Posted by Brad Chisholm on June 24, 1998 at 17:27:18:
In Reply to: Re: visual erotica and gender posted by Sharon on June 12, 1998 at 05:43:25:
Sharon,
Funny you should mention the erection taboo. In
Those few mainstream films that show a man's penis
we are often watching a passionate love scene and
an inexplicably limp male organ. Thanks for your
insights, they have helped me refine the questions.
I have just sent a new "questionaire" out on a
number of discussion lists, after using the Erotica Femina
forum as the first test of the material. I invited
Linda, the previous respondent, to expand on her
thoughts in my new questionaire and I extend the
same invitation to you. What I'm finding is
that many people are responding to the new
questions, but many respondents from non-erotica
themed discussion lists are very cryptic. Here's
hoping you and other analytical types reading this posting will
be interested in answering my eight "new and
improved" questions regarding double standards
in erotic film imagery. If so, let me know and
I'll forward the questions. I'm at bchisholm@stcloudstate.edu.
Thank you, Vivienne, for establishing this forum
and helping me test the questions here and
elsewhere.
Brad
B> To answer both of your first questions together, I would suggest that where mainstream (as opposed to hardcore) erotic imagery often fails to appeal to women is the lack of touching. Even the depiction of apparent foreplay is often at best perfuntory and at worst, brusque. The attitude behind this seems to be along the lines of "Let's get the boring necessities out of the way and get on with the nitty gritty." The focus is, I suppose, on sex rather than sensuality and I would imagine that a greater amount of the latter added to the former would appeal to more women.
> I think the lack of imagery including penises has two origins - firstly, so many men are, sadly, insecure about their penises. This must affect the number of actors and models willing to reveal all and cause some conflicting feelings in the photographers and film-makers. There is also, of course, the fact that I believe I'm right in saying that in most countries it is illegal to show an erect penis. Therefore, even if a man's genitals are visible, the imagery lacks the sense of real desire which is an important aspect of true eroticism.
> By the way, the erection taboo doesn't seem to be applied to internet pornography, presumably due to the difficulty in doing anything about it. As long as the participants are 18 or over anything goes.
> I hope this is of help.
> Sharon.