Shira Tarrant

About That Pornography …

Shira — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:35:55 +0000

My newest commentary about porn politics is the current issue of Bitch Magazine. Here’s a teaser of my thoughts on Gail Dines’ book, Pornland:

Is it wrong that I’m hot for the black stiletto boot gracing the cover of Pornland? Is it possible to blend kink and critique? Author Gail Dines doesn’t answer this question. That’s not her mission. The main goal in Pornland is to convince readers that porn has saturated our culture [and] hijacked our sexuality…

Dines is at her best in pointing out how porn plays a major role in dehumanizing oppressed groups. She emphasizes that porn passes off sexism as sexy. There’s an interesting take on the early years of Hustler, Playboy, and Penthouse, which Dines suggests were cultural fluffers paving the way for today’s more extreme, hard-core imagery. Her breakdown of Wall Street’s complicity in porn profit blows the lid off the DL money shuffle…

But Dines glosses over how [her vision of] alternative sexuality might still be down and dirty… The book emphasizes how porn constructs desire, stating that gonzo has a tight grip on men’s sexual imagination. Certainly, this can’t speak for all guys… Neglecting to grapple with competing arguments or inconvenient data means that Dines’ attempt to create an airtight argument against porn leaves crucial questions about agency, autonomy, and sexual pleasure unaddressed…

What Readers Are Saying:

Just read your review of Pornland in Bitch (one of our absolute favorite quarterly reads). Thank you for recognizing that there are many men who enjoy non-violent and non-gonzo porn or “erotica,” who don’t force their partners to watch something she or he doesn’t want to, and that many women (together with their partners) have sex lives that include “external” stimula. I support the work of people like [Gail] Dines and [Robert] Jensen, because there are, indeed, huge denigrating and oppressive influences in “pornland,” but I hope that we make some room for what can make sex so exciting for mutually consenting adults.

—Stephen McArthur
Hotline advocate and outreach worker for a domestic violence agency

Your review of Pornland in Bitch Magazine was the most spot-on take on that book I could possibly imagine. It was fair, summed up my thoughts completely, and even had a nice little extra dash of awesomeness with that “read while listening to punk rock…” part at the end. LOVED IT. Nice work.

—Brad Perry

Is Pornography Racist?

Shira — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:24:03 +0000

Porn Websites and videos commonly feature race-biased titles like, “Me Fuck You Long Time,” or “Oh No! There’s a Negro in My Mom.” Is this a sign that pornography is racist? It certainly has racist elements, just like all forms of media and pop culture. But it also depends on who you ask–and we should be asking women inside the industry as well as its critics.

You can read the longer version of this story here with my Ms. Magazine Blog article, Is Pornography Racist?

Catfights and Baby Daddies

Shira — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:05:41 +0000

Heather Cox at Femomist.com did an awesome interview with me about Catfights, Baby Daddies, and Feminist Motherhood. (The image above goes with the interview.) Femomist is a fierce site dedicated to the radical notion that moms are people.

I talk about breeders, parental absorption, getting past the “mommy wars,” and encouraging kids to be as free as possible.

Read more here. For getting the issues out there: Thanks, Femomist!

More on Porn: Pleasure or Profit?

Shira — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 05:07:36 +0000

Check out Part III of my Ms. Magazine Blog interview with author Gail Dines. What’s an anti-porn pledge? Click here to find out.

Is it really easy out here for a pimp? Post your opinions and get in on the convo.

Porn: Pleasure or Profit? Part II

Shira — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:34:22 +0000

In Part I of my interview with Gail Dines, the self-described anti-porn feminist discussed sexual freedom, coercion, safety and harm based on her new book, Pornland. Part II continues the conversation. This time, porn actors respond. I hope you will, too.

Pleasure, Profit, Porn

Shira — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:21:12 +0000

Part I of my interview with Gail Dines is now up at the Ms. Magazine Blog. Gail Dines is the author of Pornland: How Pornography Has Hijacked Our Sexuality, out this month on Beacon Press. I hope you’ll post your opinions to the Ms. site. Go on … I know you have ‘em!

Porn: Pleasure or Profit?

Gail Dines calls herself an anti-porn feminist, but she is quick to clarify that she’s not anti-sex. Unlike Dines—and in the interest of full disclosure—I am not anti-porn. I oppose censorship and unproductive arguments pitting sex-positive feminists against anti-porn activists. This keeps rival groups in far corners of the Sex Wars boxing ring. We need more conversation—not less—which means asking tough questions across ideological divides. To that end, I interviewed Gail Dines, curious about our agreements and differences on The Porn Question.

…To read the rest click here.

(Also watch for my review of Pornland in the Fall issue of Bitch Magazine.)

Getting Down About Hooking Up

Shira — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:14:50 +0000

Some folks are freaking out about this “new phenomenon” of hooking up. But knocking boots is hardly something new and I write about it for Ms. Magazine in my blog article,

Getting Down About Hooking Up

Not Just a Misunderstanding

Shira — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:02:03 +0000

Not Just a Misunderstanding: Masculinity, Gender Justice, and Sexual Assault Prevention

On June 16, 2010 I gave a talk on pop culture, pornography, and sexual consent. The room was packed with people sitting on the floor. The conversation after was amazing and we ran out of time for everyone to speak. It’s always heartening to join so many people committed to stopping violence and sexual assault.

It was also a pleasure to tag team with Ashleigh Klein, Rachel Griffin, and Mandy Mount.

Many thanks to the United States Department of Justice/Office on Violence Against Women and the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Thank You, SUNY!

Shira — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:04:38 +0000

I want to send huge thanks to all my hosts at SUNY, Fredonia. I flew out last week to give a talk on Pleasure, Politics, Porn. I arrived with PowerPoint pics — a historical romp through decades of The Amazing Disappearing Pubic Hair. It runs from 1970s Full Bush to the Vajazzled 2010.

We had a really nice dinner before and a lively conversation after. Big ups to Megan Carroll who took care of oh-so-many details! And congratulations to all the graduating seniors.

Q&A With Jillian Lauren in BUST

Shira — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:29:36 +0000

In the April/May issue of BUST Magazine I dish with Jillian Lauren about her time in a Brunei harem, love, authenticity, posing naked for the camera — and mostly about her new book, Some Girls (out verrrry soon). To make it easy for you to flip through and find my interview with Jillian, just turn to page 92.

Go, Jillian. You are rockin’ it, beautiful!