Hollywood movies unrealistic

[Lil Red]

very cool article!

A team of Australian medical researchers published a new study today that said Hollywood movies fail to show the negative consequences of sex and drug use.

The team lead by Dr. Hasantha Gunasekera of the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney studied 87 of Hollywood's biggest box-office hits since 1983 and found plenty of sex, but only one reference to condoms. The films contained no depictions of unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease. The report also said that drug-use tended to be portrayed "without negative consequences" among the top-grossing films of the past two decades.

"The social norm being presented is concerning, given the HIV and illicit drug pandemics in developing and industrialized countries," said Dr. Gunasekera.

The basis for the study was a September 2003 list of the 200 most successful films of all time. After excluding animated features, films with G and PG ratings and movies set or released before the start of the AIDS pandemic in 1983, the researchers were left with 87 films for their study.

Of those 87 remaining films, 28 contained sex scenes. There were 53 sex scenes in all.

The study found that only one film, the 1990 romance Pretty Woman, in which Julia Roberts played a prostitute, contained a "suggestion of condom use, which was the only reference to any form of birth control."

"There were no depictions of important consequences of unprotected sex such as unwanted pregnancies, HIV or other STDs," the study said.

The film which contained the most sex scenes was the 2001 comedy American Pie 2. There were seven episodes of unprotected sex in which the "only consequences were social embarrassment" the study concluded.

The 1992 thriller Basic Instinct had six sex scenes, no birth control, and no public health consequences other than "death by ice pick."

James Bond also was rapped for his promiscuity. The 2002 Bond adventure Die Another Day contained three episodes of sex - "all new partners, no condoms, no birth control, no consequences at all."

Eight per cent of the films studied contained depictions of marijuana use. Just over half of the marijuana scenes showed use of the drug in a positive light. The remainder of those scenes depicted marijuana use in a neutral light with no negative consequences.

The authors of the study conclude that "The motion picture industry should be encouraged to depict safer sex practices and the real consequences of unprotected sex and illicit drug use."

Dr. Gunasekera said "there is convincing evidence that the entertainment media influences behaviour."

This is not a universally held view. Adam Smith, a writer with film magazine Empire said "Hollywood doesn't depict anything with any of its consequences. Its job isn't to be a social and moral guardian. It's fiction," he said.

[url="http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/10/03/Arts/Hollywood-movies-unrealistic1003.html"]http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005...listic1003.html[/url]

[philothea]

So true!

Books are just as bad. No one accidentally gets pregnant in novels. And STDs are so unromantic!

[crusader1234]

What about fast times at ridgemont high? That definitely shows the downside of not using protection. And I mean, Requiem for a Dream? I've never seen a movie that more clearly advocated not doing drugs.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Lil Red' date='Oct 3 2005, 04:37 PM']The basis for the study was a September 2003 list of the 200 most successful films of all time. After excluding animated features, films with G and PG ratings and movies set or released before the start of the AIDS pandemic in 1983, the researchers were left with 87 films for their study.[right][snapback]744968[/snapback][/right]
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[crusader1234]

Ah. Yeah. Whoops. Haha.

[toledo_jesus]

I like it better when they don't talk about condoms. kind of an unspoken acknowledgment that they aren't that great.

[curtins]

How about instead of depicting sex scenes with condoms, lets cut the sex scenes altogether!

gee wiz people save the sex scenes for health class.

[Jedi_StClaire]

I guess this group in the article hasn't heard of that stupid movie called "The Cider House Rules"?

[Socrates]

As usual, the liberals draw the wrong conclusion -
Movies should become condom ads!

"Oh, James!"
. . . "Trojan Man!"

[zabbazooey]

[Paladin D]

Sex scenes in most movies are a desparate attempt to draw more cash from hormone-raging teens, and eager single males, hoping to see some nudity. It's abused way too much, just as the over-use of unnecessary CGI in today's cinema.

[Philippe]

i really need to see Requiem for a Dream, i heard its amazing

[Jaime]

I really hate how movies always make it seem that once you have sex, you immediately want to smoke pot!

[Philippe]

haha ive never personally seen that hot stuff... any examples?

[Jaime]

[quote name='Philippe' date='Oct 4 2005, 12:22 AM']haha ive never personally seen that hot stuff... any examples?
[right][snapback]745470[/snapback][/right]
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No


Sometimes I think I'm funny.