Normal people doing normal things

YOUNG LOVE Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones star in director Lenny Abrahamson’s adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel ‘Normal People’.

An Cailín Rua
Anne Marie Flynn

I had a column all written and ready to go last week, but, unimaginatively, it was about coronavirus. And really, who wants to read any more about that? The reality is sad and fatiguing, and if feels like there is no escape from it.  
Apart from on Liveline, that is. When I tuned into Radio 1 last Thursday to hear Joe Duffy handle a conversation between the Outraged, and the Outraged at the Outraged with typical mischief and adeptness, I couldn’t resist the chance to talk about something different.
The debate related to the television adaptation of Castlebar woman Sally Rooney’s novel, ‘Normal People’. For anyone who hasn’t read it, it’s a beautifully told, slow-moving account of an imperfect young-adult relationship, dealing with themes of class, abuse, mental-health and of course, sexuality.
And in the TV programme, there are – gasp! – sex scenes between young people. These scenes inspired an hour-long Liveline debate covering everything from the Commandments to consensual sex, from unaccompanied driving to PornHub. And it was radio gold.
Tommy insisted the scenes were immoral and sent the wrong message to young people. He wouldn’t like an unmarried daughter of his to be engaging in such ‘promiscuity’. He even claimed to have received concerned phone calls about them from young women.
Mary thought it was something you would see ‘in a porno movie’. David felt we were sexualising young people in a way that ‘isn’t normal’. Catherine felt sad and sorry for the young woman, and insisted the Commandments are there to ‘protect people’.
Oddly, despite their objections, none of them appeared to have switched off, and all seemed rather familiar with pornography.
Other callers had different opinions, especially the young women. Maura, married with teenage boys, felt sex can be healthy and enjoyable outside marriage. Bridget, a sixth-year student was happy that consent featured so strongly. She was emphatic that what a person does in bed with another person is nobody else’s business if it’s consensual. Sophie insisted that the story reflected the reality of living as a young person.
Throughout, Joe, as he is wont to do, threw in a few seemingly innocent questions that were anything but. The Twitterverse was in raptures. It was a reminder of the infamous old Late Late Shows of yore, where Catholic conservatism and young liberalism met head-on in a collective broadcasting experience. Even better, it wasn’t about Covid-19.
Some serious things, though, to take away from the exchanges, which laid bare the contrast between old and new Ireland.
It was refreshing to hear young women confidently speaking on air about sex, owning their sexuality, claiming their right to be sexual beings, and being regarded as reasonable and normal for doing so. Too many generations of Irish women, my own included, were raised hearing that sex was sinful, wrong or dangerous; that wanting it, having it and enjoying it was immoral. Those ugly attitudes were evident in our experiences on the streets during the Repeal campaign two years ago, and it is a thing of joy to see them being cast aside.
Secondly, how positive is it to hear the conversation about consent in sex becoming mainstream? It suggests that people are becoming aware of the need to seek and give permission, and raises the possibility that in time, we will see men and women as equal partners in sexual relationships, with ownership of and confidence in their bodies, desires and needs. It suggests that attitudes towards women’s sexuality are gradually shifting in the right direction, that misogyny and double standards are being publicly challenged more than ever.
The episode was also a reminder of the special power of radio; a medium that, despite significant challenges in the digital age, has held its own and that demonstrates time and time again its power to connect a nation.
And finally, the fact that the televising of a novel roused such strong opinions across the nation proves yet again that the arts continue to not only provide entertainment but also inspire conversations, explore nuanced topics, influence social change and shape our thinking. What stronger argument could there possibly be for ensuring that the sector is meaningfully supported in the years ahead?
Sally Rooney and Lenny Abrahamson, meanwhile, can rest assured. If they’re getting people to Talk to Joe, they’re definitely doing something right.