ColumnIn last week’s column I introduced you to the thriving (and surprising) feminist porn movement. Since then, we’ve witnessed a violent, gratuitous rape scene on “Game of Thrones” and were exposed to a repugnant stream of frat boy text messages rife with relentless misogyny. Just another day in the cesspool of American culture.
We could all use some sex-positive, uplifting momentum right now, can’t we? If you’re yet to be initiated to the world of Feminist Porn, feel free to review last week’s column. Now, let’s meet some of the movers and shakers in this emerging field, and get acquainted with their work.
Annie Sprinkle: The Pioneer
Annie Sprinkle is the still-reigning queen of Feminist Porn – she’s the original provocateur, and the reason that the young auteurs you’ll meet below can do what they’re doing today. (Full disclosure: Annie is my friend, so forgive the gushing please – she truly is this awesome.) Annie is a porn star and self-described “sacred prostitute” with a PhD in Human Sexuality. Her breakthrough performance art piece from 1990 was called “A Public Cervix Announcement,” a piece in which she invited theatergoers onstage to examine her vagina with a speculum. That’s when her work became iconic for Women’s Studies students everywhere (and how I first heard her name). Annie’s latest (amazing) projects are in the field of Eco-Sex and Sexecology.
Tristan Taromino
You may know Tristan’s work even if you’ve never watched porn, because she wrote a sex column called “Pucker Up” for the Village Voice from 1999 – 2008. First and foremost, Tristan is an awesome educator – all of her work feels like a super empowering lesson in sex-positive exploration, while simultaneously being fun and hot. This is why she regularly lectures at colleges across the country. Her copious instructional videos are wildly popular, especially for women exploring anal sex for the first time. Although she’s not a porn performer, she definitely belongs in this list because her contributions to the feminist porn canon are iconic. You can listen to her radio show: “Sex Out Loud” every Friday at 8 pm on Voice America.
Madison Young
She’s an award-winning adult film star and director, sex educator, performance artist/founder of the Femina Potens gallery in San Fran, and so much more. Young’s new memoir “Daddy” was first supposed to be a work of erotic fiction, but turned into a story about her life. Her work in the BDSM arena is legendary — explore her oeuvre when you’re ready to graduate from “Fifty Shades of Grey” to something real — and really intellectual.
Courtney Trouble
Trouble’s website describes her as a “queer porn icon” but it’s true – she’s is an icon. She is a porn performer/director and the founder of TROUBLEfilms, IndiePornRevolution.com, and QueerPorn.tv. She has won numerous Feminist Porn Awards.
Erika Lust
The founder of Erika Lust Films, Erika studied political science and feminism at Lund University, and has made her career out of challenging the conventions of the adult film industry. Born in Sweden and living/working in Barcelona, she writes and directs award-winning films that blur the boundaries of gender, sexuality, pleasure and fetish. Lust says: “Porn is a huge part of the culture we’re living in. We cannot just ignore porn, we have to participate and discuss this very influential genre.” Amen.
Got a question for Stefanie? Email stefanie at ecosalon dot com, and she’ll answer it in the next Sexual Healing column.
Keep in touch with Stefanie on Twitter: @ecosexuality
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