Set in a prison, it was notable for the sheer quantity of full frontal male nudity, with characters shown in a variety of contexts, including showering and in their cells, fully naked.Īnother reason for the trend in male nudity has to do with justifiable criticism of the ways women have been sexually objectified on TV and in film. Premium cable TV channels are not governed by these guidelines, and the HBO show “ Oz,” which aired from 1997 to 2003, marked a major turning point. Uncensored versions of the film are now available on DVD. So when Bruce Willis’ penis briefly appeared during an underwater swimming pool lovemaking scene in the “ The Color of Night,” the MPAA objected, citing his proximity to the woman, and the shot had to be cut. These channels and platforms aren’t governed by the Motion Picture Association’s ratings system, which strictly limits the circumstances under which the penis can be shown.Īccording to the ratings – which still regulate theater releases – penises can be shown in nonsexual situations, such as when they appear during a concentration camp scene in “ Schindler’s List.” But if a scene involves sex and frontal male nudity, the actors have to be a certain distance apart. In the 1990s, premium cable television channels like HBO became more popular, while streaming platforms like Amazon and Netflix took off in the 21st century. There are a number of factors fueling the current wave of frontal male nudity. In a way, the use of prosthetic penises maintains a certain mystique about masculinity, preserving the power of the phallus. To me, this says something about the unusual significance we continue to grant the penis, along with our cultural need to carefully regulate its representation.
Prosthetic penises – once used for exaggerated effect – have become the norm. Directors and audiences are becoming more and more comfortable showing male nudity.īut nowadays, while we’re much more likely to see penises in mainstream film and television, they’re seldom real.
Yet female nudity remained far more common in movies, and there was no frontal male nudity on mainstream television as of 1993.