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[darkelf105]

Man, I just finished Bound And Gagged by Laura Kipnis. This is such a thought provoking book. It's basically a defense of pornography laid out into sections. Kipnis, like most feminist's (although I seem to be an exception) doesn't necessarily like porn for porn's sake, but as she deconstructs its symbols, themes and meanings, she comes to the conclusion that pornography is vital to American culture because it is subversive, fantastical and highly symbolic of unconscious fears and desires.  She takes a detailed look at fat porn,geriartric porn and tickling as well as does a Marxian deconstruction of Hustler. What she points out is porn makes us uncomfortable because there is nowhere to run while viewing it, especially the sub genres.  She also bring class politics into play and spends a great deal on aesthetics. This is a great book for those of us who are concerned with the stunting of the American imagination and the denial of private fantasy. I tell you, you will never look the same at porn again. I just wish I didn't have such a searing headache or I would write more.  But I love the idea that porn is subversive and that it is counter cultural. I also loved her section on fat porn. I mean after all , being HOLLYWOOD thin is an ideology and fat porn would then be the logical rebellion against it.  Yeah, and I know what you're thinking, it's because you are fat. But you know, there is nothing wrong with my body. It's not gross of disgusting so I appreciate when that's pointed out. Anyway, even if the idea of porn makes you squeamish for "moral" reasons, I still encourage this book as it is mind expanding.

Comments

[rayechu.livejournal.com]

Sounds like an interesting read. Is there any mention of the hentai/yaoi/yuri/ anime or manga porn?
Also I think you are totally cute, so no I was not thinking "it was because you are fat." I honestly forget for the most part that we are bigger than many other Americans.

[darkelf105.livejournal.com]

It's a very good book. I recommend it highly. I got through it in a day which is extremely fast for me and non-fiction.

[owaine.livejournal.com]

I was checking out some of the other reviews of this book. I found this to be particularly intersting:

"We would like to think that someone out there in the law business should listen to Ms. Kipnis. We would want to hope that some of those dull-bulb professors of communications would make her chapter on Larry Flynt required reading." (http://www.ralphmag.org/bound-and-gaggedU.html)

I looked at several reviews, and all had nothing but positive comments. Even the reviews on Amazon were all favorable, with a solid 4 of 5 stars. One last quote that I found interesting was by Mark Zeltner of Duke University Press. He wrote, "A distinct advantage that a woman dealing with this material has over a man. A man writing serious criticism of pornography would automatically be assumed to be a voyeur at the least, a fan at the worst."

Looks like this might be something to add to my reading list.

[darkelf105.livejournal.com]

I recommend it highly. It's an enteresting thought experiment at the least. I enjoy Laura Kipnis as a political philosopher very much. She's such a Marxist.

[crowyhead.livejournal.com]

I really loved this book, too -- it's one of the really good ones that goes beyond porn as a free speech issue.