Mordant Belle

Getting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity
By Robert Jensen, 2007, South End Press, 200 pages
Mel’s Reading Status: UNREAD

Commentary:
Robert Jensen is one of my favorite “modern” authors. He’s also written a couple of books on empire and whiteness, both of which are destined to get on this list some day. I am eagerly awaiting the ability to read this book (once I get through all the other ones, so in about three decades or so.) It sits patiently on my bookshelf, waiting for me. This powerful critique of pornography is supposed to be eye-opening.

The study of masculinity is, I think, crucial to feminism, because it is contemporary definitions of masculinity (or, really, masculinity at all) that we are struggling to overcome. Pornography is deeply tied to masculinity, in ways I think most people don’t really think about because our first thoughts when someone say “porn” usually involve visuals of a slutty plasticky woman. But porn makes a strong statement about masculinity and being a man, and what that supposedly looks like.

The more guys I talk to, the more clear it becomes that porn is the major source of most guys’ (especially young guys) sex education. Which explains a lot about how and why my generation is so fucked up in that department. That’s why side-by-side critiques of porn and masculinity — especially coming from a guy, who’s been there, done that — are so important.

Interview from MediaMouse.org about the book

Additional Comments always welcome.

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