In the field of erotic film studies, scholars have noted that movies often represent eroticism through particular narratives, themes, and visual elements that privilege some representations of desire over others. In this essay, I will explore how erotic films can normalize particular ideas about gender, race, class, and body type through their portrayal of sex and romance, and how these narrative conventions shape viewers' understanding of what is considered desirable.
One common trope in erotic cinema is the "trophy wife" character, who is depicted as beautiful, young, thin, white, and wealthy. These women are often shown to be the object of the male protagonist's desire, while other female characters are seen as less desirable because they do not fit into this idealized mold. This narrow representation of feminine beauty reinforces societal norms around what constitutes an attractive woman, which has implications for real life dating and relationships.
Such portrayals exclude diverse bodies and sexualities, including those of people of color, older adults, and those with disabilities.
Another recurring theme in erotica is the idea that heterosexual couples must engage in penetrative intercourse in order to achieve sexual pleasure. While many people enjoy this form of intimacy, it is by no means the only way to experience arousal or orgasm.
Films like Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) present BDSM activities as something exclusively reserved for a certain type of relationship, ignoring the fact that many individuals find pleasure in different forms of kink without needing to conform to traditional power dynamics. Similarly, many movies show only cisgender individuals engaging in sexual encounters, excluding queer and transgender audiences from their stories.
Class is often used as a marker of desirability in erotic film narratives. Characters who are rich, powerful, or successful are presented as more sexually appealing than those who are struggling financially or working-class. This perpetuates harmful stereotypes about wealth and status, which can make it difficult for viewers to connect with characters outside of their economic bracket.
These films often depict only white characters, ignoring the experiences of people of color and perpetuating harmful racialized ideas about who is allowed to be sexy.
While erotic cinema can be an enjoyable and exciting genre, it is important to recognize how these films shape our understanding of what is considered normal and desirable when it comes to gender, race, class, and body type. By critically analyzing the portrayals of desire in popular culture, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and representative landscape of representation in film.
How do erotic films normalize certain erotic ideals while excluding diverse realities of desire?
Erotic films can be seen as an extension of the mass media that is aimed at entertaining the viewers by providing them with pleasure through the display of sexual acts. Such content often portrays idealized versions of sex, which may be unrealistic and harmful for some individuals who watch them. These portrayed ideals are mostly based on heteronormative gender roles, dominant/submissive dynamics, and monogamy.