The penis trend on TV - "It's for the men's sake"

The penis has been released in the world of film and TV series. "Saltburn", "The Curse" and "House of the Dragon" are just a few current examples. The phallus is still enormously symbolically charged, says cultural journalist Caroline Hainer.

» Published: July 18 2024

The penis trend on TV - "It's for the men's sake"
Photo: Prime Video

The penis has been set free in the world of film and TV series.

"Saltburn", "The Curse" and "House of the Dragon" are just a few current examples.

The phallus is still enormously symbolically charged, says cultural journalist Caroline Hainer.

The strong reactions on the internet after episode three of the second season of "House of the Dragon" are clear evidence. Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) visits a brothel and is humiliated by his brother with his penis dangling right in front of the camera.

Many current TV series have contributed to a veritable penis fest, such as "Euphoria", "Sex/Life", "White Lotus", "Scenes from a Marriage" and "Pam and Tommy". In last year's film snack "Saltburn", Barry Keoghan dances in naked triumph.

"For the men"

But the new penis wave is not a reaction against the male gaze – "something for the ladies".

Rather, it's for the men. In the Netflix series "A Real Man", the climax is a showdown between Jeff Daniels and his enemy. A man who has taken his money, his company, and finally his wife. Moreover, he has the biggest balls. It's for you guys, so you can see "wow, he's really the king", says Caroline Hainer.

The same emasculation is found in "The Curse" and the Swedish "Lust", where micro-penises become symbols of inferiority. Hainer notes that we still attribute great power to the penis, which is why it is rarely depicted as merely sexy and enjoyable. It has been celebrated in art throughout history as a boundary that men can cross to gain respect.

As long as it's not erect, which is often considered too threatening for film and TV.

The flaccid penis lives two lives. Either it's vulnerable, artistic, and strong, and we should applaud it. Or the penis is a punchline, the funny penis, says Caroline Hainer.

Oscar for penis prosthetic?

Oscar-nominated makeup artist Eva von Bahr ("Dune") has not noticed an increased demand for penis prosthetics. Instead, nudity on film sets has become easier with more planning and intimacy coordinators.

In the past, the actors would take off their clothes and then film a bit and see what happened. That's not how it works today, says Eva von Bahr.

According to her, other types of prosthetics are becoming more common, an effective way for both makeup artists and actors to approach the Oscars, with "The Whale" being a current example.

Could a penis prosthetic take someone to the Oscars?

I think that's very difficult. In that case, it would have to have a very prominent role in the film. I don't know if the American film market is ready yet, but you never know.

Kristoffer Viita/TT

Facts: Three iconic penises on film according to Caroline Hainer

TT

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (2008): Comedy where Jason Segel's character accidentally becomes naked in the same scene as his girlfriend breaks up with him.

"This is almost 'ground zero' for the comedic penis", says Caroline Hainer.

"Boogie Nights" (1997): Paul Thomas Anderson's debut film about porn star Dirk Diggler's rise and fall, loosely based on the life of John Holmes. In the end, Diggler pulls out his penis in front of the mirror.

"A sad and tragic penis. That scene is great because the penis is actually the main character in the film, you've been waiting to see it".

"The Man on the Roof" (1976): Bo Widerberg's classic is often referred to as one of the best Swedish police films.

"Incredibly socially realistic penis where Sven Wollter also has a 'Ankeborg'-style t-shirt on. Totally asexual."

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Laleh's New Album I Am
1 MIN READ

Laleh's New Album I Am Drops June 27 with Summer Tour

New Novels by Sandgren and
1 MIN READ

New Novels by Sandgren and Schulman Explore Teachers' Journeys

Love is Blind Season 2
1 MIN READ

Love is Blind Season 2 Reunion Arrives on Netflix April 3

Sweden Revives Field Artist Training
1 MIN READ

Sweden Revives Field Artist Training After 25-Year Hiatus

Örebro Museum Plans Exhibition on
2 MIN READ

Örebro Museum Plans Exhibition on Risbergska School Tragedy

Netflix Unveils Live-Action Scooby-Doo Series
1 MIN READ

Netflix Unveils Live-Action Scooby-Doo Series Exploring First Mystery

Richard Chamberlain, Iconic TV Star,
2 MIN READ

Richard Chamberlain, Iconic TV Star, Dies at 90

Richard Chamberlain, Beloved TV Icon,
2 MIN READ

Richard Chamberlain, Beloved TV Icon, Dies at 90

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Actor Bruce Glover, Known for Bond Role, Dies at 92

Sigge Eklund's Play Bolero Brings
3 MIN READ

Sigge Eklund's Play Bolero Brings Family Drama to Stockholm Stage

Bob Hund's Thomas Öberg Honored
1 MIN READ

Bob Hund's Thomas Öberg Honored with Hassepris for Humanistic Spirit

Roger Daltrey Shares Vision Loss
1 MIN READ

Roger Daltrey Shares Vision Loss News at Charity Concert

Ferry Svan Advances in Let's
2 MIN READ

Ferry Svan Advances in Let's Dance as Ciara Zelmerlöw Exits

Academy Apologizes to Director Hamdan
1 MIN READ

Academy Apologizes to Director Hamdan Ballal After Criticism

Mammas Nya Kille Returns for
1 MIN READ

Mammas Nya Kille Returns for a Ninth Season on Sveriges Radio

Hov1 Expands Farewell Tour with
1 MIN READ

Hov1 Expands Farewell Tour with New Dates in Sweden and Finland

Olympic Champion Sarah Sjöström First
2 MIN READ

Olympic Champion Sarah Sjöström First Out on Masked Singer Sweden

Zelda Film Set for 2027
1 MIN READ

Zelda Film Set for 2027 Release with Live-Action Adventure

Trump's Cultural Moves Mirror Putin's
2 MIN READ

Trump's Cultural Moves Mirror Putin's Tactics, Expert Warns

Frida Edman Takes the Helm
1 MIN READ

Frida Edman Takes the Helm at Gothenburg City Theatre

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
1 MIN READ

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series Surpasses 300 Million Copies Sold

Sanna Samuelsson Wins Swedish Radio's
1 MIN READ

Sanna Samuelsson Wins Swedish Radio's Short Story Prize

Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson Releases
1 MIN READ

Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson Releases Book with Blake's Grave Soil

Indian Film Debut Shines: All
3 MIN READ

Indian Film Debut Shines: All We Imagine as Light Hits Swedish Cinemas

Kaliffa Launches 31-Stop Summer Tour
1 MIN READ

Kaliffa Launches 31-Stop Summer Tour Across Sweden and Mariehamn

Norén Brothers Tour Continues Without
2 MIN READ

Norén Brothers Tour Continues Without Gustaf as Viktor Leads with Guest Artists

Kent's Legacy Lives On with
1 MIN READ

Kent's Legacy Lives On with Fresh Takes by Emerging Artists

Gorillaz Set to Release New
1 MIN READ

Gorillaz Set to Release New Album in 2025, Confirms Damon Albarn

Paul Lynch's Novel Explores Collapse
4 MIN READ

Paul Lynch's Novel Explores Collapse of Democracy and Human Resilience

Camilla Läckberg Opens Up Family
3 MIN READ

Camilla Läckberg Opens Up Family Life in New Reality Series

Swedish Artists Rally Against Rehearsal
2 MIN READ

Swedish Artists Rally Against Rehearsal Room Closures

Mia Skäringer Returns as Ann-Marie
3 MIN READ

Mia Skäringer Returns as Ann-Marie in New SVT Series Choosing Joy

Trump Targets Museums to Remove
1 MIN READ

Trump Targets Museums to Remove Divisive Narratives and Ideologies

Kent's Farewell Concerts Set New
3 MIN READ

Kent's Farewell Concerts Set New Attendance Record in Stockholm

Sweden's KAJ to Perform Sixth
2 MIN READ

Sweden's KAJ to Perform Sixth in Eurovision Semi-Final 1

Salman Rushdie Unveils New Short
2 MIN READ

Salman Rushdie Unveils New Short Story Collection This November

Benjamin Ingrosso Shines with Three
4 MIN READ

Benjamin Ingrosso Shines with Three Wins at Sweden's Grammis Awards

Sundance Film Festival to Relocate
1 MIN READ

Sundance Film Festival to Relocate from Park City to Boulder in 2027

Reindeer Fawn Leads Bafta Nominations
1 MIN READ

Reindeer Fawn Leads Bafta Nominations with Eight Nods

Afro-Swedish Archive Creator and Cultural
1 MIN READ

Afro-Swedish Archive Creator and Cultural Innovators Win Prestigious Award