(AP) This photo, provided by the Naked Broadcasting Network Inc., shows Holly Eglinton, 31, of Vancouver, B.C., interviewing a pedestrian in Times Square in New York in May 2007 during a 'talent search' contest for the Internet's 'Naked News.' Eglinton was the eventual winner out the three finalists. A self-proclaimed 'poser,' Eglinton sees the chance to take her clothes off online as fun, empowering and a little rebellious -- though others wonder if the trend toward exhibitionism has gone too far.
(AP Photo/Naked Broadcasting Network Inc., HO) **NO SALESWeb, Reality TV Help Make Porn Pervasive
Jun 3, 5:12 PM (ET)
By MARTHA IRVINE,
AP National Writer
Sun Jun 3, 5:12 PM ET
CHICAGO (AP) -
Porn used to be relegated to a video hidden in the bottom drawer, or a magazine under the mattress. Today, it's part of everyday life.
Hugh Hefner's girlfriends have become TV's "girls next door." Porn stars have MySpace pages and do voiceovers for video games. And while "porn on demand" is standard for hotel TVs and upgraded cable packages, it's even easier to find it with a few clicks on the computer.
In April, more than a third of the U.S. Internet audience visited sites that fit into the online "adult" category, according to comScore Media Metrix.
So the message is clear: In today's world, sex doesn't just sell. The pervasiveness of porn has made sexiness - from subtle to raunchy - a much-sought-after attribute online, at school and even at work.(...)
(For more - ask Martha!
She can be reached at mirvine(at)ap.org and via http://myspace.com/irvineap)
That is all interesting (as profitable too - for the NBN and their, ah, "associates", of course!) but while we see that sort of stuff becomes "a joyous part of everyday life" - religion is the thing that is shunned and hidden in bottom drawers. If not outright relegated to the attic or basement! (And I may or may not be talking just about old King James Bible editions that no one peruses anymore...)
While nudity and, worse still, debauchery are evenly spread throughout the media (no pun intended) - we have to mumble if we talk about GOD! As Kanye West sang so well in "Jesus Walks" - if we talk about GOD, our records won't get played! Meanwhile, in the neighborhood of the Vatican itself, Italian spouses are flaunting what they've got on national television weeknights, on very odd REALITY TV shows during prime time too - this while their hubbies sit at home, either happy to share their wives' bedroom treasures with a nationwide if not European-wide audience *or* busy with other sexual partners; glancing at the wife every other minute, on the tube...!
I tell you, if Sodom & Gomorrah had had access to this sort of technology, their habits would have been rampant and rife all over the world much sooner than it was, folks! But promiscuity is making up for lost time NOW...!
Nudism is quite innocent and nudity on screen used to be tastefully done - but now, little is left to the imagination. Male frontal nudity is mercifully the last barrier - methinks! Everything else is almost a go AND a given now, on cable! Including, sometimes, male frontal nudity! Depends if it's HBO or not... Off-the-beatne path sexuality and behaviour is glamorized on such shows as "Kink" and any number of other reality TV shows... NBN makes nudity so naturel...! Well, it is, of course - we've ALL imagined Diane Sawyer butt-naked at one time or another - but maybe the issues and plain SHOCKING news being delivered to us should be done so with OTHER THINGS IN MIND... hmm? When we hear about deaths in senseless wars, we shouldn't be contemplating the texture of the anchorwoman's bosom, seeming as it is to be so very much within our grasp...!
At least we can rest assured that NBN will never outscoop CNN...
If it ever does - then the world has REALLY gone down the tubes!
Meanwhile though, it is GOD Who Has Become Taboo!
Any mention will cost you, ratings-wise...
There are some shows aimed specifically for that niche - but, quite frankly, they are not impressive! They seem to do more harm than good too - Holly Hunter's "Redemption" is anything but, for glaring and downright sordid example. And there are plenty more out there. For a show that went on the main premise that THERE IS AN AFTERLIFE, "Six Feet Under" sure loses its focus real quick... HBO'S (again HBO...!) "Carnivale" establishing as the main crooked character the PREACHER has really done wonders for stirring FAITH... At least they don't badmouth GOD Himself like the lamentable "Preacher" series published by AOL/Time-Warner's DC - but most rednecks do NOT differenciate between GOD, RELIGION and the many flawed pastor-types who are in it just for a quick buck and because it is THEIR ONLY WAY to "be in show-business" too...
But that may be another story - for another blog to come!
