Violent Pornography Research Articles

Brothers and Sisters Unite: Take Back the Night in San Francisco, Cambridge, and Iowa City

Using archival documents from the GLBT Historical Society, Schlesinger Library, and Iowa Women’s Archives, this research argues that Take Back the Night marches during the late 1970s and early 1980s in San Francisco, Cambridge, and Iowa City followed similar patterns: they were motivated by local events, constructed meaning for attendees through similar structural elements, and struggled with the dilution of their messages and goals because of conflict. Existing research does not create concrete understandings of Take Back the Night based on comparisons or research on more than one event and geographic location, instead focusing on the broader feminist anti-violence movement, including potential causes of Take Back the Night, such as developing understandings of rape, increasing awareness of rape, and increasing opposition to violent pornography and media. This research explores how feminist anti-violence motivations manifested in Take Back the Night events in San Francisco, Cambridge, and Iowa City, highlighting these communities’ awareness of local statistics/frequency of attacks, knowledge of publicized trials and crimes (often serial), and organizers’ thoughts on pornography and media. Take Back the Night’s meaning is considered through examination of common elements of testimony and physical reclaiming of space, and how these elements created meaning for attendees. This research also argues that the message and goal of Take Back the Night were diluted by conflicts among organizers and with their surrounding communities, including disagreements about the role of pornography, the exclusion of women of color, and the exclusion of men. 

(O-37) PORNOGRAPHY CONSUMPTION AND SEXUAL SATISFACTION IN BRAZILIAN ADULTS

Abstract Introduction/Objective It is estimated that, worldwide, 40 million adults watch pornography regularly. Understanding sexuality as a social construction and sexual satisfaction as a construct with emotional, relational, physical and cultural characteristics. The aim of this research is to understand the relationship between pornography consumption and the sexual behaviors of its consumers; and compare pornography consumption, considering the gender of consumers. Material and Methods Quantitative, correlational and cross-sectional study. The following instruments were used: sociodemographic questionnaire, questionnaire on pornography consumption (frequency, type, form of use, source of content, age of first access and motivation for use), questions on condom use and a rating scale. emotional sexual satisfaction. In total, 993 adults responded to the online survey. Results Pornography consumption patterns differed according to the gender of consumers, in relation to the age of first exposute to pornography, frequency and motivation for consumption. Men started consumption earlier and have a higher frequency of consumption compared to women. Men report use for excitement, avoidance of uncomfortable feelings, and boredom. Among women, use involves sexual activity with a partner, curiosity and learning different practices. In the network analysis, gender played a mediating role between pornography consumption and emotional sexual satisfaction. Condom use was not related to sexual satisfaction or pornography consumption. The violent pornography consumption score was a predictor of lower levels of emotional sexual satisfaction. Conclusions Pornography consumption, both violent and non-violent, and being male are associated with lower levels of emotional sexual satisfaction. Such results can support interventions to promote sexual health. Financing Bolsa PRO-Stricto Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS).

Links between Aggressive Sexual Fantasies and Sexual Coercion: A Replication and Extension of a Multifactorial Model

Current research indicates that aggressive sexual fantasies (ASF) are related to sexual aggression, above and beyond other risk factors for this behavior. There have, however, rarely been explicitly considered in multifactor models aiming to explain sexual aggression. One exception is the multifactorial Revised Confluence Model of Sexual Aggression that was replicated in two samples of male individuals who were convicted of sexual offenses and a small sample of men from the general population and evidenced a high relevance of ASF, respectively. There were, however, no further attempts to replicate the model in larger samples from the general population. We, therefore, used a subsample from the Finnish Genetics of Sexuality and Aggression project including 3269 men (age: M = 26.17 years, SD = 4.76) to do so. Cross-sectional latent structural equation models corroborated previous research and the assumption that ASF are a central component in multifactor models that aim to explain sexual aggression: ASF and antisocial behavior/aggression were equally important associates of sexual coercion when also considering adverse childhood experiences, hypersexuality, and callous-unemotional traits. Additionally, ASF mediated the links between hypersexuality, callous-unemotional traits, as well as childhood sexual abuse and sexual coercion. These links held stable when entering further risk factors, that is, distorted perceptions, rape-supportive attitudes, and violent pornography consumption into the model. Contrasting assumptions, alcohol consumption and antisocial behavior/aggression did not interact. These results illustrate the potential importance of ASF for sexual aggression. They indicate that ASF require consideration by research on sexual aggression as well as in the treatment and risk assessment of sexual perpetrators.

Youth Characteristics Associated With Sexual Violence Perpetration Among Transgender Boys and Girls, Cisgender Boys and Girls, and Nonbinary Youth

Gender minority adults experience higher rates of sexual violence (SV) than cisgender adults. How this disparity extends to youths, including perpetration rates, is unknown. To compare rates of experience and perpetration of SV by gender identity and investigate characteristics associated with odds of perpetration within gender identity categories. This cross-sectional study used baseline data from a national online longitudinal survey collected in 2018 to 2020. Eligible participants were youths ages 14 to 16 years who read English and had internet access. Data were analyzed in November 2021 and March 2022. Youth characteristics included stressors associated with being marginalized (eg, internalized transphobia), general stressors (eg, trauma not associated with experiencing SV), other marginalized statuses (eg, identifying as a girl), factors associated with protection (eg, social support), environmental characteristics (eg, community violence exposure), and risk factors associated with SV (eg, consumption of violent pornography). Self-reported rates of experiencing and perpetrating SV, defined as sexual assault, rape, attempted rape, and coercive sex, among cisgender, transgender, and nonbinary youths. Among 4193 youths in the sample (mean [SD] age, 14.8 [0.7] years), 3282 participants (78.3%) were cisgender, 329 participants (7.9%) were transgender, and 582 participants (13.9%) were nonbinary. The odds of SV perpetration were not statistically significantly different for transgender boys and girls (odds ratio [OR], 0.90; 95% CI, 0.57-1.41; P = .64) or nonbinary youths (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.54-1.12; P = .18) compared with cisgender boys and girls. By contrast, transgender boys and girls (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.83-2.91; P < .001) and nonbinary youths (OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.98-2.83; P < .001) were more than 2-fold as likely as cisgender boys and girls to report experiencing SV. Aggressive behavior was associated with higher odds of SV perpetration for transgender boys and girls (adjusted OR [aOR], 1.87; 95% CI, 0.75-4.65; P = .18) and nonbinary youths (aOR, 1.61; 95% CI, 0.78-3.32; P = .20). Indications of hostile masculinity were associated with higher odds of SV perpetration among cisgender youths (ie, positive attitudes for boys to engage in rape behaviors: aOR per unit increase in score, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.07-1.25; P < .001; sexual dominance: aOR per unit increase in score, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04; P < .001) but not among transgender or nonbinary youths. These findings may suggest an important foundation for the development of inclusive, research-based SV prevention programs and methods for incorporating gender identity effectively into SV research.

Sexual Victimization in Adulthood and Associated Factors Among Men and Women: Cross-Sectional Evidence from Mainland China

Limited empirical research addresses sexual victimization and related factors among the general adult population in China. To address this gap, we explored the association between sexual victimization in adulthood and associated factors (unwanted sexual experiences [USE] before age 18, binge drinking prior to sex, hooking up, violent pornography use, awareness and perceived behavioral control of consent, and sexual refusal assertiveness) among a convenience Chinese sample. A cross-sectional study was performed in September 2020 among 898 screened men and women from 29 provinces in mainland China. Overall, 52.5% of men and 57.9% of women experienced sexual victimization at least once in adulthood. Men and women differed in the severity of sexual victimization in adulthood, with the mean severity scores of women being significantly higher than those of men. Hierarchical ordinal logistic regression revealed that, after considering control variables, correlates of severity of sexual victimization in adulthood included gender (OR 3.17, 95% CI 2.30-4.40), severity of USE before age 18 (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.92-2.73), binge drinking prior to sex (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.83-3.49), hook-up history (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.49-3.39), violent pornography use (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04-1.09), lack of perceived behavioral control of communicating consent (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07), and sexual refusal assertiveness (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.89-0.95). These findings indicate that early adverse sexual experiences, potential risky sexual behaviors, violent pornography use, and beliefs about consent and refusal may play an important role in predicting sexual victimization among Chinese adults.

60.4 PORN IN THE USA: HOW SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MEDIA AFFECTS MENTAL HEALTH AND RISK BEHAVIORS

This session aims to summarize the current state of research regarding the extent of contemporary youth engagement with pornography and its effects on their mental health and risk behaviors. An ongoing literature review was conducted on pornography use among youth, as well as its relationship to mental health and risk behaviors. Resulting studies were evaluated for relevancy and level of evidence, and the most important themes are consolidated for this presentation. Pornography use has become increasingly prevalent as easy unsupervised access to the internet has been enabled by easy internet access such as by smartphone ownership. The increase in screen media usage during the global pandemic has only further increased pornography engagement. Exposure to sadomasochistic, violent, and aggressive sex has become commonplace. Older boys, those who spend more time online, those with same-sex interests, and those with poor family relationships spend the most time viewing pornography. Parents reliably underestimate the amount and types of pornography their teens have viewed. With relatively few receiving sex education from schools or parents, pornography is the default sexual education for many, with implications for sexual attitudes and practices. Youth have a poor understanding of what is real and what is theater when viewing pornography. Pornography exposure affects adolescents’ perceptions of and engagement in risky sexual behaviors such as sex with multiple partners, infidelity, unprotected sex, sex after alcohol and drug use, and sharing nude pictures of oneself online. Violent pornography exposure correlates with perpetration of sexual assault among boys and with sexual victimization among girls. Exposure to online pornography is now normative among older children and teens, significantly affecting attitudes toward sex. Adolescents often learn sexual performance scripts or practices from pornography, and imitate these with peers, leading to risky behaviors and habits. Clinicians who work with children and adolescents should understand how to talk with and advise patients and their families about pornography and its effects. Parent-child conversations on the topic can be difficult but easier when parents pick an appropriate time and place, take a curious stance, and avoid emoting shock or judgment.

A Meta-analysis of Media Consumption and Rape Myth Acceptance

The prevalence of rape myths, or false beliefs about rape that blame victims of sexual violence and excuse perpetrators of sexual violence, has been documented throughout a wide range of media content. However, previous meta-analyses of media consumption and rape myth acceptance (RMA) have focused on pornography, and these studies are over ten years old. This research addresses this gap with a meta-analysis studying the relationship between the consumption of all types of media and RMA. Thirty-two studies (N = 12,016) met inclusion criteria. The overall weighted mean effect size was r = 0.09 (p < .001), indicating a small but statistically significant relationship, where media consumption is correlated with greater RMA. Sub-analyses indicated that a few media types, especially violent pornography and general pornography, drove this relationship. Results are discussed in terms of cultivation theory, social cognitive theory, and sexual scripting theory. The results highlight needs for: research exploring the relationship between diverse types of media consumption and RMA, pornography research distinguishing between violent and nonviolent pornographic content, and rape myth-focused media literacy interventions that target adolescents and young adults.

Aggression-Related Sexual Fantasies: Prevalence Rates, Sex Differences, and Links With Personality, Attitudes, and Behavior

Aggression-related sexual fantasies (ASF) are considered an important risk factor for sexual aggression, but empirical knowledge is limited, in part because previous research has been based on predominantly male, North-American college samples, and limited numbers of questions. The present study aimed to foster the knowledge about the frequency and correlates of ASF, while including a large sample of women and a broad range of ASF. A convenience sample of N = 664 participants from Germany including 508 (77%) women and 156 (23%) men with a median age of 25 (21-27) years answered an online questionnaire. Participants were mainly recruited via social networks (online and in person) and were mainly students. We examined the frequencies of (aggression-related) sexual fantasies and their expected factor structure (factors reflecting affective, experimental, masochistic, and aggression-related contents) via exploratory factor analysis. We investigated potential correlates (eg, psychopathic traits, attitudes towards sexual fantasies) as predictors of ASF using multiple regression analyses. Finally, we examined whether ASF would positively predict sexual aggression beyond other pertinent risk factors using multiple regression analysis. The participants rated the frequency of a broad set of 56 aggression-related and other sexual fantasies, attitudes towards sexual fantasies, the Big Five (ie, broad personality dimensions including neuroticism and extraversion), sexual aggression, and other risk factors for sexual aggression. All participants reported non-aggression-related sexual fantasies and 77% reported at least one ASF in their lives. Being male, frequent sexual fantasies, psychopathic traits, and negative attitudes towards sexual fantasies predicted more frequent ASF. ASF were the strongest predictor of sexual aggression beyond other risk factors, including general aggression, psychopathic traits, rape myth acceptance, and violent pornography consumption. ASF may be an important risk factor for sexual aggression and should be more strongly considered in prevention and intervention efforts. The strengths of the present study include using a large item pool and a large sample with a large proportion of women in order to examine ASF as a predictor of sexual aggression beyond important control variables. Its weaknesses include the reliance on cross-sectional data, that preclude causal inferences, and not continuously distinguishing between consensual and non-consensual acts. ASF are a frequent phenomenon even in in the general population and among women and show strong associations with sexual aggression. Thus, they require more attention by research on sexual aggression and its prevention.

Understanding Associations Between Exposure to Violent Pornography and Teen Dating Violence Among Female Sexual Minority High School Students.

Previous research indicates that teen dating violence (TDV) is more common among sexual minority than heterosexual adolescents, with approximately half of female sexual minority adolescents (SMA) endorsing TDV victimization in the last year. In samples of adolescents without regard to sexual orientation, exposure to violent pornography is associated with TDV, but this relationship has not been assessed in female SMA. The current study sample consisted of 10th-grade high school students aged 14-17 who identified as cisgender females (N = 1,276). Data were collected from a baseline survey prior to the delivery of a sexual assault prevention intervention. Female SMA had 2.54 times the odds (95%CI [1.75, 3.69]) of being exposed to violent pornography and 2.53 times the odds (95%CI [1.72, 3.70)]) of TDV exposure compared to heterosexual girls. Exposure to violent pornography was not associated with involvement in TDV among female SMA, controlling for episodic heavy drinking (aOR = 2.25, 95%CI [0.88,6.22]).Given the relatively higher rates of violent pornography and TDV exposure among female SMA compared to heterosexual girls, it is critical that sex education curricula address these experiences and meet the needs of adolescents of all sexual orientations. Future research can assess how these TDV interventions might be tailored for female SMA. Although we did not find that exposure to violent pornography was associated with TDV among female SMA, these investigations should be replicated with larger data sets, given that the association between exposure to violent pornography and engagement in TDV was in the expected direction.

Pornography, impersonal sex, and sexual aggression: A test of the confluence model in a national probability sample of men in the U.S.

This paper reports findings on men's exposure to extreme pornography, impersonal sexuality, and sexual aggression from the National Survey of Porn Use, Relationships, and Sexual Socialization, a U.S. population-based probability study. Despite Malamuth's confluence model (CM) of sexual aggression positing that an impersonal approach to sex interacts with exposure to pornography to predict the likelihood of committing sexual assault, only a few studies have actually tested this prediction. Additionally, the data from the only previous nationally representative study were gathered more than 30 years ago. Results of the present study generally supported the CM. Extreme pornography exposure and impersonal sexuality were both associated with a higher probability of sexual aggression. Although impersonal sex was a robust predictor in and of itself, men who were more exposed to pornography and impersonal in their approach to sex were more likely to be sexually aggressive than men who were impersonal in their approach to sex but less exposed to pornography. Results maintained when indicators of sex drive were included in analyses. The only finding inconsistent with the CM was that the association between pornography exposure and sexual aggression was stronger among men lower rather than higher in impersonal sex.

Factors predictive of sexual violence: Testing the four pillars of the Confluence Model in a large diverse sample of college men

This article focuses on the characteristics of sexually violent men who have not been convicted of a crime. The objective of this study was to test the four key interrelated pillars of the Confluence Model. The first key pillar posits the interaction of Hostile Masculinity and Impersonal Sex as core risk predictors. The second pillar entails a "mediated structure" wherein the impact of more general risk factors is mediated via those specific to aggression against women. The third pillar comprises a single latent factor underlying various types of sexual violence. The fourth pillar expands the core model by including the secondary risk factors of lower empathy, peer support, extreme pornography use, and participation in alcohol parties.An ethnically diverse sample of 1,148 male students from 13 U.S. colleges and universities completed a comprehensive survey that assessed the hypothesized risk factors and self-reported sexual violence, which included noncontact sexual offenses, contact sexual coercion, and contact sexual aggression.A series of multiple regression analyses were conducted before testing structural equation models. The results supported the integration of the four pillars within a single expanded empirical model that accounted for 49% of the variance of sexual violence.This study yielded data supporting all four key pillars. These findings provide information about non-redudant risk factors that can be used to develop screening tools, group-based and individually tailored psychoeducational and treatment interventions.

A Literature Review of Studies into the Prevalence and Frequency of Men’s Pornography Use

This review aims to provide information on the prevalence and frequency of adult males’ pornography use. It appears, the majority (> 80%) of adult men have accessed pornography at some point, and in the past year (40–70%). Around half of younger men (25 or under) are weekly consumers. Pornography use tapers-off with age. Relatively few (<10%) younger men have accessed violent pornography in the past year. The Internet is the primary method of access. Pornography use is associated with masturbation; use during partnered sex is less common. Differences in consumption rates between heterosexual and gay and bisexual men are discussed.

Pornography Use and Sexual Coercion: Examining the Mediation Effect of Sexual Arousal.

The increased accessibility and use of pornography in Western society highlights the emergent need to understand the relationship between its use and sexual coercion. Decades of research have demonstrated a consistent relationship between pornography use and engaging in sexually aggressive behavior, although what drives this relationship remains largely unexplained. Researchers have recently presented potential explanations for these relationships, such as the use of violent pornography types, the development of aberrant sexual scripts, and the frequency of pornography use. This study seeks to contribute to the explanation by examining the potential mediating effects of sexual arousal on the relationship between pornography use frequency and willingness to engage in verbal and illegal sexual coercive behaviors by examining a sample of male and female college adults. This population reports some of the highest rates of pornography use. The sample of 745 college students were exposed to either an exotic video presentation or a criminal justice lecture, and provided a dating scenario and sexual arousal assessments. Results indicated those young adults that consume pornography more frequently were more likely to experience higher levels of sexual arousal to the erotic video than those who reported little or no use. However, after controlling for several variables significantly related to sexual coercion, arousal did not mediate willingness to engage in verbal or illegal sexual coercive behaviors. Other significant results and implications are discussed.

The Confluence Model of Sexual Aggression: An Application With Adolescent Males.

The Confluence Model of Sexual Aggression is a well-established framework for understanding factors that contribute to men's perpetration of sexual aggression against women, highlighting the roles of hostile masculinity, impersonal sex orientation, and exposure to pornography. To date, only one study has applied aspects of the Confluence Model to examine predictors of sexual aggression in adolescent males, and the study did not include pornography exposure as a predictor. The current study evaluates the Confluence Model as a framework for understanding the perpetration of both contact and noncontact sexual aggression in a sample of 935 heterosexual 10th-grade adolescent boys. Composite scores for hostile masculinity and impersonal sex orientation were generated. Nearly all the variables included in the hostile masculinity and impersonal sex constructs were associated with perpetration. Zero-inflated Poisson regression models revealed distinct combinations of salient predictors when the dependent variable was identified as boys' frequency of perpetration, compared with when the dependent variable was defined as any perpetration of sexual aggression. Impersonal sex orientation and violent pornography exposure were associated with perpetrating noncontact sexual aggression in the last 6 months, while violent pornography exposure and the interaction of hostile masculinity and impersonal sex orientation increased the frequency of recent contact sexual aggression. Results suggest that hostile masculinity, impersonal sex orientation, and violent pornography exposure are important factors to address within sexual assault prevention approaches for adolescent boys.

Possessing Extreme Pornography: Policing, Prosecutions and the Need for Reform

The law criminalising the possession of extreme pornography, first enacted in 2008 and amended to include rape pornography in 2015, continues to generate considerable controversy and calls for reform. In order to inform these ongoing discussions, we undertook a study to find out information about who is being charged with extreme pornography offences and their characteristics in terms of gender, age and ethnicity, as well as data on the specific type of pornography forming the subject-matter of those charges. Utilising freedom of information requests, our study provides valuable new information to help inform debates over the policing of extreme pornography across England and Wales. Overall, we found that the vast majority of those charged were white men across all age groups; that bestiality images formed the most common basis for charging and that, in respect of the data provided, the majority of charges were brought together with other sexual offences.

The Association Between Exposure to Violent Pornography and Teen Dating Violence in Grade 10 High School Students

Exposure to pornography in general has been linked with adolescent dating violence and sexual aggression, but less is known about exposure to violent pornography specifically. The current study examined the association of violent pornography exposure with different forms of teen dating violence (TDV) using baseline survey data from a sample of Grade 10 high school students who reported being in a dating relationship in the past year (n = 1694). Gender-stratified logistic regression models generated odds ratios adjusted for demographics, substance use, history of suspension/expulsion, gender equitable attitudes, and tolerance of rape myths to identify significant associations between violent pornography exposure and self-reported physical, sexual, and threatening TDV perpetration and victimization. Violent pornography exposure was associated with all types of TDV, though patterns differed by gender. Boys exposed to violent pornography were 2-3 times more likely to report sexual TDV perpetration and victimization and physical TDV victimization, while girls exposed to violent pornography were over 1.5 times more likely to be perpetrate threatening TDV compared to their non-exposed counterparts. Comprehensive prevention strategies for TDV may consider the potential risks associated with exposure to violent pornography, particularly for boys, and provide an alternative source of education about healthy sexual behavior and relationships.

Rape pornography, cultural harm and criminalisation

In 2015 the offence of possessing extreme pornography (Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, s 63) was extended to cover the possession of pornographic images of rape. Proponents of the legislation claim that rape pornography is ‘culturally harmful’, because it normalises and legitimates sexual violence. Critics have dismissed ‘cultural harm’ as poorly defined and lacking evidence. However, critical engagement with, and development of, this concept has been limited on both sides of the debate.&#x0D; This article fills that gap through a sustained theoretical exposition of the concept of cultural harm and detailed analysis of its role in justifying the criminalisation of rape pornography. It makes the case that at least some rape pornography is culturally harmful, but nevertheless concludes that criminalisation of the possession of rape pornography is not an appropriate response to that harm.

Predicting the Emergence of Sexual Violence in Adolescence.

This study aims to report the epidemiology of sexual violence (SV) perpetration for both female and male youth across a broad age spectrum. Additionally, the etiology of SV perpetration is examined by identifying prior exposures that predict a first SV perpetration. Six waves of data were collected nationally online, between 2006 and 2012, from 1586 youth between 10 and 21years of age. Five types of SV were assessed: sexual harassment, sexual assault, coercive sex, attempted rape, and rape. To identify how prior exposures may predict the emergence of SV in adolescence, parsimonious lagged multivariable logistic regression models estimated the odds of first perpetrating each of the five types of SV within the context of other variables (e.g., rape attitudes). Average age at first perpetration was between 15 and 16years of age, depending on SV type. Several characteristics were more commonly reported by perpetrators than non-perpetrators (e.g., alcohol use, other types of SV perpetration and victimization). After adjusting for potentially influential characteristics, prior exposure to parental spousal abuse and current exposure to violent pornography were each strongly associated with the emergence of SV perpetration-attempted rape being the exception for violent pornography. Current aggressive behavior was also significantly implicated in all types of first SV perpetration except rape. Previous victimization of sexual harassment and current victimization of psychological abuse in relationships were additionally predictive of one's first SV perpetration, albeit in various patterns. In this national longitudinal study of different types of SV perpetration among adolescent men and women, findings suggest several malleable factors that need to be targeted, especially scripts of inter-personal violence that are being modeled by abusive parents in youths' homes and also reinforced by violent pornography. The predictive value of victimization for a subsequent first SV perpetration highlights the inter-relatedness of different types of violence involvement. Universal and holistic prevention programming that targets aggressive behaviors and violent scripts in inter-personal relationships is needed well before the age of 15years.

Forced Entry (Shaun Costello, 1972)

Released in 1973 amidst the moral and political turmoil of US withdrawal from Vietnam, Forced Entry is a seemingly indefensible pornographic text. The tale of a psychologically disturbed Vietnam war veteran who embarks upon a rape and murder spree in New York, its opportunism, deliberate provocation and extreme hardcore sexual violence are all seemingly designed to titillate at the basest, most prurient level imaginable. Playing directly into the hands of feminist intellectuals and campaigners intent on proving pornography’s inherently harmful or dangerous effects, the film’s surfaces would appear to offer scant material for the critic intent on articulating its varied levels of historical or cultural interest. This article address not only the film’s textual, structural and narrative modes, but also its relationship to the sexploitation ‘roughie’ cycle of the 1960s, its incongruity amidst the so called ‘porno chic’ phenomenon of the early 1970s, its status in relationship to other examples of both feature-length and ‘loop’ violent pornography in the period and its early evocation of the psychotic, sexually dysfunctional Vietnam veteran, a cinematic icon that would establish a niche in both mainstream and exploitation cinema as the decade progressed. Directed by Shaun Costello, and featuring a lead performance by Harry Reems, the film also serves as an early feature length showcase for hardcore industry veterans who would each contribute significantly to the notoriety of the burgeoning adult film industry. Academic appraisals of feature film pornography have tended to favour examples which might be re-claimed as radical incursions or counter-textual responses to the prevailing conventions or ideological project of films which are produced for male audiences beyond mainstream dictates of taste and propriety. The article addresses the critical possibilities of one of those texts which is perhaps 'irredeemable' from any political or ethical position, considering how such works are often the purest expression of an untrammelled and wilfully obnoxious counter-sensibility, assuring their canonical importance regardless (or, perhaps, because) of their ideological provocations.

“The Hardest of Hardcore”: Locating Feminist Possibilities in Women’s Extreme Pornography

AbstractAmong the sites for examining the politics of pleasure, the production of extreme commercial pornography may be among the most controversial. But precisely because it is so fraught and contested, it is also among the most productive for considering women’s often contradictory roles, perspectives, and positioning in the industry. The received wisdom in the porn industry, and in American society more broadly, is that if women are interested in porn at all—as producers or viewers—then they must prefer the softer side of hardcore: narratives with high production values and the trappings of romance. The women who create extreme porn therefore raise some interesting questions about the gendered (and classed) assumptions surrounding conceptions of women’s porn. Original research, including personal interviews with forty filmmakers, demonstrates how women directors can challenge conventional notions of femininity and broaden understandings of female desire in unexpected ways, by exploring edgy or dangerou...