26 October 06 in Smut
White Men Can’t Hump must surely be counted among the classics of modern cinema, one of those rare porn parodies that manages to surpass the original in every respect. In the future aspiring filmmakers will study this film alongside Fellini’s 8 1/2 and Kurosawa’s Rashomon. Mark my words.
Actually no—I’m full of shit. The film does show, however, that despite all the bitching we do about porn these days, the stuff they were cranking out in the early 90s was far worse. Between the bad dye-jobs, the big hair and the grainy video, well, let’s just say I’m glad we have bigger and better things to whine about in the 21st century.
[Via VideoBox]
More: Porn,
Interracial,
Black,
Stereotypes,
Humor
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28 June 06 in Commentary
Alt-porn starlet and newly minted porn director Audacia Ray recently posted a thoughtful essay about pornography and racism:
It is ignorant in that white liberal I-see-no-race-only-people way to assume that race is not an issue for performers and for consumers. It is and will continue to be. But the big question in my mind is how to acknowledge the desire for otherness or the desire to see interracial action – it is a real one – without pandering to that whole fetishization of the other thing (this is of course based on the perhaps faulty assumption that most porn buyers are white, though there is a an ethnic industry). And here’s the thing about “other” – in the world of sexuality but especially in the world of porn (which is much less nuanced than sexuality at large), the line between appreciation of difference and lecherous fetishizing of deviance is very, very thin.
Are interracial and ethnic pornos inherently racist? I’m inclined to say no. But there is certainly a line, one that many directors cross deliberately.
Continue reading “The Waking Vixen on Porn and Race”...
More: Porn,
Stereotypes,
Racism
23 June 06 in Roundup
Yes, this is just a flimsy excuse to post Zadie Smith’s photo. Wanna fight about it?
- According to former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss, Asian chicks are hot right now—as hot as threesomes, even—because they’re clean and presentable and submissive. Thanks for setting us back 30 years Heidi. [Maxim Online]
- And white people are hot in Bollywood, at least in part because they do things on camera that Indians won’t do. This should come as no surprise to anyone who’s viewed hardcore porn in the last ten years. [MeFi]
- Fearing internet sex predators, Canada plans to raise its age of consent to 16. Right now a million pederasts are frantically clicking through MySpace profiles looking for one last fling. [Yahoo News]
- Talented Brit author Zadie Smith says she isn’t a spokesperson for multiculturalism. Frankly, I like it that way. [Mixed Media Watch]
More: Stereotypes,
Asian,
Indian,
Canadian,
Mixed,
Multiculturalism,
Bollywood
26 May 06 in Roundup
I thought I was done with the Monster Cocks this week. Honest. But somehow they keep rearing their giant, throbbing heads.
- Chick-lit may have lost its edge in the West around the time Fear of Flying headed into its second printing, but Indonesian author Ayu Utami demonstrates that in some parts of the world women who write about sex and relationships are still considered subversives. [Nerve]
- Playboy’s much-hyped Girls of MySpace edition turns out to be every bit as dull and lifeless as one would expect from a dull and lifeless publication. [Daily Niner]
- A giant sex theme park is set to open in London in order to help Brits become better lovers. Rumor has it all the attractions will focus on improved dental hygiene. Zing! [BBC News]
- Apparently, the “peg master” is racist. In this case I think my ass might actually be relieved. [Laura the Tooth]
- Whether or not Tyra Banks is actually racist, a lot of us wish this blathering idiot would just go away. [Slate]
- South Asian chicks are afraid of the BMW—aka Black Man’s Willy. The dogged persistence of the giant blacksnake stereotype stems from women spending more time talking about black men than they do interacting with black men. [Mixed Media Watch]
More: Literature,
Indonesian,
Asian,
English,
Sex,
Black,
Monster Cocks,
Racism,
Stereotypes,
Shout Outs
24 May 06 in Media
This Sims-like French AIDS awareness video, wherein a young woman has sex with a variety of unsatisfying partners until finally finding “the one,” has been making the internet rounds of late. At first I thought it was awful progressive that one of the young lady’s suitors is a black man—progressive, that is, until the stereotyping begins…
Continue reading “Good Girls Don't Like Big Black Cocks”...
More: French,
Stereotypes,
Monster Cocks,
Black,
Interracial,
Animation
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16 May 06 in Commentary
Desi babes are the new “it” girls on the American dating scene, at least according to The Telegraph:
Amisha Upadhyaya’s fine-featured dusky face and cascading waist-length black hair would turn any man’s head. But Upadhyaya, a young New York-based writer-director, admits it helps that Americans consider Indian women to be beautiful and strong. This favourable reputation has certainly contributed to propelling Indian women’s success in the United States, she says.
Indian women are the saucy new dish on the American dating scene. Until recently, American men had a taste for east Asian women — Japanese, Chinese, Korean and so on. Now, their appetites whetted by Aishwarya Rai’s pout in popular fashion magazines and hip hop artist Maya Arulpragasam, aka MIA’s, gutteral crooning, Western men are craving desi babes.
What I find alternately frustrating and amusing about these articles is their continual focus on the mating preferences of white men, as if “exotic” women don’t exist until white men discover them. Much is made of the stereotype-driven appeal of the exotic flower, and then towards the end of the piece we get the reaction of the lust-object. Men of different races are of course invisible, unless we’re talking about the endlessly fascinating phenomenon of black men plucking innocent white flowers.
Continue reading “Desi Dating”...
More: Stereotypes,
Interracial,
Dating,
Indian,
White
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27 April 06 in Media
It may be old news, but this didn’t stop the New York Times from running a piece on Raquel Pacheco, aka Bruna Surfistinha, a Brazilian prostitute turned blogger turned best-selling author. Her book, The Sweet Venom of the Scorpion: The Diary of a Call Girl, has caused quite a stir in a country that’s more sexually conservative than most people realize.
“I think there’s a lot of hypocrisy and a bit of fear involved,” [said Ms. Pacheco]. “Brazilian women have this sexy image, of being at ease and uninhibited in bed. But anyone who lives here knows that’s not true.”
The Times trots out the usual experts to confirm the finding that most Brazilian women aren’t your stereotypical hot-blooded-Latinas. This really shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone living in the United States, which has its own reputation for sexual permissiveness. Many people outside this country are under the impression that it’s Girls Gone Wild here all the time, but anyone who lives here knows our deviance is matched only by our countervailing prudishness. Two other kinky countries, Germany and Japan, suffer a similar schizophrenia when it comes to human sexuality.
As a result, some Brazilians have applauded Bruna’s frankness and say it is healthy to get certain taboos out in the open, like what both she and academic researchers say is a national penchant for anal sex.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the “national penchant for anal sex.” One wonders how academic researchers reached this conclusion.
More: Latin,
Brazilian,
Stereotypes,
Raquel Pacheco,
Blogging,
Sex
26 April 06 in Roundup
This week ethnorotica brings you a healthy serving of sloppy seconds in a trailer park. Or something like that.
- White trash is the new ghetto fabulous. I hear cross-burning is poised for a comeback too. [MSNBC]
- Say what you will about disgraced nineteen-year-old novelist Kaavya Viswanathan (and, predictably, the media are riding the overachieving Indian stereotype pretty hard), she’s actually kinda cute. [Harvard Independent]
- According to the New York Times’ puff piece on pervy fashion magnate Dov Charney, it’s “edgy” to use minorities in ad campaigns. [New York Times]
- Hard up for a date? Then lower your standards, or, y’know, do the unthinkable and cross color lines. [Miami Herald]
More: White,
Indian,
Black,
Stereotypes,
Interracial,
Kaavya Viswanathan
19 April 06 in Commentary
The following note landed in the Naked Loft Party inbox yesterday evening:
Recently my friends and I have been discussing globalizations effect on sex and wanted to know if you have explored this idea. We call it big game hunting. In homage to the safaris of old where hunters collected the big “five” of African game, (rhino, elephant, buffalo, lepard, lion) we’ve coined the new Big 5 as lovers from 1- the EU, 2- South or Central (Mexico doesn’t count) America, 3- Asia, 4- Africa, 5- Australia (New Zealand does count) Race and gender do not matter, only that the person in question calls that particular region home. Therefore a US citizen with family in China doesn’t count but a white exchange student from South Africa would. You’ll notice that it is still flawed, since areas like the Middle East are not accounted for and Asia is a very large region. Also Canada isn’t represented but like Mexico it’s just to close and thus not much effort is needed.
Um, can’t say I’ve ever explored the idea. Frankly it sounds like a lot of work for little in the way of reward. Like most men, my criteria are fairly straightforward. Namely that:
- I want to have sex with her
- She wants to have sex with me
The sweaty particulars of carnal pairings are pretty much the same no matter where you go—at least in my experience. If you sleep with enough women, at some point (one hopes) you’ll realize it’s all about how she makes you feel and not about any accident of race or geography.
But Asia is indeed a very large region; I’ll grant you that.
More: Stereotypes
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14 April 06 in Found
It’s been said that fear is the ultimate aphrodisiac. The demand for stereotyped interracial pornography is rooted in fear—not of black men specifically, but of the loss of white male privilege in a world where women are rapidly gaining power. Unencumbered by social convention, reason, or even law, the “savage” retains a kind of primitive power over women that “civilized” man lost long ago.
Note, however, that while this primitive power is coercive it does not amount to rape. The white female is the savage’s accomplice; she’s enjoying herself a little too much. Her response to the savage’s advances only confirms civilized man’s worst fears about his own emasculation. This is why so much modern interracial pornography emphasizes cuckoldry (e.g., “fuck my slutty white wife,” or else “fuck my whorish white daughter”). For some it’s the ultimate turn-on.
[Image: Jean Morisot via Sexblo.gs]
More: Porn,
Vintage,
Interracial,
Stereotypes
12 April 06 in Roundup
This week it’s all about the love.
- It’s official now. Black people love ethnorotica. [LiveJournal]
- White dude launches creepy Asiaphile magazine. Hilarity ensues. [Mixed Media Watch]
- How did I miss this? The Rollatrain loves black people. [Rollertrain]
- Film buff? Japan buff? 70’s buff? Here’s your guide to Japanese female exploitation films of that funky decade. [The Brooklyn Rail]
- Karrine Steffans (aka “SuperHead”) is many things—a hip-hop groupie, an author and, um, an “expert” at going down. She’s about to add “porn star” to her already impressive list of credentials. [Fleshbot]
More: Porn,
Film,
Japanese,
Stereotypes,
Racism,
Karrine Steffans
10 April 06 in Commentary
Bacchus asks why color matters.
I guess I’m still old-fashioned enough to dream of a world where a pretty naked woman is judged not by the color of her skin, but by the contents of her birthday suit.
It’s certainly a fine sentiment—as nice as dreaming of a world where a young woman can walk down the street in a skimpy top without being harassed. Unfortunately we have a long way to go. Here’s why color matters:
- Because mainstream pornography and erotica are overwhelmingly white. Go ahead—tour the top babelogs, the top erotic photography sites and the top alternative porn sites. The mainstream has a beauty standard—a default setting if you will—and it is most certainly not colorblind.
- Because where non-white models do appear they are regularly stereotyped. Ethnic models are commonly presented as fetish objects: the “hot-blooded” Latin, the “submissive” Asian, the “ghetto” African-American and so on. A whole segment of the industry exists specifically to promote these kinds of stereotypes. This won’t change until we change the way people look at race and sexuality.
- Because even now, in 2006, crossing color lines is a big deal. I’ve covered the porn industry’s problem with race. Given the rampant discrimination within the industry it’s no surprise the end product reflects and reinforces the worst stereotypes. Simply ignoring race won’t make the problem go away.
- Because challenging porn’s portrayal of racial and ethnic groups is no different than challenging porn’s portrayal of women. The quality smut out there today owes its existence to people who critiqued the way women are portrayed (and treated) in the Valley. It’s about time someone looked at race and porn with an equally critical eye.
To me, denying difference altogether is just as dangerous as fetishizing it. If you never look at race you end up sweeping a lot of problems under the proverbial rug. Color-blindness (like gender-blindness) is a luxury of privilege.
Bacchus argues that beauty is beauty, and I agree. Beauty is what you’ll find here, minus the stereotypes, the racial-fetishes and the monotone color scheme you’ll find in most other places.
And if I can make someone think twice before picking up a copy of “Me Luv U Long Time” or “Phat Booty Hoes” then I’ve done my job.
More: FAQ,
Porn,
Stereotypes,
Racism,
Racial Bias
(1)
5 April 06 in Smut
“Super 18” here is an old-un but a good-un. I just had to share, plus I haven’t used the Monster Cocks tag in a long time. Since this, uh, seminal video big Tony has gone on to make quite a name for himself in the monster cocks video segment.
On first impression, I called bullshit. Eighteen inches? Eighteen? Really? I mean, the dude’s clearly endowed, but eighteen fucking inches?
On second impression I wondered about the sort of woman who would find—now let’s just say for argument’s sake that the cock in question is actually eighteen inches—so I wondered about the sort of woman who would want that thing in any orifice at all, much less her (gasp!) pooper.
On third impression I wondered about the sort of guy who’d, y’know, wank it to this material. Isn’t that, y’know, a little gay? Or like a whole fucking lot gay? (Cue Jerry Seinfeld: Not that there’s anything wrong with that!) Perhaps Laura is right.
One thing’s for certain though. Eighteen inch cocks are fun for the whole fucking family!
[Via VideoBox; See also 18 Inch Anal Club]
More: Porn,
Interracial,
Black,
Stereotypes,
Monster Cocks
23 March 06 in Commentary
ColorLines magazine, via AlterNet, has a story up about a course in African-American sexuality being offered at a university in California. I thought the article was enlightening in terms of some of the issues that have been brought up here on ethnorotica:
Race “hasn’t been dealt with very well” in sexuality studies, Melendez says. Despite the fact that many people of color are interested in the topic, “there has been mainly a large group of white men and women in the field of sexuality. A lot has to do with the word ‘sexuality’; it gets associated with white people.” Melendez finds that when the word “sexuality” gets added to a course title, people of color don’t enroll.
As has been amply demonstrated in the world of erotica, even where people of different races and ethnicities are included, their sexuality is defined in terms of the “white gaze.”
Another reason for the low numbers of students of color in sexuality studies courses may have to do with the way race plays out in the mostly white classroom. “I spend all day talking about sexuality. I can say anything in my classes, and nobody will be shocked. But when [I] start talking about race, it often becomes a sensitive subject for my students,” Melendez says. “When we really start talking about what race means, we get uncomfortable. Students tend to think that if you know somebody’s race, you know a lot about them. I think that’s not true. Everybody experiences race and ethnicity differently. If you’re white, does that mean we can presume to know everything about you? It’s really important to de-teach [my sexuality studies students] about race. [I] constantly try to bring race and ethnicity into the conversation.”
Race, like money, is still very much a taboo subject, even among those who let it all hang out so to speak. Have a look and, ahem, try to ignore the trolls in the comments section.
[Props to Viv]
More: Sexuality,
Academia,
Racial Bias,
Stereotypes
20 March 06 in Commentary
Over at SugarBank, the mysterious Sam Sugar links to an Arena Magazine story about the rampant racism in America’s porn industry. He also picks apart Luke Ford’s nauseatingly ignorant rebuttal:
I like Luke’s, his writing’s pretty much essential for the industry and he’s often entertaining. This piece I had a problem with. He appears to have agreed with ‘The Bell Curve’ and digested a lot of talk radio but missed ‘Freakanomics’, ‘The Culture of Fear’, ‘Blink’ and ‘Guns, Germs and Steel’. His opinions are malformed enough to demand a response. So rising to the bait I go…
I have mixed feelings about Sam’s essay. On one hand, Sam eloquently deflates Luke Ford’s “arguments” (which may as well be lifted straight out of the Aryan Nation playbook). On the other hand, Sam gives Ford way too much credit.
It’s the racist, misogynistic scumbags of America’s “gonzo” porn industry—people like Luke Ford and his friends—who have given freedom of sexual expression a bad name. They are in large part responsible for the federal government’s crackdown on everything erotic, and they’re the reason that even progressives in this country blush at the thought of rising to the defense of the jizz biz.
Consumers, as always, are voting with their feet. Is it any surprise there’s such high demand these days for alt porn? For porn produced outside the US?
The scumbags of Porn Valley can rant all they want but the rules of the game are changing: non-white performers like Lexington Steele are going into business for themselves; production of English-language content is diversifying beyond the Valley; the rise of broadband makes it ridiculously easy to reach the consumer; an emerging generation of progressive commentators and bloggers are becoming the new tastemakers in erotica…
And we’re going to give these dinosaurs a well-deserved shove into the tar pits of obscurity.
More: Pornography,
Racism,
Stereotypes,
Racial Bias
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