Primetime ‘porn’ tests television boundaries

Hot. Steamy. Sexy. Kids?

In most people's moral consciousness, the fourth term in that word cluster doesn't belong, but apparently MTV thought it might fit fine in their newest series, "Skins," based on the British TV series of the same name. The American and British versions claim many differences, and one of them is that the UK original never seemed to come under fire for what some have called child pornography.

In stories posted in a number of newspapers nationwide, including the Jan. 20 edition of The New York Times, it has come to light that the Parents Television Council submitted a request to the U.S. Senate and House Judiciary Committees as well as the Department of Justice to look into whether federal regulations regarding kiddie porn had been violated. Apparently, according to The New York Times article, the inquest has some MTV executives actually shaking in their boots, and subsequent episodes of the series have been altered to remove some of the raunchier material.

I understand this council's concerns, especially because some of the actors in the show are younger than 18, and there's a lot of discussion in the show's dialogue about sex as well as the portrayal of teens in compromising situations. What I don't get is the show's more pervasive discussion and portrayal of drug use that seems to be ignored by the parents so righteously looking out for the wholesomeness of American television.

This goes back to the age-old conversation that Americans live a double standard when it comes to the protection of the youth's moral development. A parents' council flips out because "Skins" might be putting sexual thoughts in their 17 year old's head.

 I hate to break it to them, but that thought already is there. Maybe they need more guidance and protection when it comes to something that's not a biological urge like smoking a blunt and shooting their friends. Sure, we don't want people sexualizing our nation's children, but it's not as if MTV is portraying full-frontal sex scenes. The show might imply that young people are engaging in sex, but the only thing shown is a couple of make-out sessions, of which similar scenes were displayed on the ever-so-racy Disney show, "Lizzie McGuire."

I suppose if the PTC had taken a look at the original show, they might have noticed there would be "adult material" on the MTV spin-off. Britain's "Skins" has gained almost a cult following. This largely is due to the caliber of acting and writing that the American version completely lacks. However, Britain's series includes scenes with actual prolonged nudity, and some of its actors are under 18, as well. Why then was there no outcry for the protection of the British youth? This probably has something to do with the smart use of watershed laws in the UK, laws that allow shows with adult content, including nudity, to be shown after 9 p.m. The British have more tolerance for a naked body than Americans do.

After people on TV are 18, it apparently is fine for them to be as sexualized as they want. Just watch "The Girls Next Door," which starred Kendra Wilkinson, a 20-year-old Playboy Bunny, or "Jersey Shore," where Snooki constantly talks about "smushing." Although there's not a huge age difference between these people and the actors on "Skins," once they cross the 18-year-old threshold, all of a sudden people can be as naked and nasty as they want to be. Only in America, we don't have a watershed, so kids can watch Jersey Shore all day on a Saturday if they feel like it.

Similarly, "Teen Mom" hasn't gotten any flack about child pornography, and those are real teens that had real sex and real babies. They talk about it all the time while holding up a product of their actions. But somehow to portray a realistic reflection of teen life is inherently wrong? The alternative, having adults play teenagers having sex, also is somewhat discomforting.

Maybe we should just get comfortable with the fact that sex takes place between teens. The PTC would be better advised to educate teens about sex, rather than shield them from shows that merely reinforce thoughts they already are having.

Anna Meier is a senior English major from Kansas City, Mo.