4 November 2009
Sex and the City Analyzed
In Barker’s text he explains and defines the concept of space as a place where, “Human interaction is situated in particular spaces that have a variety of social meanings. For example, a ‘home’ is divided into different living spaces – front rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, and bedrooms” (Barker 374). Barker goes on further to state that there is such thing as front space and back space. “Front space is constituted by those places in which we put on a public ‘on-stage’ performance…Back regions are those spaces where we are ‘behind the scenes’” (Barker 374). A space that constitutes as a back region is the bedroom, which is seen as a place where “behind the scenes” stuff is supposed to go; stuff we, the audience, is not supposed to see. It can be seen as a place to hind from the outside, or front space.
This clip shows that back regions of space are for relaxing and are really meant to be behind the scenes. When we watch this scene we feel comfortable with the talk that is going on in the bedroom because it is deep talk that would normally happen in the back region, in this case the bedroom. When the guy walks into the bedroom it immediately turns uncomfortable for the characters, which reflects on to how the audience feels, and the discussion between characters turns cold, which is shown by the lights being turned out. This clip shows that back regions are places where people can hide and discuss problems “behind the scenes” without anyone else hearing and when it is invaded it is supposed to make you feel uncomfortable.
This clip shows that sex and sex related topics are more comfortable as a back region. This clip shows that the norm. is too feel uncomfortable when watching something like orgasm in public. When you watch this clip you feel a little awkward and it makes you laugh, but the laugh is one to cover the discomfort the scene brings about. Barker is correct when he says that there are certain spaces and in these spaces there are normal activities that are done. The bedroom is a space where it is normal to perform sexual activities, such as orgasm, and this is shown by the discomfort that we feel that’s covered up by laughter when we watch a man orgasm in public and then cum on one of the ladies.
This last clip shows again that sexual talk should be used in a different space than out in public. When inappropriate talk start one of the women immediately walks out of the space and this reflects that it is inappropriate. It is even stated in the clip by one of the characters that it is an inappropriate place to be talking about a mate’s ejaculation. I find it interesting though that the writer shows this scene about tasting a man ejaculation and describing it as food when they are in a restaurant. I think the space that the writer picks brings out the discussion because they are in a place to eat and talking about eating, but not in the terms of food. I would call this clip a radical scene because when you are eating out in public with a group of friends you would normally have small talk about how good food is and how everyone is doing. You don’t normally talk about your experiences that happen in the back region with your friends in a front space and this is what makes this scene radical.
