From Sex/Life to 365 Days: Is Netflix Using Freud’s Personality Theory to Promote an Erotica or Soft Porn?
Since Sex/Life dropped on Netflix on June 25, it seems like everyone has been talking about it. The TikTok reactions, the memes, the tweets on *that* scene of episode 3, 19:50 — it’s unavoidable. And like anyone with a background of FOMO, I decided to check it out. Because if everyone is talking about something, I had to watch/read that something. My opinion of the Sex/Life show is that there is no discernable plot, just sex, and bad decisions. The lighting is always low and sensual, the close-ups always explicit. It seems to be an opulent soap opera rooted in explicit sex. And I guess that’s okay! People didn’t read the 50 Shades franchise because of its brilliant, thought-provoking writing.
After watching the show, I started wondering if Netflix is subtly using Freud’s personality theory to promote soft porn on its platform. Freud proposed that the mind is divided into three components: id, ego, and superego and that the interactions and conflicts among the components create personality (Freud, 1923/1949). According to Freudian theory, the id is entirely unconscious, and it drives our desires, important motivations, including the sexual drive (libido) and the aggressive or destructive drive (Thanatos). In stark contrast to the id, the superego represents our sense of morality and moral consciousness. The superego tells us all the things that we shouldn’t do or the duties and obligations of society. In contrast to the id, which is based on the pleasure principle, the function of the ego is based on the reality principle — it serves as the intermediary between the desires of the id and the constraints of society contained in the superego.
I wonder if people are more comfortable consuming sexual content on Netflix versus Pornhub because it satisfies both — the sexual desires or id component of our personality and superego or moral consciousness because apparently performers aren’t being manipulated or coerced. Is it plausible that the Netflix shows are tapping into the ego component of our personality (ego strives to satisfy the id’s desires in realistic and socially appropriate ways)? Are Netflix shows giving us an option to consume sexually explicit content in one of the most guilt-free or socially acceptable ways? Are these shows targeting users who are too squeamish to watch porn on the phone but would probably run through 365 Days or Sex/Life many times?
To find answers, I started doing some research. As per the recent statistics, in 2020, close to 30% of US streaming audiences said they watched TV on their mobiles every week, and in the past five years Google searches for “Netflix porn” have also risen steadily. And as interest in explicit streaming increases, so do its viewing ratings: despite being the worst-reviewed Netflix film ever, gaining 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, the erotic thriller 365 Days was one of 2020’s biggest hits. Over Christmas, Bridgerton set the internet ablaze with its opulent gowns, dashing gentlemen, and, crucially, plenty of sex scenes. The swoon-worthy erotic romance series was watched more than 63 million times, making it the fifth most-watched Netflix series of all time. The sex aspect seems to be dressed up in a series that telegraphs some loftier, classier ambition.
In conclusion, the popularity of the recent Netflix shows indicates that erotica and porn often overlay each other in our minds. To quote Oscar Wilde, “To wit, there is no such thing as an erotic-pornography continuum; there is only excellently rendered versus poorly rendered sexually stimulating material.” By peddling soft porn as erotica, many digital platforms have seen exponential revenue growth, especially during the pandemic. But with an increasing demand for censorship of OTT content, it remains to be seen how platforms like Netflix will circumvent the roadblock.
