More sex, Less Side Effects

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1999

More sex, Less Side Effects

The Centre for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA) has released a study of the sexual content of primetime broadcast television, premium and basic cable, music videos and popular movies for the 1998-1999 viewing season. The study examined 284 TV series episodes (2 from each show), 50 TV movies, 189 MTV music videos, and the 50 top-grossing feature films of 1998. This study is accompanied by two others, "Merchandizing Mayhem", which examines violence in the media, and "The Rude and the Crude", which studies the use of profane language in popular culture.

- Researchers identified 5,152 separate scenes featuring sexual dialogue or behaviour, including 1,420 scenes containing images or dialogue of a "hard-core" nature (ie; sexual intercourse, oral sex, incest and other sexually explicit behaviour).

- Network shows averaged one scene containing sexual behaviour or discussion for every four minutes of running time during the 1998-99 season.

- Premium cable shows averaged about three sexually charged scenes- including one of a "hard core" nature- for every four minutes of programming. "Hard-core" images and dialogue seldom occurred in broadcast (one every 10 minutes) and basic cable (one every 12 minutes) programming.

- Of all images depicting sexual intercourse, only 2 per cent had physical consequences such as pregnancy. There were no instances of sexually transmitted diseases. Eighty-five per cent of the sexual encounters depicted produced no evident emotional effects.

- "Good guy" characters were seven times more likely to be involved in sexual banter/behaviour than "bad guys".

- Ninety-six per cent of all sexual behaviour occurred without any judgment as to whether the activity was right or wrong.

- Nearly 3 out of every 4 characters to engage in sexual activity were unmarried.

Source:

The Media and masculinity

The following information is part of a report by Children Now on the Sixth Annual Children & the Media Conference. The topic, Boys to Men: Media Messages about Masculinity was part of a continuing exploration of the media's role in identity formation amongst youths. The panel consisited of field experts and children. Discussions focused primarily on the identification and examination of seldom-studied myths that perpetrate stereotypical masculine behaviour and attitudes within the media.

- Children between the ages of 10 and 17 most often spend their time watching T.V., listening to CD's and tapes, and listening to the radio. They are least likely to spend free time reading.

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- Music videos, comedies and cartoons are the television programs most frequently watched by kids, followed by sports and adult-themed talk shows.

- Boys are more likely than girls to watch television (81 per cent vs. 75 per cent), play video games (40 per cent vs. 18 per cent), and use the internet (15 per cent vs. 10 per cent).

- Boys' favourite television programs and movies are comedies and are most likely to be ones that recommend parental guidance.

-Ninety per cent of American boys regularly watch televised sports programs.They are five times more likely than girls to do ...

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