You guys remember the 2006 movie Shortbus? If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s one of the most sexually graphic films ever made. There’s a lot of gay sex, including ass eating, blowjobs, and a dude swallowing his own jizz. Let’s also take a moment to honor the orgy scenes.
The film just hit select theaters last January and there’s a lot to love about this movie nearly 16 years later.
Looking beyond the sex in the film, the story is about different people coming to terms with their own sexual journeys. One couple seems to have great sex, but the man is unable to make his woman have an orgasm…which is ironic since she’s a couple’s counselor who deals with people’s sexual problems- including a gay couple who have one hell of a threesome in the movie.
What makes the movie so astounding is not just the ass you see in every other scene, but how people connect. Everyone has their own adventure to partake in and they do it through the help of others.
In an exclusive interview with director John Cameron Mitchell (who we might remember as the fabulous star of the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch), he talked about how there are people who spend years watching porn before having sex and the way it changes your brain. Sometimes, we get more insecure when we’re in the moment since we’re so used to what we see on-screen.
“When you have these images in your head that you’ve been watching for years and you have to in your mind- in effect- recreate them, they’re reenactment documentaries. You can’t enjoy them because you’re thinking too hard about what you’re supposed to do,” Mitchell said. “And whereas, I think a more natural thing is to see a few hot images, and then when you first have sex, to kind of invent it. There’s a joy in inventing it especially with someone who’s also inexperienced that is pure and things can happen.”
Shortbus was a film that influenced people to figure out their own terms of sexuality. Even though the movie is super sex-heavy, we have to remember that it’s a film and not a porn. While you’re staring at the dick everywhere, you also get a sense of comfort within yourself.
“I get people saying [the movie] really helped them in a certain time in their life to realize sex was connected to all parts of our lives and not to panic about that and that there is kindness out there if you asked for it. Being in the same room is a key to that,” John said.
We all know that sex has been a taboo subject since pretty much forever…and John said it’s hard to say if there’s been an improvement in the way society views sex from the time the characters in Shortbus came (no pun intended) on-screen.
“Sex has now devolved only into the internet- it’s been removed from films and television. Even nudity has often been removed in the wake of ‘me too’ where the excesses of certain obnoxious showruners have kind of taught a lot of young people- not just showrunners but people taking advantage- taught them that ‘if sex is happening, maybe expolitation is happening. Maybe all sex is expolitation.’ So you get a lot of young people – especially straight- who have stopped having sex.”
John also pointed out how there are so many people going to hookups (and let’s be honest- most are gay men) who get so wrapped up in the digital culture that they have a need to get right to the point and know every detail on how everything is going to happen.
“When you plan it too much, it’s not fun,” he said. “Not to mention, the kind of meanness that can happen on the apps. Pretty much every young person under 25, their profile is like ‘Don’t even talk to me! Don’t be old! I’m not into hookups! Don’t give me your fucking dick! Fuck you! And here’s my ass!’ You know, they’re angry! And it’s like god, you’re confusing me with someone who hurt you. Don’t lead with hostility. How about lead with ‘Hey, what’s up?’”
Dating and hookup tips- just be nice, yes?
Now that our digital culture has grown, we have all sorts of ways to have sex with guys- via texting, apps, pic trading, and now camming. John mentioned that we’re in a safer place to enjoy virtual sex. He, himself, tried it on the phone at one point.
“I think that any sex can be hot. I even once had hot phone sex back in the day, which is bizarre to not actually see the person,” he said. “But with a cam, people are nervous about people recording it and getting out there and I understand though nowadays pretty much everyone has some quote on quote compromising images out in the world so maybe if everyone does, it just diffuses it. A sex tape today, I don’t think people can be terrified of the way they were back in the day.”
There you have it, guys! Enjoy all the sex you want- just be safe, have fun… and be kind!
[Follow John Cameron Mitchell for updates on special Shortbus showings]
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Interesting article. The issue of social sexual views is interesting. It’s essentially saying that this generation has changed its prudishness from religious dogma to feminism. It’s a weird world where you’re supposed to be sexually outspoken and sexually careful at the same time
I have witnessed this, and adding nonsense ideas like “consent” to the mix to give some legal threat with your sex seems to replace “hell” or other social ostracism.
This attitude is particularly Anglo-American and doesn’t seem to crop up even so far as France. That’s not to say that by comparison to a hypothetically sexually matured society, any culture won’t fall down flat. It’s just to say that the US, Canada & UK are on the trailing edge of sexual maturity and awareness.
Movies like Shortbus are necessary to REAL sexual issues people must contend with, like finding a new mate for your beloved to help him cope with your suicide. Not exactly a Hollywood trope.
I recall when Shortbus was released… yeah, a must see!
Shortbus is a film worth seeing. It has some great characters, including the “host” who sings a memorable song at the end. It stirs up some nice memories for me.