Andrew ([info]monkey6079) wrote in [info]phmt,
@ 2006-12-07 19:24:00
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One of my interests is in the artistic representation of socio-political ideas, especially feminism and gender roles. 

Today I was reading Adrienne Rich's latest book the school among the ruins, and came across a passage I thought I would share.

It is part of a series, but can stand alone as well.


V.

This will not be a love scene
but an act between two humans
Now please let us see you
tenderly scoop his balls
into your hand
You will hold them
under your face
There will be tears on your face
That will be all
the director said
We will not see his face
He wants to do the scene
but not to show
his face


So my assumption is that on some level she is describing a scene from a pornographic film ("not a love scene").  By changing the way we view it as an "act between to humans," I think she is casting it more as a description of things people to do one another (specifically men to women), which I think makes a slight change in the way we view the power relationship.  By casting the two as humans, it sets them up as equals, both deserving of dignity.

That attention to dignity I think drives the poem - the tears on her face, but following the male's request not to show his face.  This request, and the fact that it is followed, really makes the piece interesting to me. Is she saying the male is in some way ashamed of this act?  Does on some level he realize this is inhumane treatment?  If he knows this, why does he still want to do the scene?

This male conflict is what brought me back to the poem.  There is in many ways the notion that we cannot be fully human if we are treating other people inhumanely.  In this sense, issues surrounding pornography and sex and dignity and power become incredible charged and very personal.  In what ways do some men's choice of pornography and/or sexual habits render them as hypocrites? 


Your thoughts?


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[info]tyresias
2007-05-14 03:22 am UTC (link)
Porn is an interesting one. The gross majority (be it straight, FFM or "lesbian") is aimed at straight men. But since it is all about the woman (as this poem points out), the man's face is often cut out so the viewer can best pretend it's him (or at least not be reminded it's not him?). But within the industry, women are paid a great deal more and (from what I've gathered from documentaries and the few of my friends in the industry) have a lot more control than the male actors do. (gay male porn being excluded in this discussion)
So while it's made to satisfy sexist notions, the industry itself is (generally) progressive. Though it seems that more producers and directors are still male (as are more managers in non-pornographic businesses) so it is not as egualitarian as the pay stubs might lead one to believe.

It is an interesting poem to be sure. I had not thought about the inhuman aspect before.

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