UCLA CSW Update Newsletter

Title Panel Review: "After the Sex Wars: Pornography and Feminism"

Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2x85v2f1

Author Sangwand, T-Kay

Publication Date 2009-03-01

eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Panel Review by T-KAY Sangwand

Pornography After theand FeminismSex Wars

y deconstructing filmic representations, Osolinsky showed that feminism(s)’ relation and defines sex as male Bfeminist theoretical formations, and to pornography is always in a constant state acts of desire enacted the intersections of race, class, and gender, of becoming. However, she also noted that on female bodies, the provocative panel, “Pornography and within this formation process there is little Kanagawa adopted a Feminism: After the Sex Wars,” reached examination of the disconnect between feminist stance that beyond the anti-porn/sex-positive dichotomy the rhetoric and the embodied experience recognized the agency to theorize feminism and pornography’s of pornography. Rather than focusing on of female characters complex relationship. The panel, comprised of dominant culture’s readings of pornography without negating members of UC Santa Cruz’s Feminism and that re-inscribe heterosexist gender relations the subjugation of Pornography Research Cluster, featured Allison and the victimization of women, Osolinsky women and the danger of Day (Linguistics), Katie Kanagawa (Literature), proposed using Eve Sedgwick’s concepts sexual violence. Lulu Meza (Sociology), Lydia Osolinsky of paranoid and surprise readings to probe Returning to feminist theoretical formations, (Politics), and Natalie Purcell (Sociology). The this disconnect and uncover the subversive Natalie Purcell presented “A Materialist panel was moderated by Professor H. Marshall possibilities of pornography and the agency of Analysis of Feminist Discourse on Pornography.” Leicester, faculty advisor for the Feminism and its subjects. Engaging the audience with quotes from Annie Pornography Research Cluster. Following in this vein, Katie Kanagawa’s Sprinkle (Hardcore from the Heart, 2006) and In her presentation, “History in the Making: presentation, “‘FOXFIRE REVENGE!: Andrea Dworkin (“Against the Male Flood: Feminism’s Second-Wave Sex Wars and the Feminist Avengers Revisit the ‘Wars’ Over Censorship, Pornography and Equality,” 1985), Politics of Remembering,” Lydia Osolinsky Sex and Imagery,” recaptured female agency two prominent figures from the pro-sex and proposed alternative theoretical approaches to by reading subjectivization instead of female anti-pornography camps, respectively, Purcell the pro/anti-sex debates that emerged during subjugation in the 1996 film adaptation of Joyce demonstrated that both works have the power the feminist sex wars of the 1970s and 1980s. Carol Oates’ novel, Foxfire: Confessions of a to evoke affective responses from the reader, Presenting the narratives of the debates as well Girl Gang. Rejecting an anti-pornography lens despite their opposing theoretical orientations. as how they have been subsequently described, of analysis that essentializes sex/gender roles She then questioned how to link the affective

TG09 SPECIAL ISSUE on THINKING GENDER 2009 20 CSupdateW toc Panel Review by T-KAY Sangwand

with the material as well as how to define the of power between genders. While roles of assumptions of her “exotic-ness” and sexual material, particularly within pornography. While domination and submission remain, they are not availability, the woman still managed to exercise anti-pornography feminists often conflate tied to gender and/or anatomy. Day also pointed agency and authorship through her gaze and pornographic fantasy with reality, pro-sex out that the cum shot, one of the most powerful overall presence in the film. After identifying feminists attempt to preserve the fantasy with symbols of male dominance within mainstream both hypersexuality and agency, Meza spoke of reality. In order to escape the limitations of pornography, is noticeably absent within queer yearning for better representations and realities both, Purcell offered Karen Barad’s notions of porn. Instead of a clear or definitive climax, for women of color. She proposed that by materialist feminism which joins the discursive queer pornography features multiple orgasms, locating and representing women of color’s joys, with the material as well as the personal with acts of affection, and other acts of pleasure pleasures, and empowerment, there lies great the relational. While there are increased risks and desire that vary widely. The lack of a clear potential for forming new subjectivities and in vulnerability by creating this aperture in climax also destabilizes positions of dominance crafting new knowledges. feminism’s pro/anti-pornography discussion, and submission that are tied to traditional As these presentations demonstrate, there is also the great potential for developing gender roles in mainstream pornography. feminisms’ relation to pornography is neither more complex and robust theories on feminisms’ Through thoughtful and critical analysis, Day singular nor static. Through critical, self-reflexive relation to pornography. demonstrated pornography’s radical and healing inquiry and analysis, feminisms’ dialog with In “Diversifying Pornography,” Allison potential and the importance of defending the pornography (and arguably other forms of sex Day queered the discussion by analyzing the medium for its possibilities. work) and sexuality will outgrow dichotomous new significations that penetration presents The final panelist, Lulu Meza, presented pro/anti approaches and further explore and in queer/lesbian pornography. If the act of “Women of Color, Hypersexuality, and Porn.” theorize the complexities, contradictions, penetration is mapped to dominance and power, Opening her presentation, Meza shared a and embodied experiences of women and and mainstream pornography maps power to personal anecdote of watching a pornographic pornography. traditional gender roles, does penetration in film featuring a woman of color that left her queer pornography still represent dominance feeling both disturbed and intrigued. She T-Kay Sangwand recently graduated from when it is divorced from males? Giving examples terms these conflicting feelings a “productive UCLA’s joint master’s degrees program in Infor- of penetration divorced from a male penetrator, perversity,” one worth exploring in attempts mation Studies and Latin American Studies. She such as masturbation with sex toys and sex to create critical new subjectivities for women is currently the Human Rights Archivist at the with strap-ons, Day showed how penetration in of color within pornography. Meza observes University of Texas at Austin. queer pornography divorces sexual desire and that despite the film’s hypersexualization of dominance from males and destabilizes notions the woman for her ethnicity and the accordant

TG09 SPECIAL ISSUE on THINKING GENDER 2009 21 CSupdateW toc