The arguments have been the same, you can't do that with your job, you can't expose kids to this, what are you thinking? My counter point has been so wait, the kids can go download it from the internet, have it shoved in their faces in music videos and movies, bombarded by it in the radio, and even read about it in "classics," but we can't have an academic discussion of it? Seriously? I feel that sometimes education doesn't keep up with the environment and that's a disservice to everyone.
Anyway, enough ranting. Look, if you haven't had the sex talk with your folks or you're not comfortable writing about your thoughts and opinions on the subject that is fine. Now, realize that themes of sexuality and intimacy will plague everything we read in some way or another. So if you can't do it today, it may be something you want to work up to. This is not a mandatory assignment, and no one should feel forced into discussion of these themes.
Now with all those disclaimers out of the way, onto the assignment. Fair warning, some of the images are risque- and possibly offensive. You don't necessarily have to watch the first video to complete the assignment, but it might get you thinking the right way.
Watch the following videos and address the following in a well thought out blog post in paragraphs--not just 1,2,3 answers. Yes it is extra credit, no you don't have to do it, but I can tell you now--I don't do EC often during a school year. You may need to spot and go a lot with this video to be able to digest it.
("Sex in Games")
("Sexual Diversity" )
- Why is sexuality an ever present entity in art? (Literature, Paintings, Film, etc)?
- How are sexuality, intimacy, and sex different?
- How does the author represent and craft the relationships, or lack there of, between characters? Is this necessary on the work?
- How does the author achieve a sense of intimacy, or lack there of, between characters? Does this add or detract from the book?
- How does the author treat sexuality (shameful, empowering, as a currency)?
- What instances and discussions of sex and sexuality are present in your text? How would you describe them? (exploitive,noble, bestial, superficial, pandering, hyper sexualize, shallow, childish, violent, realistic, unrealistic, ignorant, confused) Why?
- If your books include forced sexual encounters (i.e. rape or molestation)? How does this add or take away from the piece as a whole?
- Is the idea of sexual fidelity, or lack there of, addressed in your work? How so? Does this connect to gender roles? How so? Is this in line with or breaking with societal expectations?
- In the sexual situations presented, who takes control? How does this connect to gender roles? Does this meet with societal expectations?
- Do any of your characters struggle with their sexuality or sexual orientation? How so?
- Are there any orientation choices that are forced onto your character? How so and by who?
- How does your character's society affect your characters sexual orientation?
- Are your characters comfortable in their gender or do they feel trapped in their gender because of physical constraints? Or societal constraints?
- Would your character's life be better or easier of they changed their sexual orientation or gender?
- Is the sex a necessary component to the work as a whole or is it completely out of place?
- How are issues of sexuality engrained into us as a nation?
"Sexual Diversity." The Escapist: Video Galleries: Extra Credits: Sexual Diversity. Web. 21 Jul 2011. <http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2520-Sexual-Diversity>.
"Sex in Games." The Escapist: Video Galleries: Extra Credits: Sex in Games. Web. 21 Jul 2011. <http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2505-Sex-in-Games>.
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