Gory death

[Grant Clement]

In the movie "Saving Private Ryan" a beach scene at the Normandy landing showed a young soldier hit by something with his guts exposed. I posted a photo of this scene and was quickly criticized. So I deleted it. I don't think there is any question, however, that if someone takes the thrust of a sword into his belly that he is going to lose some guts. And hopefully cum too.

Since anybody who's read my work knows I'm one of the resident "gut guys" around here, I wanted to comment on this. I remember that scene well -- it stuck with me, I think in part because I found it as off-putting as I did intriguing. I can't say it turned me on; it was too sad, too real, but I always wonder where that line lies, because certain other gutting scenes (say, in the TV show Spartacus) really do it for me. I guess the tone has to be just right? Not too real, a little over-the-top or melodramatic.

Sorry, don't mean to derail the discussion, but I'm endlessly fascinated by how context can make such a difference when it comes to our sexual interests.