tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129515758261094307.post7747080758369260312..comments2023-10-22T06:05:37.689-03:00Comments on O Mangue: Pornography and objectificationThaddeus Gregory Blanchettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359423010378429288noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129515758261094307.post-7933889926452536232010-08-17T11:53:08.646-03:002010-08-17T11:53:08.646-03:00...continued.
But here's my big problem with ......continued.<br /><br />But here's my big problem with your point: "A lot of tricks are used in the Porn industry to make things seem more attractive".<br /><br />Really?<br /><br />Because when I watch mainstream porn, I find it to be boooooooooring. Not attractive at all. Then again, I find most advertising to be ludicrous as well. Obviously, other people's mileage varies.<br /><br />But the kicker is this: if porn is making things attractive, then it can't be causing that attraction, correct? That would be tautological. So what you're saying is that people are attracted to certain things and porn knows how to manipulate this. Doesn't sound to me, then, like porn is the problem when it comes to creating people's feelings of inferiority. Sounds to me like people have already internalized the desires that result in those feelings and all porn does is rub this in their face.<br /><br />Now, you say "I feel sex should be viewed a lot more seriously than it is". <br /><br />How much more "seriously" do you want it to be veiewed than through the lens of a multi-billion dollar industry? It is, in fact, the very concept that sex is "serious" that allows it to be cast as a taboo and this taboo, of course, is what makes the porn industry possible. <br /><br />As for porn "devaluing those depicted in it", very much to the contrary: as I said in my main post, it places specific grades and valuations upon their performances. In other words, it "values them out" to the nth degree.<br /><br />About the only thing I can agree with you upon is your belief that porn debases those viewing it. But then again, I feel that our public culture in general is debasing and nothing is MORE debasing than the activities of those who honestly feel, like yourself, that humans are nothing more than Pavlovian-trained dogs, geared to cum or to feel "self esteem issues" at the ringing of the master's bell. <br /><br />Sure, those who watch porn degrade themselves, as do those who watch "Twilight", "Titanic", or commercials for feminine deoderant sprays.<br /><br />As we say in Brazil, what's a fart to someone who's covered in shit?Thaddeushttp://omangueblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/pornography-and-objectification.html#comment-formnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129515758261094307.post-51913786010386362922010-08-17T11:52:21.053-03:002010-08-17T11:52:21.053-03:00Sorry for taking so long to respond, Annaleisha. I...Sorry for taking so long to respond, Annaleisha. I've not been keeping track of old commentary as well as I should. I need to find a widget that clues me in on when people respond to old posts.<br /><br />First of all, the statement "porn is not good" is so highly subjective, I hardly know where to begin. Let's start with "porn". What is porn, exactly? Sexual content with no redeeming social value? To quote Bill Hicks, "Hmmmm. Sounds like every fucking commercial on T.V. if you ask me." <br /><br />I mean, where do you draw the line, exactly?<br /><br />Also, I wonder how porn could have a greater negative effect on the self-esteem of young women than, oh, say the beauty industry or Christianity. Most young women I know are not watching Buttman 4 and feeling inferior for not being able to take a 12 inch cock up their ass without flinching. They ARE, however, devouring women's magazines (like Cosmopolitan) which seem devoted to the concept that women, as they are, are not beautiful, intelligent, or savvy enough. They ARE worrying about how and with whom they should lose their virginity and whether or not Jeezis would approve of the affair.<br /><br />I know several women who got boob jobs: not one of them cited Jenna Jameson as their inspiration. All of them were assiduous consumers of women's media and were painfully aware of the physcial condition of their bodies. We're talking people, for example, who own 12 different kinds of shampoo because "just one doesn't do the job" and who celebrate the loss of 5 kilos by buying more laxatives.<br /><br />So I'm sorry, Annaleisha, but I think you're talking flat-out dogma when you say that porn is somehow significantly affecting women's views of themselves. If it has an effect, it's like a candle in a volcano.<br /><br />As for people feeling inadequate when they compare themselves to the fake images on the screen, again, isn't this the founding concept of pretty much every commercial out there - and the ones dedicated to women in particular? Porn doesn't CAUSE this syndrome in our society, Anna: it accurately reflects our cultural preocupation with the gospel of personal salvation through consumption. The kind of person who seriously lets porn affect their notion of self is the sort of person who's going to have huge issues living in our society in general: if they are that sensitive and reactive, how the hell are they going to resist Nigerian banking schemes or Republican snake oil?Thaddeushttp://omangueblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/pornography-and-objectification.html#commentsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129515758261094307.post-63168690008730174682010-03-23T19:03:09.122-03:002010-03-23T19:03:09.122-03:00Thad, porn is not good. It fosters a self-centered...Thad, porn is not good. It fosters a self-centered attitude and disillusions people. It also has a negative effect on the self esteem of young women and even some adult women! (I watched a documentary on porn and how it affects women who have boob jobs, dress like a prostitute when they go out, young men who like fake boobs etc) It has a negative effect on relationships at times, people often feel inadequate when they compare themselves to the fake images they see on the screen. A lot of tricks are used in the Porn industry to make things seem more attractive. It isn't healthy to watch it regularly. I feel sex should be viewed a lot more seriously than it is. Not something that can be shared between two people who don’t know each other sufficiently. Pornography devalues those depicted in it, and debases those viewing it.Annaleishahttp://www.twitter.com/annaleishamaenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129515758261094307.post-16823331974414937122009-12-31T21:32:31.446-02:002009-12-31T21:32:31.446-02:00Don't get me wrong, I don't hate porn. In ...Don't get me wrong, I don't hate porn. In fact, I think it's often helpful and serves its purpose. I won't pretend I never watch(ed) it, especially when I was, well, young and curious.<br /><br />About the worst thing that can happen (becoming a crappy lover), well, that's bad enough in my book! ;) If nothing else, young people have to unlearn a lot of things they thought were usual part of sexual intercourse.<br /><br />Porn is not some "dangerous thing", but it is interesting to analyze the influence of porn movies and the ways they shape young people's expectations. <br /><br />PS-About my link. Since it's impossible to comment here without some kind of internet account, I chose my blogspot profile. It does take you to my blog, but it's an irrelevant one, full of homemade wallpapers.<br /><br />My main site is http://jefflion.net . It's just a personal site, nothing serious, but I wanted my name to be associated with it. <br /><br />Oh, and happy New Year!Mirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16217300733081946113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129515758261094307.post-87787841546924745332009-12-31T19:49:10.293-02:002009-12-31T19:49:10.293-02:00Hmmm. I'm new at this, Mira, so I'm not su...Hmmm. I'm new at this, Mira, so I'm not sure about your name and link, but when I click on your name, it takes me to your blog profile, which takes me to your blog... So yeah.<br /><br />As for porn being a model for behavior... Maybe, but what's so wrong with that?<br /><br />Look, I'm sure we can agree that any "ytoung and inexperienced" guy who tries to ejaculate in a woman's face without her permission is going to be paying a visit to the emergency room.<br /><br />What in the rest in the common variety of porn is so gawdawful, exactly, that it shouldn't be modeled? About the worst thing I can think of is that if you take it seriously, you'll probably be a very crappy lover. <br /><br />Trying to learn sex from porn is a bit like trying to learn martial arts from a Jackie Chan flick: your first encounter with the real thing is going to disabuse you of a lot of illusions.<br /><br />Btw, as a funny aside, a friend of ours caught her 11-year-old daughter looking at porn on the internet recently - big male penises, to be exact. Our friend's reaction?<br /><br />"Honey, you're going to be extremely disappointed when you finally see the realt thing."Thaddeus Gregory Blanchettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09359423010378429288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129515758261094307.post-11228832476807292572009-12-30T14:25:56.591-02:002009-12-30T14:25:56.591-02:00Interesting.
While I do believe porn reflects cu...Interesting. <br />While I do believe porn reflects culture, it also serves as a model. Not just model for description; it's sometimes a model for behaviour. Especially if consuments are very young and inehperienced. <br /><br />My husband, who is an anthropology student, always jokes about writing essays on "anthropology of porn". I am sure he'll be very interested in this article. <br /><br />Mira<br /><br />PS-Is there a way to post comments under my name and link?Mirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16217300733081946113noreply@blogger.com