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/>.