#1 Rule of Soap Operas
I now follow a Brazilian soap opera called “Caminho das Indias” (“India - a Love Story” in the US), for my Portuguese. (I really wish there was some other way to listen to the language - soaps are, to put it mildly, not my thing - but it’s the only Brazilian thing on TV here.)
Anyway, I think I discovered the #1 rule of soaps:
No one has ever heard of safe sex.
Seriously, there’s no such thing. The concept was never invented. When a (female!) protagonist has sex, there is inevitably going to be a baby (interestingly, this usually does not work this way with female antagonists - can we guess why?)
This one really bugs me, actually. I mean, I understand that there are many reasons for this… for example, it makes for a much more interesting story. (There is some guaranteed conflict: will he marry her? Will she raise the child alone? etc. etc.) The thing that bothers me, though, is the perpetuation of sex negativity that really stands behind all this.
The underlying assumption in all the soap operas I have seen (even in this one, which is quite modern) is that sex is BAD, and you should not do it. (Interesting, since these things are supposed to be all about love…) But of course, people do it. Why? The only valid excuse (in soap operas) for doing "the deed" is to be so madly in love that your passion overpowers you… throwing you into each other’s arms, against your better judgment!
Of course, doing it this way, you are never going to use contraceptives. Because, you see, you cannot use contraceptives unless you prepare for sex. If your mindset until the very last moment is “No, no way, we are not doing this!” then, obviously, you are not going to buy any condoms or pills, right?
I understand that in ancient times (like 50 years ago) this was indeed the prevalent philosophy, but it annoys the hell out of me to still see the same shit perpetuated over and over now. It is 2010, people! Do we really want kids to absorb this stupid message?
But of course, it’s difficult to imagine how they are going to introduce safe sex in soaps. Not easy! Think about how sex is usually portrayed there - dim lights, background music, slow motion, enough sugar to make a care bear throw up - and then “You got a condom?” Hmm… no, not going to work...
Anyway, I think I discovered the #1 rule of soaps:
No one has ever heard of safe sex.
Seriously, there’s no such thing. The concept was never invented. When a (female!) protagonist has sex, there is inevitably going to be a baby (interestingly, this usually does not work this way with female antagonists - can we guess why?)
This one really bugs me, actually. I mean, I understand that there are many reasons for this… for example, it makes for a much more interesting story. (There is some guaranteed conflict: will he marry her? Will she raise the child alone? etc. etc.) The thing that bothers me, though, is the perpetuation of sex negativity that really stands behind all this.
The underlying assumption in all the soap operas I have seen (even in this one, which is quite modern) is that sex is BAD, and you should not do it. (Interesting, since these things are supposed to be all about love…) But of course, people do it. Why? The only valid excuse (in soap operas) for doing "the deed" is to be so madly in love that your passion overpowers you… throwing you into each other’s arms, against your better judgment!
Of course, doing it this way, you are never going to use contraceptives. Because, you see, you cannot use contraceptives unless you prepare for sex. If your mindset until the very last moment is “No, no way, we are not doing this!” then, obviously, you are not going to buy any condoms or pills, right?
I understand that in ancient times (like 50 years ago) this was indeed the prevalent philosophy, but it annoys the hell out of me to still see the same shit perpetuated over and over now. It is 2010, people! Do we really want kids to absorb this stupid message?
But of course, it’s difficult to imagine how they are going to introduce safe sex in soaps. Not easy! Think about how sex is usually portrayed there - dim lights, background music, slow motion, enough sugar to make a care bear throw up - and then “You got a condom?” Hmm… no, not going to work...