SEX

Garrett Lambur

The sixth installment in the Decalogue series was quite interesting. Involving the boy and his habit of watching the woman through the telescope and the ever sexually active woman. It addressed the commandment of though shalt not commit adultery in a different manner. The woman had all of these superficial sexual relationships with none seen in the movie being based upon any sort of real love. Even when the boy meets her and goes back to her place, she proceeds to attempt to show him all that love consists of is physical reactions. Yet soon after this she realizes that she has actual feelings for the boy but by this time it’s too late. I thought this was a great way to address the idea of adultery, in the sense of the film superfluous sex.

On the note of superfluous sex it seems that our generation is obsessed with it. We have become labeled the “hook-up” generation, where sex has become the goal for the end of a night: male and female alike attempt to find someone and by the end of the night have meaningless sex. I label it meaningless because there is no relationship before hand or in most cases afterwards that brings any deep feelings to the sex. The sex becomes something of pure pleasure. Now this may not always be a bad thing but it tends to take away from any meaning that sex with a true mate may have in the future. Sex can be the ultimate sign of love between two people but sex must treated with respect in order for this to be achieved. Similarly, sex should be something within a relationship only after both sides have recognized strong feelings for the other. What exactly is meant by strong feelings has to be weighed by each side, as there will never be a specific definition for what strong feelings of love are. Part of maturing in relationships is being able to recognize these within yourself. I do not feel that marriage is necessary before sex though some may.

I do not feel that sex must be feared though the possible consequences should be unless you are ready. I also do not agree with anyone that labels sex as evil. Sex is a natural connection between two human beings. It used to be basic but as civilization has progressed so has our treatment of sex. Sex has become complex and within the United States it can be a taboo topic. By making it into a taboo topic it can create a fear of sex when there shouldn’t be any, only respect.

I realize that I went semi off topic but I felt that the Decalogue here addresses that idea of superfluous sex well. Although neither character was married I found connection between adultery and superfluous sex though adultery may not always be meaningless. Kieslowski adapted the simple meaning of adultery to the more modern and complex situation in which it might apply. The commandment today may no longer be though shalt not commit adultery but rather though shalt not go around sleeping with every person in a meaningless relationship, o, and not commit adultery too.