I always get excited when I see that a new TV show is beginning. There is the excitement of possibly finding a new show that can make me laugh, cry or just entertain me when I need to switch off at the end of a busy day.
While I try not to watch too much TV, occasionally there will be a series that I love (like Alias...if anyone remembers it) and will even go as far as buying the whole series once it is completed. This year I have started watching New Girl which is quite funny and quite light watching (which is good for relaxing). I also started watching Homeland which so far has been pretty interesting and I am quite keen to follow the story, however I have one problem with the show...do I really have to see other womens breasts every week?????
I know some of you are thinking, "Well, she is a Christian and a minister's wife...she must be a bit of a prude" Ok so that may be a little true but I am not trying to be a prude here I have really been giving this a lot of thought. It even sparked a conversation between my husband and I about the need for these scenes in movies and television shows.
If you have not seen the show, then I will explain that there have been a few sex scenes where there have been lots of shots of breasts. I actually have nothing against sex scenes in TV shows as long as they are tastefully done and are relevant to the storyline. So far in Homeland there have been some sex scenes that have been relevant to the storyline. One of the main characters has returned home after being a prisoner of war for about ten years (and he has possibly been turned by his captors) so some of the scenes are adding to the story by demonstrating his inability to relate normally to his wife in the bedroom. There was also a scene between the wife and the husband's best friend prior to his return which I think stands as a good contrast to the way he and his wife now relate.
It just makes me wonder why there is the need for this level of nudity (and only of women) in these shows. Is it to get the male audience in? Is it to shock us? Or is it just expected that TV will have scenes such as these now?
One of the big problems I have is the fact that women who are acting in this show (and other shows) have to bare their chests in order to play these roles, while then men don't need to degrade themselves in the same way. I imagine that when the women who plays the wife was trying to get such a main part she did not think that she would have to be half naked in most episodes.
However if it wasn't her someone else would have taken the part. So now when she goes on in her career there is always footage of her breasts hanging around. Even if it was a body double (although I am pretty sure it wasn't) it is still unfair that women have to be shown like this. Surely it could have been more tastefully done
One of the big problems I have is the fact that women who are acting in this show (and other shows) have to bare their chests in order to play these roles, while then men don't need to degrade themselves in the same way. I imagine that when the women who plays the wife was trying to get such a main part she did not think that she would have to be half naked in most episodes.
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| Why does this beautiful woman have to strip off for this role? |
However if it wasn't her someone else would have taken the part. So now when she goes on in her career there is always footage of her breasts hanging around. Even if it was a body double (although I am pretty sure it wasn't) it is still unfair that women have to be shown like this. Surely it could have been more tastefully done
I have kept watching the show as I am enjoying the storyline but I had strongly considered whether I keep watching. Thankfully, the last two episodes which I have watched since beginning this post have not had any nudity or sex scenes. I am hopeful it will continue this way as I don't want to have to be limited to watching ABC Kids just so I can avoid seeing these things.
How do you feel about this issue? Am I just being a prude or do you agree that it is unnecessary?
