The new"Wuthering Heights"movie hasn't hit theaters yet. But that's not stopping some from already having strong opinions about it.
According to press about the film (including fromUSA TODAY), this is not exactly the "Wuthering Heights" you read in high school. This is asexy"Wuthering Heights." Like... really, really sexy. Did we mention it's "Wuthering Heights," but sexy?
That's basically been the tone for much of the publicity around the R-rated film, which comes out Friday. The Los Angeles Times called the movie a"bold, filthy fantasy."British GQ hailed it"hot and disgusting."And the film's starsMargot RobbieandJacob Elordihaven't shied away fromteasing the movie's steamymoments in interviews either.
Not everyone, however, is thrilled about a sexy "Wuthering Heights," with some online dissing the adaptation as"massively oversexed"and unfaithful to the original novel. On the other hand, many say they're excited for this"lust worthy"iteration of a literary classic.
Sex and psychology experts say the varying reactions to "Wuthering Heights" speak to something much larger than the film: our culture's vastly different, and often contradictory, attitudes toward sex.
"Sexuality isn't neutral anymore; it's politicized," licensed professional counselor and certified sex therapistVanessa Cushingsays. "When a campaign like this appears, it becomes a flashpoint not just about the film, but about larger anxieties around modern sexuality."
'Wuthering Heights' and why some can't get enough of sexy media
"Wuthering Heights" isn't the only sexy media sparking conversation in recent weeks.
The shows"Heated Rivalry" and "Tell Me Lies"have also both become pop culture flashpoints − and both also happen to be full of sex, body parts and forbidden, fiery romance.
Experts previously told USA TODAY the appetite for such stories makes sense, particularly among Gen Z. Research shows this cohort, born between 1997 and 2012, ishaving less sexthan previous generations.
For viewers who aren't having sex themselves, but still longing for validation and connection, media like "Heated Rivalry," "Tell Me Lies" and, yes, even the new "Wuthering Heights" might be filling a void. They also might offer a sense of control that real-life dating doesn't, especially amid ghosting, constant swiping on apps and other toxic trends.
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"They have an outlet for still engaging and almost expressing and connecting to their sexual wants and needs and questions without actually having to go out and talk to people and date people," Virginia Gramarosso, a health educator who works with middle schoolers, high schoolers and young adults, previously told USA TODAY of Gen Z.
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Yet, she added: "Watching relationships and watching these things play out cannot be in place of experiencing and living and creating relationships themselves."
'Wuthering Heights' and the culture war over sex
But if there's such a hunger for sexy film and TV, why does a loud group online insist they've had enough?
Well, when it comes to "Wuthering Heights," it depends.Some of these criticsare likely just sticklers for Emily Brontë's original novel and don't want to see an adaptation stray too far from the source material. Others might just think film and TV in general have become oversaturated with sexy romance content and want a break from it.
For some, however, their criticism might stem from something deeper brewing in the zeitgeist: a rise in cultural conservatism.
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Licensed marriage and family therapistSheila Addisonsays we live in a time when "extremely regressive, religiously conservative, rigidly gender-stereotyped attitudes about sexuality" are becoming more mainstream. "In this atmosphere, it comes as no surprise that people might feel incentivized to perform public shaming about a film that is being advertised as having many sexual themes," she adds.
Leora Tanenbaum, author of"Sexy Selfie Nation: Standing Up for Yourself in Today's Toxic, Sexist Culture,"says it's worth questioning if people areactuallyfed up with sexy stories, or if they just don't want to see women's pleasure and autonomy spotlighted.
"No one complains when sex sells perfume or cars, but suddenly people are scandalized when a woman is shown wanting something for herself," Tanenbaum says. "That contradiction is the real story here. Onscreen sex that portrays a woman as a full, desiring equal is still startlingly refreshing."
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What's important to remember, Cushing says, is that social media is not real-life − and it's rarely a place where thoughtful, nuanced discussion happens. The differing reactions to "Wuthering Heights" show how entrenched our views on sex have become, especially in an online ecosystem that tends to foster division rather than understanding.
"What we're seeing isn't just disagreement about a film," Cushing says. "We're watching, in real time, a global society negotiating the meaning of sex, art and identity inside systems designed to amplify reaction rather than reflection."
Contributing: Rachel Hale
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi and what 'Wuthering Heights' means for sex
