Kinky voyeurism of yesteryear: A couple learn about it by watching a wild bird-bunny-bee orgy.
"The Joy of Sex Education" at the bfi Southbank:
"Running the gamut from syphilitic soldiers in WW1 to puberty pep-talks for girls to the government's infamous AIDS awareness campaigns, this jaunt through 90 years of sex education films aims to enlighten, entertain and, above all, encourage you to subjugate your passions for the moral health of the nation.
"Many of the early films highlight Britain's horror at the very thought of sex and sexuality. Euphamisms [sic] abound and, if you can get away with making your point with the aid of a few birds or rabbits, why not?"
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Well, little has changed in much of the world in regard to human sexuality, especially among religious freaks and political ideologues of both right and left. In any case, here are a few cinematic Sex Education suggestions found at the BFI website:
- Whatsoever a Man Soweth (1917) – A warning to WW1 soldiers about the perils of fraternizing with loose women.
- Deferred Payment (1929) – A turbulent tale of seamen and syphilis.
- The Irresponsibles (1929) – Careless women share nasty diseases with their loved ones.
- The Mystery of Marriage (1932) – Birds, bees and bunnies show us how it's done.
- How To Tell (1935) – Children learn the facts of life.
- Six Little Jungle Boys (1945) – Six men go off to war, but one is tempted by the sensual pleasures of the East…
- Don't Be Like Brenda! (1973) – Oh, Brenda! She behaved foolishly. And now she's suffering the consequences.
Dear Mark
We're producing a programme for UK broadcaster five on the history of Sex Educational/Instructional programmes. Would love to hear about the films in your presentation. Please get in touch. Thanks. Kate
The "Joy of Sex Education" sounds fascinating. I have done a similar presentation with American films. I would love to share our films and experiences. They sound very similar. The notion of sex being pleasurable did not surface in sex education film until around 1970.