# The Codpiece, Science Fiction vs. Fantasy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 7, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126 "2007-05-07T17:57:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/1 "2007-05-07T17:57:10Z")
Darth Vader’s codpiece has always bothered me. Its as scary as his mask! A friend mentioned that Science Fiction movies have more codpieces than fanstasy films. I’m not sure if this is accurate. SciFi and fantasy can overlap, and the “is it a codpiece or is it just a big package” debate makes things difficult. (This friend and I spent a better part of an hour arguing over the nature of the Silver Surfer’s groin. My stance: no clothing, the bump are his genitals - he’s a freaking alien! Friends stance: Silver coating is clothing, bump is codpiece.) What say you Dopers? ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/2 "2007-05-07T19:01:33Z")
[QUOTE=Mouse\_Maven] Darth Vader’s codpiece has always bothered me. Its as scary as his mask! [/QUOTE] I bet there’s a little life-support unit in there, and this guy could probably hump you for days and days on automatic pilot. Ouch. ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/3 "2007-05-07T19:30:00Z")
[QUOTE=pinkfreud] I bet there’s a little life-support unit in there, and this guy could probably hump you for days and days on automatic pilot. Ouch. [/QUOTE] Great. Now I can’t get an image of Vader with the Emperor saying “Yes, my master.” ::shudder:: ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/4 "2007-05-07T19:41:22Z")
I used to wonder what that concavity on the front seemed to be exactly the same shape as a Kotex pad. I’m glad that the prequels cleared that up. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/5 "2007-05-07T19:47:39Z")
If I had ever given any thought whatsoever to Vader’s crotch, I would assume he had a waste removal system in place. But I haven’t. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/6 "2007-05-07T19:56:23Z")
It allows him to use more Force. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/7 "2007-05-07T20:15:48Z")
It’s the hatch for his [crotch blaster.](http://www.headinjurytheater.com/article59.htm) ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/8 "2007-05-07T21:40:36Z")
If you don’t want to see prominent crotches, skip Labyrinth. Trust me. Susan (Who has a framed Labyrinth poster) ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/9 "2007-05-07T21:58:48Z")
[QUOTE=Mouse\_Maven] (This friend and I spent a better part of an hour arguing over the nature of the Silver Surfer’s groin. My stance: no clothing, the bump are his genitals - he’s a freaking alien! Friends stance: Silver coating is clothing, bump is codpiece.) [/QUOTE] The wikipedia entry of him at one point near the bottom says that “his surfboard is comprised of the same silvery material as his skin.” Take that FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/10 "2007-05-07T22:03:45Z")
Well, sometimes the Silver Surfer wears undies: [http://www.moviepoopshoot.com/comics101/images/2003/aug27/silversurfer1.jpg](http://www.moviepoopshoot.com/comics101/images/2003/aug27/silversurfer1.jpg) Tighty Shinies. ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/11 "2007-05-07T22:26:50Z")
[QUOTE=susan\_foster] If you don’t want to see prominent crotches, skip Labyrinth. Trust me. Susan (Who has a framed Labyrinth poster) [/QUOTE] We rented this two weeks ago. Lipstick, eye shadow, tight pants, codpiece. :eek: SciFi Movies with Prominent Crotches: Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Return of the Jedi Dune Fantasy Movies with P.C. Labyrinth I’m not sure where Super Heros fall. Batman had a _notorious_ wang hangar, but its not scifi and its not fantasy (unless you like the Bat-Rocket 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/12 "2007-05-08T02:52:54Z")
Hey, ladies, our eyes are up here. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/13 "2007-05-08T03:06:32Z")
The codpiece also helps keep your schwartz from getting twisted. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/14 "2007-05-08T03:09:57Z")
[QUOTE=Hypno-Toad] The codpiece also helps keep your schwartz from getting twisted. [/QUOTE] Argghh, beat me with the Spaceballs reference by three minutes. ::shakes fist:: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/15 "2007-05-08T08:15:34Z")
Fantasy or historical fiction codpiece: Prince Edmund and his Black Russian (to frighten the clergy). ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/16 "2007-05-08T14:11:29Z")
[QUOTE=susan\_foster] If you don’t want to see prominent crotches, skip Labyrinth. Trust me. Susan (Who has a framed Labyrinth poster) [/QUOTE] Welcome to [David Bowie’s Area](http://www.areaology.com/area.html)! (possibly NSFW, depending on your company’s policy about crotch-shots 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/17 "2007-05-08T15:21:48Z")
Star Wars is not SciFi, it’s “a knights and dragons story where they’ve just changed the landscape.” But really, it’s about non-scifi as a story can be and still get put in the scifi shelves… ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/18 "2007-05-08T15:27:16Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s the hatch for his crotch blaster. Damn! What’s the recoil on that thing? Maybe that’s really why the guy’s so nasty. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/19 "2007-05-08T18:15:58Z")
Actually, the worst offender in the Codpiece department was the crotch-revolver in **From Dusk Til Dawn** , neither sci-fi or fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126/20 "2007-05-08T19:11:34Z")
[QUOTE=Hypno-Toad] Actually, the worst offender in the Codpiece department was the crotch-revolver in **From Dusk Til Dawn** , neither sci-fi or fantasy. [/QUOTE] What did you expect from a character named “Sex Machine?,” played by the great horror makeup artist (and Pittsburgher) [Tom Savini.](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0767741/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-codpiece-science-fiction-vs-fantasy/403126.md?page=2)