Independent Viewing- Post #2

When a socially controversial subject matter is brought into the public, there is often a clash between contrasting opinions surrounding the appropriate ways in getting across the message to students across the nation without causing problems. The topic of “sex” is certainly a victim of this issue. The improper education that children are lacking in homes and school on the topic of “sex” is imposing a hindrance on the lives of many teens who may not be able to do normal activities due to a pregnancy or an STD. As discussed in James Houston’s documentary Let’s Talk About Sex, it is imperative to have an open communication in the homes of families as well as in the buildings of schools about sexual education and the importance of sex safety in order to deduce the number of teen pregnancies and STD’s in America.

In the United States, the majority of teenagers find the topic of sex very awkward to discuss with parents and teachers. The usual lectures are given by adults to young ones about abstaining as long as possible in order to fully prevent any pregnancy or STD. However, this certainly is not the path that most teens follow. In America alone,10000 teens catch a sexually transmitted disease everyday, and 2400 become pregnant. These statistically high numbers are largely due to the lack of communication teens have with their families and teachers regarding sex. In health class, teachers must be careful with what they preach because they know that some students are sexually active while others are not. At home, different families have different religious backgrounds which only stress abstinence, and does not even take into consideration that their children may be sexually active and do not know any other precautions because all they know is sex or abstinence. With these scary statistics continuing to increase, it is important to teach sexual education properly by accommodating for individual, familial, or religious values with accurate fact-based contraception education such as birth control options in order to show teens how to safely be sexually active. 

In addition to the high number of pregnancies and STD’s increasing due to the limited discussion occurring between teens and adults, the media plays a large role as well in manipulating the minds of teens and adolescents. Sexual imagery is all around us- on billboards, television, computers, etc. The beautiful models pose in tiny bikinis as they caress a male very seductively. This mean of advertisement conveys a message to the audience that sexual activity makes you “pretty” and socially accepted in the American society. Teens are usually the target market because this exposure to sex-related images drive their raging hormones more than that of a mature adult. With a sexually-driven environment surrounding teens in this country, it is difficult for them to resist what they see based on little information at home and in the classrooms about sex. It is significant for sex to be discussed openly at homes and in school because of today’s liberal environment using seductive photos to advertise products. 

Humans have a natural tendency to avoid situations that make them feel out of place and uncomfortable. In America, sex has become an awkward topic of discussion, and parents tend to put off the “talk” in order to avoid the sensitive confrontation with their children. However, this act of refraining from the situation is actually doing more harm than good. The lack of communication is causing a plethora of negative actions such as teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Fighting through an awkward situation is far more beneficial than avoiding one and risking a bad consequence. 

The knowledge of sex is a very powerful key to a healthy life. Understanding the options for birth control helps one to take an approach to safer sex. Having that conversation of the “birds and the bees” sounds silly, but certainly makes a huge difference in the life and mindset of teens. If open communication about sex is achieved in the home and in the classrooms, then the birth and STD rates will significantly decrease. Taking the first steps to a clean future starts with a simple dialogue.

Independent Viewing- Post #1

1. Let’s Talk About Sex is a documentary that discusses the effect of sexual imagery and attitudes portrayed in our society has toward adolescent sexual desires. In America alone, 10,000 teenagers catch an STD, 2,400 girls become pregnant, and 55 are infected with HIV every day. The documentary was directed by Australian James Houston, one of the world’s leading beauty and body photographers. After traveling around the world, Houston realized that American teens live in an environment where sexual imagery is used to as advertisement for everything from toys to electronics. This documentary was used with the intent that if our society witnesses how other nations treat the sexual discussion, then these conversations will occur more openly within classrooms and family rooms across the country. 

2.

James Houston uses a multitude of rhetorical devices to establish his purpose in the documentary. Houston’s use of ethos, pathos, logos, as well as his arrangement and organization throughout the viewing helps to establish his purpose by demonstrating that open communication and education around the topic of sexuality is important for adolescents. 

In the beginning of the documentary, Houston sets up his purpose by starting with the environment and the sexual imagery surrounding young teens on television, advertisements, social networks, etc. This pathological approach makes the audience aware of the subconscious messages that are actually affecting teens more than one may think. Emotions of anger, annoyance, and disturbance arouse within people because they cannot believe how our society is using sexual imagery as a means of persuasion. In addition to the pathological approach, Houston also establishes his credibility in the beginning when he states how he is one of the leading beauty and body photographers of these sexual photos. This demonstrates that since Houston is the photographer, he knows a plethora of information about the purpose and reasons as to why this industry uses photos to boost revenues for companies. Also, throughout the film, there are testimony’s from experts and statistics from research surrounding this issue, which also increases credibility. Finally, this film contains many facts surrounding the issue of adolescent sexuality. Throughout the film, Houston uses visual text to provide statistics about teen pregnancy and STD’s. The use of visual text instead of audio helps the reader interpret the severity of these issues and makes them remember the image longer. 

In addition to the use of the appeals to portray Houston’s purpose of open communication within families about the topic of sex, the director also uses a specific arrangement. Houston uses a comparison and contrast organizational method in order to address his purpose. In the documentary, Houston globally compares the family dynamics of different countries to the United States by traveling to the Netherlands and Australia to prove that their birth and STD rates are significantly lower because the connotation of the word “sex” is not a negative one, but more a positive one. Teens are more comfortable talking about sex to their parents, and the topic is very open in schools. Condoms are even free which helps to prevent STDs and births. Houston also portrays his purpose nationally when he compares different parts of the United States and how they deal with sex. For example, in a religious town in Georgia, the topic of sex is not discussed in their home, and the parents assume that their children know not to have sex. However, this girl actually is sexually active, and she is just not telling her parents. Houston includes this in the documentary to contrast how teens in America are much different globally and teens do not feel comfortable discussing certain topics because they know their parents will only preach abstinence. Houston’s compare and contrasting arrangement adds to his purpose because it demonstrates the different ways that different families depending on their backgrounds deal with teen sexuality.

Let’s Talk About Sex is a very effective documentary because Houston uses each rhetorical device flawlessly in order to portray his purpose. Each rhetorical device has a specific use, and they each add to the message that Houston is trying to convey. 


 Let's Talk About Sex. Dir. James Houston. Let's Talk About Sex. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://www.letstalkaboutsexthefilm.com/>.