at the same time obsessed with it.

One of the funniest things about the end of the Spanish fascist state is that, to this day, porn or sexual tittilation is considered basically as a political thing. Or rather, if you have a problem with porn, you must be a fascist. I've listened to arguments of this type, although (thankfully) never participated.

I also had a teacher who confessed that even now a certain kind of scruffy, unshaven, badly-dressed guy is what turns her on, because he was the expression of all that had formerly been forbidden (and unfortunately, liberation came in the late 70s).

Personally I tend to find nudity distracting, except in such instances where its absence is distractingly implausible. Sometimes the distractingness is tittilating, but more often it's like, Okay, I cannot guess how she feels by reading the expression in her nipples, please move the camera up a tiny bit.

I think that's the funniest part about leather -- the squeaking noises you make when you move.

My leather doesn't squeak. I wonder what I'm doing wrong.

Must purchase tighter.

Personally I tend to find nudity distracting, except in such instances where its absence is distractingly implausible. Sometimes the distractingness is tittilating, but more often it's like, Okay, I cannot guess how she feels by reading the expression in her nipples, please move the camera up a tiny bit.

Fair point. I do tend to feel a pang of irritation at attacks of modesty from characters whom we're to believe have spent hours shagging like shag monsters - the modesty sheet clutched to the bosom. And the whole still-wearing-their-undies thing. But it's no more irritating than the perfect hair and makeup phenomonon. (Oh, how I loved Lilah! Because I did believe that she'd had the hot monkey sex and needed a shower, I really did. Bless her.)

Actually, Fay, the nudity I mentioned on that other thread this morning? That was plausible, plot-driven nudity, and I dug that. I also tend to think that investigator-type shows, of which we have millions and millions, would benefit from the sheet not being up at the dead person's neck all the time. Because, you know, starkness, realism, and I have trouble imagining someone ogling a naked corpse in an autopsy bay.

But yes, many a comment has been made about "L-shaped" sheets on a bed, that come up to a man's waist but up to a woman's neck.

Sorry, I think maybe I came across as being argument lady, whereas really I think I agreed with you. I mean, this:

Personally I tend to find nudity distracting, except in such instances where its absence is distractingly implausible

is perfectly fair enough, imho.

The New York Times had an article recently (and here it is) about the increasing acceptance of porn in mainstream american culture. Interestingly, the amount of sex in mainstream movies is going down - I think it said that only 8 R-rated movies this year were rated R for sex; the rest were for violence. The author posited that the reduction of sex in mainstream entertainment was related to the increase in aceptance of porn.

The author posited that the reduction of sex in mainstream entertainment was related to the increase in aceptance of porn.

See, now that's a dang shame, because while I am entirely accepting of porn, I don't watch it. I prefer seduction to sex I guess, at least on screen.

The bra seemed odd because they'd been able to film Faith shirtless perfectly well before in "The Zeppo." It might have been that Dushku reportedly is trying to change her image - she had Kevin Smith tone down the character she played in "Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back" and even remove his intended homosexuality for character. (He just left it in for his wife and the one playing her girlfriend.) In her mind, leaving a bra on during sex might have seemed more grown up or mature.