Somewhat off topic, but my single greatest contribution to film
studies was that some years ago I "saved" the largest collection of
35mm porn prints and got them sent to an academic institution. After
over 90 years as a crucial part of the film business, the studios
finally pushed the majority of film storage depots (known as exchanges
in the silent era) out of business in the mid 90s. Together they held
tens of thousands of unclaimed prints. The lawyers handling the
bankruptcy sent the "regular" titles containing a large percentage of
independent and foreign films (studios claimed theirs) to Atlanta for
auction (fewer than 100 sold and I bought 5), but the porn prints were
left in NJ for fear that they would be seized in Atlanta. I think
there about 1000-1500 mostly from late 60s to early 90s. I thought
they were an important piece of history and got the lawyers to agree
to donate them to any archive that could arrange pick up. Most
archives were not interested and one that was got cold feet. Then I
got the idea to contact the Kinsey Institute in Indiana. They said
they would take them, but the shipping was a problem. I got on old
friend who was on the board the Playboy Foundation to get them to pay
for shipping.
Some people get to rescue rare and important silent, independent,
historical etc, films but I got the porn stuff. Sadly I hear Kinsey
has really not done anything with them and I only hope they still have
them.
I found out later the PFA would have loved them, but did not know that
at the time, sorry Garry.
On Wed, Nov 10, 2010 at 8:46 AM, Pearson, Jeffrey <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
There is an interest in the study of pornography here at the
University of Michigan, and I would have no problem with
purchasing the material for the library collection.
Jeff Pearson
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
[mailto:[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>] On Behalf Of Walt Lessun
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 3:14 PM
To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Videolib] Community Question
I've been trying to get our film prof to include adult film in his
cinema courses. No luck so far but I keep trying.
Walter Lessun, MSLS, MBA
Director
Alex D. Chisholm Library
Gogebic Community College
High Tech and Affordable: Your Superior Educational Choice
http://www.gogebic.edu/library
Ex ultione gaudium
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-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
[mailto:[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>] On Behalf Of Mike Tribby
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 1:58 PM
To: '[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>'
Subject: Re: [Videolib] Community Question
How the heck did Film #1 miss interviewing Nina Hartley?
Mike Tribby
Senior Cataloger
Quality Books Inc.
The Best of America's Independent Presses
mailto:[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
[mailto:[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>] On Behalf Of
Elizabeth Sheldon
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 1:50 PM
To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: [Videolib] Community Question
Dear All,
I have a question for the collective: we have an opportunity to
acquire two films, one is a documentary about women and
pornography with interviews with many of today's pro sex
practitioners, activists and scholars in the field. The second
film is a collection of explicit pornographic films produced by
women for women, which is being promoted as feminist porn. For
reference, one of my interns saw it in a theater in Paris and it
comes with a manifesto, which you may read below.
I have included descriptions of both as before we acquire I would
like to know how many of you would potentially purchase explicit
films for your collection. I believe these films are relevant to
Women's Studies, LGBT and Film Studies, and are not 'just'
pornography, although both qualify based on the content. Would the
explicit content preclude you from purchasing?
Please let me know your thoughts.
Film #1
Unlike the abolitionist feminist movement, the pro-sex feminist
movement, which began in the United States during the 1980s,
asserts that representations of the body and of pleasure are areas
that must be taken over by women and sexual minorities and that
pornography must not be subject to control by the patriarchal
state. It also calls for the legalization of sex work; female sex
workers, porn actresses, strip teasers and lesbians have begun to
speak out and to talk about themselves, generating a new culture
that includes articles, books, films, documentaries, music,
comics, artistic performances, etc.
Made up of about 20 interviews filmed in the United States, France
and Spain, the documentary gives the floor to pro-sex activists
and follows the evolution of the movement from the 80s to the
present, from its pioneers and its successors to its proactive
activists in France and Barcelona. It also reveals previously
unknown images directly tied to the subject (excerpts from films
produced by activists, updates on their activities, archives of
their works, performances and street demonstrations, etc.)
Whether it's referred to as Pro Sex, Post Porn or queer, the
movement is a creative and revolutionary one that calls on us to
reflect on what a pornographic image is, what sex work is, what
gender is, and what the whole point of feminism is. Disturbing,
provocative and innovative, the film aims to play a saving role as
it splits from popular discourse, which would have it that sex is
best practiced in the bedroom, that women's dignity depends on
their 'good' behaviour and passivity, that the only feminist
themes to be debated are gender violence and the wearing of
headscarves.
... allows us to see that activists are already occupying other
playing fields, inventing other ways of having sex and of thinking
of sexuality and gender.
Interviewees:
NORMA JEAN ALMODOVAR, MARIA BEATTY, LYNNEE BREEDLOVE, CATHERINE
BREILLAT, SIOBHAN BROOKS, SONDRA GOODWIN, SCARLOT HARLOT, MARIA
LLOPIS, LYDIA LUNCH, POST OP, BEATRIZ PRECIADO, CAROL QUEEN,
QUIMERA ROSA, B. RUBY RICH, NINA ROBERTS, CANDIDA ROYALLE, ANNIE
SPRINKLE, JACKIE STRANO, MICHELLE TEA, CORALIE TRINH THI, BETONY
VERNON, DEL LAGRACE VOLCANO, LINDA WILLIAMS, MADISON YOUNG, ITZIAR
ZIGA
Film #2
... is a 2009 collection of thirteen pornographic short films made
by Swedish feminists and produced by Mia Engberg. The individual
films are highly diverse in content, although many of them feature
humour and different forms of queer sex. The creative decisions
were based on a manifesto with the aim to create pornography that
is non-commercial and follows feminist ideals.
The idea for creating the project emerged after Engberg and some
of her friends had made Come Together for the Stockholm
International Film Festival. It was a short film where each
participants filmed themselves with mobile phone cameras while
masturbating. Come Together received a large amount of negative
commentary, primarily from men, who complained about the
actor-photographers being unattractive. To Engberg, this was proof
that pornographic films demanded that their female participants
should be seen as pleasing to its primarily male audience.[1]
Manifesto
1. Beautiful the way we are
To hell with the sick beauty ideals! Deep self-hatred keeps a lot
of women's energy and creativity sapped. The energy that could be
focused into exploring our own sexuality and power is being
drained off into diets and cosmetics. Don't let the commercial
powers control your needs and desires.
2. Fight for your right to be horny
Male sexuality is seen as a force of nature that has to be
satisfied at all costs while women's sexuality is accepted only if
it adapts to men's needs. Be horny on your own terms.
3. A good girl is a bad girl
We are fed up with the cultural cliché that sexually active and
independent women are either crazy or lesbian and therefore crazy.
We want to see and make movies where Betty Blue, Ophelia and
Thelma & Louise don't have to die in the end.
4. Smash capitalism and patriarchy
The porn industry is sexist because we live in a patriarchal
capitalist society. It makes profit out of people's needs for sex
and erotica and women get exploited in the process. To fight
sexist porn you have to smash capitalism and patriarchy.
5. As nasty as we wanna be
Enjoy, take charge or let go. Say NO when you want, to be able to
say YES when YOU want.
6. Legal and free abortion is a human right!
Everyone has the right to control their own body. Millions of
women suffer from unwanted pregnancies and die from illegal
abortions every year. Fuck the moral right for preaching against
birth control and sex information.
7. Fight the real enemy!
Censorship cannot liberate sexuality. It is impossible to change
the image of women's sexuality if sexual images in themselves are
taboo.
Don't attack women for displaying sex. Attack sexism for trying to
control our sexuality.
8. Stay Queer
A lot of opposition to erotica is homophobic and even more
transphobic. We don't believe in the fight between the sexes but
in the fight against sexes. Identify as any gender you want and
make love to whoever you want. Sexuality is diverse.
9. Use Protection
"I'm not saying go out an' do it, but if you do, strap it up
before you smack it up." (Missy Elliot)
10. Do it yourself
Erotica is good and we need it. We truly believe that it is
possible to create an alternative to the mainstream porn industry
by making sexy films we like.
Best,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Sheldon
Vice President
Kino Lorber, Inc.
333 W. 39th St., Suite 503
New York, NY 10018
(212) 629-6880
www.kinolorberedu.com <http://www.kinolorberedu.com>
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion
of issues relating to the selection, evaluation,
acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of
current and evolving video formats in libraries and related
institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of
communication between libraries,educational institutions, and
video producers and distributors.
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VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion
of issues relating to the selection, evaluation,
acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of
current and evolving video formats in libraries and related
institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of
communication between libraries,educational institutions, and
video producers and distributors.
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion
of issues relating to the selection, evaluation,
acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of
current and evolving video formats in libraries and related
institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of
communication between libraries,educational institutions, and
video producers and distributors.
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion
of issues relating to the selection, evaluation,
acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of
current and evolving video formats in libraries and related
institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of
communication between libraries,educational institutions, and
video producers and distributors.
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control,
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and
distributors.
