How Sex Changed the World Season 1 Episode 6 Superheroes of Sex

How Sex Changed the World season 1 episode 6, titled "Superheroes of Sex," delves into the scandalous and extraordinary life of superhero co-creator, William Moulton Marston, and his unconventional polyamorous lifestyle with his wife and a former student. Marston's creation, Wonder Woman, was an instant hit and became a pop culture icon, but few people know about the kinky and progressive agenda that Marston integrated into his comics.

The episode explores how Marston used his creation to push the boundaries of gender roles and sexuality in the 1940s. His famous character, Wonder Woman, was a symbol of feminism, individualism, and female empowerment, but she was also depicted in bondage and spanked by her male counterparts. The show discusses how these controversial themes were not only accepted but also celebrated by the public, breaking taboos and paving the way for future discussions about sexual preferences and alternative lifestyles.

The episode also sheds light on Marston's personal life and the unconventional relationship he had with his wife, Elizabeth, and their shared lover, Olive Byrne. The trio lived together in a polyamorous relationship and kept their unconventional lifestyle away from the public eye. The show examines how Marston's beliefs about gender and sexuality influenced his personal life, and how his libertine lifestyle was at the heart of his creative works.

The episode also touches on the controversy surrounding the creation of the lie detector test, which Marston helped invent. The show explores how Marston's fascination with psychology and human behavior led him to become a pioneer in the field of lie detection, and how this technology, along with his other inventions, contributed to his reputation as a mad scientist.

Overall, "Superheroes of Sex" is an illuminating look into the life of a man who revolutionized comics, psychology, and sex in the mid-twentieth century. The episode shows how Marston's radical ideas about gender and sexuality were not only ahead of their time but also instrumental in shaping modern attitudes towards personal freedom and sexual expression. The show uses interviews, archival footage, and reenactments to paint a vivid and insightful portrait of a man whose legacy continues to influence pop culture and society today.