#17: Girls at 10 – what Lena Dunham’s show taught us about millennial sex
#17: Girls at 10 – what Lena Dunham’s show taught us about millennial sexIn which I analyse some noteworthy sex scenes from TV show 'Girls'...This content is free, but it takes time to create and upload each piece. If you enjoy this project would like to support it, please consider becoming a paid subscriber of ‘She Dares to Say’. If you would prefer to make a one-off donation, feel free to send a contribution via PayPal. You can also show your enjoyment without spending £££, by liking, commenting or sharing 😃 [Image description: Text ‘Girls at 10’ on a navy blue background with a lilac paintbrush stroke highlighted segment] [Image description: Girls Series premiere promotional image of four brunette-haired women sitting on a sofa in a shared flat in Brooklyn, New York] In 2012, when Girls first aired, both its fans and critics would be quick to mention its frequent sex scenes, which very often featured the bare breasts of lead character Hannah Horvath (played by writer/creator Lena Dunham). At the time (like today), it was usually only actresses whose bodies conformed to the model-esque aesthetic would appear naked in TV shows. And Dunham very deliberately sought to buck that trend, which was (still is) both refreshing and delightful. Because the sex we see enacted on screen significantly shapes the ways in which wider culture defines ‘sex’ and also the kinds of sex we actually engage in real life. Fans of Girls loved the show for portraying sex in all its strange, kinky, injury-inducing, run-of-the-mill, messy, bare-skinned glory. Ten years on, I rewatched all six seasons (62 episodes) of Girls in their entirety and found that across its 53 (!) sex scenes it really was instrumental in raising the bar for depicting sex on screen. Here’s a summary of a few noteworthy scenes: [Image description: Still image of Adam and Hannah sex scene] As Hannah’s lying on her front, she very awkwardly tries to use both hands to slide her tights down in readiness for some sex. She’s trying hard to be ‘sexy’ for Adam, but also chatters on and on (fairly anxiously) about whether he’s wearing a condom, whether she’s in the right position and why she’s not letting him anally penetrate her. Which eventually leads Adam to snap at Hannah; “Let’s play the quiet game.” Why it’s noteworthy: With its focus on idiosyncratic realism over commonplace titillation, this scene sets the tone for whole show. Season 2, Episode 5 ‘One Man’s Trash’; Hannah and Joshua; Sex Scenes 07:46mins–10:26, 12:00mins–15:02mins, 16:08mins–16:48mins [Image description: Still image of Hannah and Joshua sex scene] Hannah’s struck by how gorgeous both Joshua (who’s a much older doctor) and his home (a coveted brownstone) are, and kisses him. She apologises for the kiss. But then… he kisses her back. The inevitable happens; they have sex. Season 3, Episode 6 ‘Free Snacks’; Shoshanna and Parker; Sex Scene 23:57mins–24:45mins [Image description: Still image of Shoshanna and Parker sex scene] “Do you want me to stop?” he asks. “No. There’s no need to terminate sex just ‘cause we’re not meant for each other. God, you’re so dumb, Parker,” Shosh quips back. Season 5, Episode 4 ‘Old Loves’; Jessa and Adam; Sex Scene 21:03mins–22:18mins [Image description: Still image of Jessa and Adam sex scene] Although we’ve seen both characters enjoy all kinds of sex with a number of partners, when they decide to have sex together for the first time it’s not good. At all. They keep stopping, switching positions, and, eventually, Adam acknowledges the awkwardness, saying “Is this what bad sex is like?” Season 6, Episode 3 ‘American B****’; Hannah and Chuck Palmer; Sex Scenes 20:37mins–22:23mins [Image description: Still image of Chuck and Hannah scene] “Hannah, would you lie down with me for a moment. Just a moment. And I’d encourage you to keep your clothes on to delineate any boundaries that feel right to you. But I just want to feel close to someone in a way that I haven’t in a long time. If you please.” She agrees and lies beside Chuck. Wordlessly, he rolls over towards Hannah and gets his penis out. Unthinking, Hannah grabs it briefly before jumping up and exclaiming “Oh my fucking God, I touched your dick!” During my re-watch, I felt myself becoming almost nostalgic for the decade younger version of myself – because I remember how validating it was to see situations play out on screen that were not all that dissimilar to how elements of my life also looked that particular time. [Image description: Text ‘PRODUCED BY’ on navy blue background with a lilac paintbrush stroke] Recent work: In another piece for the Feeld blog, I gave tips on the best boundaries for casual dating; listing some examples of boundaries you can set when you’re chatting via a dating app and also emotional and sexual boundaries. For ‘Lust Zine, the uncensored mag by Erika Lust’, I interviewed Professor Kathleen Lubey, English Professor at St John’s University, New York, who teaches and researches in the fields of the British eighteenth century and the history of pornography. Available for commissions. Info via almazohene.com/contact-faqs. If you enjoy this content and would like to support please consider becoming a paid subscriber of ‘She Dares to Say’. If you would prefer to make a one-off donation, feel free to also send a contribution via PayPal. You’re a free subscriber to She Dares To Say. For the full experience, become a paid subscriber. |
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#16: Authenticity Arena – No. 03
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Listen now (7 min) | 'D', 27, queer, Tamil, non-binary femme, partnered, London
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#15: Authenticity Arena – No. 02
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