Damage on Parade

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In an essay about the porn industry in California, Martin Amis wrote that 'porno is littered-porno is heaped-with the deaths of feelings.' To be more specific, in its exploitation of personal tragedy and na?vet?, its misrepresentation of human erotica, especially among newly sexualized youths, who may never recover from being consumers of its distortions, in its indifference to consequence, to the causality of action and effect, both on screen and in real life, extreme pornography may be stalking one emotion more than any other. That would be the shared feelings we have for fellow humans, along with the inclination to recognize kindred suffering and even lend aid. Porn may yet be the death of empathy.

Charles Foran is a Canadian writer whose latest novel is Carolan's Farewell (HarperCollins, 2005). Reprinted from the Walrus (March 2006). Subscriptions: $39.75 Canadian/yr. (10 issues) from Box 26405, Station B, Toronto, ON M7Y 4R1, Canada.

From the Mouths of Babes

The women of pornography on what the industry's done for them and others

The ladies of porn have some stories to tell, and they found their venue in Carly Milne's Naked Ambition: Women Who Are Changing Pornography (Carroll & Graf, 2005). From the industry's biggest stars to the women who are hawking, reviewing, and airbrushing DVDs, the book depicts a business culture that's not always a bed of roses, but isn't a one-dimensional world of exploitation either. Pornography is their chosen profession, and it's been financially and emotionally rewarding. Here are some of their voices.

'Porn has been therapy for me. It has validated my desires and helped me accept them.'
Mason, director of hard-core films including Dirty Trixxx 1 and 2 and Riot Sluts

'Feminist porn is porn that empowers women and men: It gives them information and ideas about sex. It teaches. It inspires fantasy and adventure. It validates viewers when they see themselves or a part of their sexuality represented. It presents sex as joyful, fun, safe, and satisfying. It counteracts the other messages we get from society: Sex is shameful, naughty, dirty, scary, dangerous, or it's the domain of men, where theirs are the only desires and fantasies that get fulfilled.'
Tristan Taormino, Village Voice columnist, director, and author of The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women (Cleis Press, 1997)

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