Program Length: 1/2 hour
Produced: 2001

This program is an examination of how our society uses sex to “sell” popular culture, and how the power to determine what is sexy is shifting from men to women.

The following discussion activities appear chronologically as they occur in the video.  Discussion leaders may use them all, or select those that best suit the group and time frame.

Each section begins with an animated sequence wherein a buxom female superhero or supervillain beams power rings onto men after teasing them with an unzipped top.   Discuss the symbolism of this excerpt and whether its meaning changes with each section.

1. Viewers' Interpretations

Ricky Martin states that 'it' “helps you be free, express yourself as who you are, not to feel judged.”

It is not clear whether Martin is talking about sex in music videos in general, about his own video, or both.  Which do you think he is speaking about and why?

2. Who Owns Sex?  Part 1

"Most of the marketing of sex is about men marketing sex to other men or the fantasy of sex.  I think that when you see women taking that role and doing it aggressively, it sort of turns the role on its head; it turns our ideas about who owns sex and who's allowed to access sex on its head so I think it's great when women are really aggressive sexually because I think it's something our society still has a hard time with."
Josey Vogels
www.mymessybedroom.com

Why might it be problematic when men market sex to other men?
How might the marketing or the problems be different if women marketed sex to men?
Why might people have a problem with women being sexually aggressive?

3. Who Owns Sex? Part 2

Each section begins with a montage of images (most of them from music videos) that present women in sexual positions and revealing clothing.  Do these images represent men's or women's ideas of what is sexy for a woman?  Explain.
How do men look when they are presented as sexy in music videos?  Do these images of men represent men’s or women’s versions of what is sexy for a man?  Explain.

What images are depicted when women define what a sexy woman or man looks like?
How are the female-defined images different from the ones we see in Sex as a Weapon?

"With increased access to sexual imagery, e.g. through the Internet, a) has it raised the bar in determining what is acceptable and b) has it put pressure on the other media to compete?"
George Stroumboulopoulos

4. Can commercials make social comments?

The second section includes Molson's too-much-sex Ex commercial.  A man interrupts a couple kissing on a couch, insists that his friend is having too much sex, and must balance that activity with time spent having a beer with his male friends.

Do you think the commercial is serious or sarcastic?  Why?  Does it have any serious elements?  What might this commercial be suggesting about men’s sexual relationships versus men’s platonic relationships? 

5. Can shock become a commodity?

We see and hear interviews with two fashion marketers who use sexual imagery to sell their products.  The representative of Serial Killer clothing says, as he gives “the finger”:  "That's what I sell: F*** You!"  The Porn Star representative explains that his company uses sexual imagery because, "Kids want a reaction."

What is the attraction of these clothing lines?  Why might sexual imagery be considered shocking?  Why might teens want to be considered shocking?  Would males or females be more likely to want to be shocking?  Explain.  Would males and females be equally likely to wear these clothes?  Explain.

6. Is diversity better?

The Globe and Mail columnist, Leah McLaren, complains that, in music videos, "The bodies are always the same.  Always the same kinds of breasts.  I think it would be shocking to see different kinds of bodies."

Do you agree or disagree with this statement?  How would you describe the common body type that appears in music videos?  Is this body type representative of most of the general population?  Why do you think one particular body type is dominant in music videos?

Some people believe that the idealized images of female and male bodies in music videos contribute to negative self-images and unrealistic expectations of what bodies should look like.
Why might this happen?
How might this be unhealthy for someone?
If a person was suffering from negative self-image, what knowledge about the bodies depicted in music videos might be helpful?
What can and is being done to combat this problem?

7. What kinds of power are there?

"Power is usually associated with men.  The idea of a woman having power is new to people."
Madonna

Do the women in the videos presented in Sex as a Weapon have power?  Does their power involve their sexuality, or is it more than that?  What other kinds of power are there?  Does Madonna have more than one kind of power?  Explain.

8. Who determines appropriate behaviour?

"People don't understand that much of our behaviour is not gender based, it's about money, power and status.  So, what we consider male behaviour is the behaviour of somebody that has money, power and status and what we consider female behaviour is the behaviour of somebody who is dependent on somebody else for, literally, a roof over their head or the money for food to put in their children's mouths.  So the passive behaviour of women is survivor behaviour; it is not intrinsically female behaviour."
Candace Bushnell
Sex and the City

What do you think Ms. Bushnell is saying about the difference between male and female behaviours? 
Do you agree with Ms. Bushnell's assessment of male and female power?
If Ms. Bushnell is correct, what ARE the natural male and female behaviours?
Might male behaviours be sometimes passive and female behaviours be sometimes aggressive?  Explain.

9. Can we have it both ways?

Lil' Kim suggests that her sexy image is different from her real self.  She dislikes being treated like an object by men.  What message is she sending in her videos?  How is that message different from the one she is stating in this interview?  What do men need to realize about the images in music videos to be able to understand Lil' Kim the way she wants to be understood?  Is she contradicting herself?

10.  Male characteristics

Make a list of the most frequent male characteristics that are represented in hockey, wrestling, and music videos.
Which of these images might contribute to women getting an inaccurate impression of what men are like?
If these images are inaccurate, what are men really like?  How can women acquire more realistic impressions of men?

11. Sex and Love? Sex or Love?

"If you get down on me, I'll get down on you."
B4-4

What does this line, which is repeated at the end of the show, mean to you?
Why does the sex educator disapprove of this song?
Do you agree?  Why or why not?

Written by: Neil Andersen
Neil Andersen is an award-winning Curriculum Consultant with the Toronto District School Board. He is also a speaker and consultant in media and communications technology. His most recent work includes the Between the Lines CDs, the teachers' study guide for the award-winning Scanning Television, and study guides for Space, Bravo! and MuchMusic's Cable in the Classroom broadcasts of original media literacy programming.

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