Commercialization of Sex and Sexuality within Porn Titles - Essay Example

?One of the unfortunate facts about society is the fact that the desire and tendency to stereotype pervades almost each and every interaction and dynamic that takes place. Interestingly, the desire to stereotype does not end at the point that entertainment begins. A litany of different studies have been undertaken throughout the past several years which indicate the fact that stereotypes, gender norms, and racial understandings are pervasively illustrated within the film. However, for purposes of this brief analysis, the author will not focus upon film as such; rather, the primary focus will be upon pornography and the means through which stereotyping and the commercialization of sex takes place via a particular process. Accordingly, the focus will specifically be with respect to porn titles, the names of pornographic actors, and the means through which society gains an understanding of sex and pornography based upon the way in which it is represented on the screen. As a function of measure, the analysis will be concentric upon the way in which gender norms, racial norms, and stereotypes in general are continually and pervasively represented within the realm of pornography. Firstly, with regards to gender, it must be understood that a broad majority of pornographic films contain within their titles tacit and bold statements of male dominance. Whereas the point of the film title is to engage the reader with an understanding that the film is pornographic and invariably illicit something of a chuckle in the process, the titles themselves are oftentimes misogynistic and focus upon a level of male chauvinism that is unfortunately not very surprising; due to the fact that it is the porn industry. As such, the titles are concentric upon penetration, dominance, ramming, thrusting, banging, gagging, and a litany of other male dominant positions involving sexual intercourse. Unfortunately, hardly any emphasis is paid with regards to the female perspective and experience of sex as being somehow pleasurable; rather, the entire focus is placed upon the way in which the male engages in the process of sexual relations. In keeping with the theme of gender that is thus far been discussed, it must also be noted that the names of female pornographic actors are invariably linked with their sexual appeal and demure nature. This is in stark contrast to the way in which male pornographic actors are named and denoted; invariably based upon their powerful presence and ability to coerce and engage in violent sex acts with many different women at one time. Whereas it is true that the gender differential within pornography is represented in a litany of different ways, perhaps the most powerful means through which it is represented is with respect to way in which, the invariably features a litany of different movies that focus upon several different women pleasing one man. Whereas it is true that there is an undercurrent of pornography that shows many different men pleasing one woman, this particular genre pales in overall size with regards to the one which is previously been referenced. The underlying rationale for this is due to the fact that pornography is invariably targeted towards a male audience. As such, seeking to speak to the needs and desires of the audience is a business decision that pornographic producers make as a means of furthering their own profitability. In this way, it is not surprising that the male-dominated undercurrents of the pornographic industry are represented not only with regards to the porn titles, the names of the actors, but also the content and the means through which it is represented to the interviewer. Another interesting component of pornography is with regards to the way in which racial stereotypes are presented and compounded. For instance, some of the names of the most famous African-American female porn actors include the following: Cherokee D’ass, Jeannie Pepper, Sinnamon Love, and a litany of other names that compound racial stereotypes with regards to skin tone, African ancestry, the size of the posterior, and other factors. By the same token, black male porn stars are also stereotypes with regards to the fact that black men invariably have a much larger number than their white counterparts. As such, some of these porn actors are known by the following names: Lex Steele, Justin Slayer, and C.J. Strong. Once again, the simplicity of these stereotypes is stake as it implies that life and the most base and common stereotypes can be reinforced in something as simple as the alias porn names that different actors choose to engage with (Kolehmainen, 2010). From the information that is thus far been provided, it can invariably be noted that the pornographic industry is necessarily biased towards the needs and desires of the consumer; men. However, alongside this bias, it can also be noted that gender norms and racial stereotypes are exhibited throughout almost each and every layer of the pornographic industry. This should not be meant as a way of categorizing all pornography in the same manner; rather, the broad majority of pornographic movies and friends is especially dedicated towards sustaining the desires and demand that men place upon it. Due to the fact that this particular industry exists somewhat under the purview of the mainstream media and society, the manner through which sexualized nation, gender norms, and racial stereotypes can be perpetrated, and indeed gotten away with, exceeds the manner and extent to which these gender norms and/or racial stereotypes could be exhibited in any other format genre. Ultimately, rather than assuming that the porn industry is in and of itself full of advice and something that should be censored, the take away that this particular author gains, as a function of the research that was performed, was the fact that a sanitizing light of day could in fact make the porn industry more socially conscious and reflective of the gender and racial norms that exist within current society. However, as long as pornography is viewed as “dirty” the level and extent to which social pressure can seek to encourage it to represent itself in an ethical manner is necessarily diminished. References Kolehmainen, M. (2010). Normalizing and Gendering Affects. Feminist Media Studies, 10(2), 179-194. doi:10.1080/14680771003672288 Read More