Shortbus 6

I didn’t see this coming…or maybe I should say cumming. I was regretful the day I missed class and missed this film. I had caught a buzz that it was an interesting indie film but I had no real knowledge of its thesis so I thrust it to number one on my DVD queue and waited the mail for its delivery. I popped it into to play as soon as it arrived and instantly my regret disintegrated. I was left with relief that I awarded myself the luxury of viewing this odd artistic exploration within the comfort and privacy of my own home. I’m always up for new experiences, but viewing intimate altercations among a room full of strangers? It seems this was my day to sit out; but then after deeper reflection following the films conclusion it hit me. That’s not how the wheels turn at Shortbus. Shortbus is the place where strangers are family, candy, and personal therapists. A one stop semi-anonymous shop where it seems anything is possible. All of the characters quickly become acquainted and their connections strengthen with swift appeal.  There seems to be something in the air at Shortbus that allows people to open their senses up to trust any possibility.

            This film blares a bold sexual statement invading our comfort zones and expanding our openness with its use of sexually explicit storyboards. This film can allow us to get comfortable with the idea of skin, of being in our own skin and nothing else and being proud of that if we let it. It is a conditioning factor interjecting our conscious with new awareness of sexuality. The sexual social norms of our county harvest an idea of secrecy around sex especially if it is unconventional. Sexually Explicit images are hidden from public view and labeled as pornographic which opens an entirely new can of worms that we don’t need to get into. So allow me to set that can aside by saying that the extent of the sexual content of the this film was absolutely necessary and integral to it’s message and theme. If adults were comfortable enough to openly express sexual issues we could all find our own inner peace. This doesn’t mean you find peace inside a man’s asshole while screaming the national anthem however subjecting your conscious to such a sight familiarizes your brain for acceptance of future images of a similar nature.

            It is possible that if you see enough sex eventually it won’t seem unordinary? I find the explicit nature of this film to be in no way vulgar or offensive. This is a showcase of pure human emotions, passions, and sensations. The sexual pleasure humans feel is a rare and exotic gift from nature that we should not take for granted. I have always found irony in the way our culture cast shame and hides so many of the natural functions our bodies require. We will lose touch with our sexual selves and our awareness of sexuality if we do not learn to be more open and honest about what sex is, what we enjoy about it, and how those experiences affect the people we love and care about. Sex isn’t something to hide we should openly celebrate and cherish such opulence with the style and grandeur of Shortbus.