Porn!

[featherynscale]

After reading some pretty intense stuff on the flist about people's pornography addictions and the other associated evils of porn today, I am left with a single stupid question that is completely out of place in the original thread:

Why doesn't anybody ever complain that porn objectifies/degrades/devalues men? (I mean, provided that there are men in the porn. Obviously, lesbian porn doesn't objectify men, but, you know.)

(Also, can you tell it's a slow day? I can.)

Comments

[greektoomey.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it is because in straight porn, at least, men are often not cast on the basis of their aesthetic appeal. E.g., Ron Jeremy.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

No, they seem to be cast based on penis size. Which I would think that, if you were the sort of person who was concerned that porn devalued people, would be even more offensive than casting on basis of general "attractiveness".

(Also, I'm sure there's someone out there for whom Mr. Jeremy represents a physical ideal. Because, you know, there are 6 billion of us, and it's bound to happen that way sometimes.)

[greektoomey.livejournal.com]

if you were the sort of person who was concerned that porn devalued people

There's the real answer right there, I think. Most men I've ever met don't care about being objectified.

Parenthetically, the existence of someone for whom Ron Jeremy represents a physical ideal is irrelevant, unless that person happens to be in a position to cast Mr. Jeremy in a role. Most casting in straight porn is done by straight men, I believe.

Another possible reason is the same reason why there's a Black History Month but there's no White History Month.

[gamera-spinning.livejournal.com]

While I'm sure size is a factor, I expect a lot has to do with being able to do certain things on cue, often and the shortness of refractory periods.