profile

Director's Chair: Erika Lust Promotes Sex-Positive Porn

Porn filmmaker and feminist Erika Lust launched Lust Films in 2004 “to cater to the female audience rarely recognized when producing porn.” A self-proclaimed introvert, Lust has taken on the challenge of becoming a voice for women who believe that pornography can serve as a “discourse of human sexuality” and not just a series of money-shots.

“Left to my own devices, I’d write and direct movies and be a reclusive artist to my heart’s content,” she admits. “But I’ve garnered success and developed a statement with my work and that requires public speaking and media.”

Porn has a vital role in society and in the evolution of sexuality. If it were only fantasy fulfillment, there’d be a total disconnect between the consumption and one’s sex life. — Erika Lust

XBIZ caught up with Lust to speak about the pros and cons of fantasy, sexism and why Belladonna is a good female role model and why “Fifty Shades” author E.L. James isn’t.

Is porn today still “chauvinistic and offensive?”

The majority of porn out there remains this way. Men are the primary consumers of porn, so it follows that most of the product will be created with the masculine gaze in mind. But the offensive part is how much the real, human elements have been stripped away in porn, so that just the thrusting and ejaculation are displayed.

Female characters [are] total stereotypes — nymphos or naïve youngsters — with fake body parts and faker orgasms, none of which really represents much of the female population at all. Since I have a high opinion of erotic art and cinema and see its potential in society and the way we view sexuality, I am offended by images where the human sexual experience is reduced to these things.

Is it fair to judge a person’s character based on the fantasies they have?

No, I certainly don’t think it’s fair to judge someone based on their private life — porn consumption and the fantasies represented, being a part of this. But, it’s naïve to believe that these fantasies and reality never intersect. If they do, and the other person is into it, and can share the experience safely and pleasurably, then that’s great. I see a problem when people’s fantasies alienate them from others, rather than connecting them. And this is something that porn has a tendency to exacerbate.

You criticize E.L. James for perpetuating male-driven fantasies about BDSM in her novel Fifty Shades of Grey. Are you saying it’s impossible for women to have fantasies similar to men?

Absolutely not — we’re all human, so there’s bound to be some crossover. In fact, we may share a great many fantasies. But there are some themes in the book that are unmistakably masculine in origin: like virginal initiation. It’s difficult to wrap my head around women fantasizing about an experience which (though transformative) seems rarely to be erotic. That’s neither here nor there, but I think that there’s been enough of male fantasy being indoctrinated into views of our own sexuality. I just wish that women had just the same amount of inclination to dominate in bed as be dominated.

Belladonna and Joanna Angel are seen as strong independent females, but produce traditional hardcore. How do you feel about that?

Those two examples in particular are very sex-positive, and always honest about what their role is, their mission and what they like about porn. The more women’s voices are added to discussion of sexuality and the representations of it, the better!

Why should porn aspire to be anything more than fantasy fulfillment?

Because it represents more than that. Sure, for many people that may be where it starts and ends, as masturbatory material only, but porn has a vital role in society and in the evolution of sexuality. If it were only fantasy fulfillment, there’d be a total disconnect between the consumption and one’s sex life — which just isn’t the case. It’s rare that what you see doesn’t affect the way you have sex, for better or for worse. It’s formative in that way. Porn can be used for more than just arousal: for education, understanding and exploration of sexuality … and the sooner we realize that potential, the sooner people will be inspired to make it better.

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

WIA Profile: Rae Threat

Threat is completely self-taught. Shooting nightlife was how she learned photography and honed her skills, experimenting with ways to shoot low-light action shots without a flash. She notes that these nightly adventures also helped her acquire social and networking skills. One thing led to another, and she soon found herself working in the adult biz.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Girlsway Celebrates a Decade of Acclaimed Sapphic Erotica

When Girlsway launched back in 2014, Bree Mills had a plan. As head of production for Gamma Entertainment, she set out to up the stakes of all-girl content with the new imprint — and to continually, proactively reinvent the brand and its offerings along the way.

Alejandro Freixes ·
opinion

TeamSkeet Debuts Swappz Channel, 'Swapception' Feature

Chief Revenue Officer Brandon explains, “The inspiration behind ‘Swappz’ emerged from a growing market demand for niche adult content that pushes boundaries and explores the taboo themes and deal-striking handshakes of swaps.”

Alejandro Freixes ·
opinion

Brittney Kade Talks Big 'Career-First' for Adult Time

Brittney Kade’s first gangbang originated as an Adult Time “Director Showcase,” a creative opportunity the production team offered to Jim Powers, one of the studio’s regular producers.

Alejandro Freixes ·
opinion

On the Set: Welcome to Adult Time's 'Futa World'

Dressed revealingly in a yellow waitress uniform, Lauren Phillips greets eager customers Hailey Rose and Chloe Surreal. On a sign announcing the grand opening of “Dick’s Diner,” the apostrophe between letters k and s bears a striking resemblance to an ejaculating penis.

Alejandro Freixes ·
profile

Hayley Davies: From New Zealand Math Nerd to Fast-Rising Adult Star

Growing up, New Zealander Hayley Davies was a proud nerd who participated in mathematics competitions against students from much higher grades. Her good looks turned out to be a kind of secret weapon, causing peers to underestimate her intellectual acumen.

Alejandro Freixes ·
profile

WIA Profile: Inka Winter

Award-winning erotic filmmaker and ForPlay Films founder Inka Winter knows what she wants her films to be, and what she doesn’t want them to be. She seeks to depict sexuality that is mindful, based in human connection and trauma-informed.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Free Agent Auteur: Casey Calvert Expands Her Directing Horizon

Now, having brought that highly-awarded polyamory trilogy to a close, Calvert is concluding the exclusive Lust Cinema directing chapter of her career and charting a new course out into open creative waters as a free agent.

Alejandro Freixes ·
profile

Collaboration Done Differently: Adult Time Discusses Ambassador Program

Since the launch of Adult Time in 2019, award-winning director and chief creative officer Bree Mills has actively explored collaborative opportunities with members of the performer community, seeking out talent whose values align with the company’s and who appreciate the type of content Mills creates for the multibrand platform.

Alejandro Freixes ·
profile

WIA Profile: Siouxsie Q.

Siouxsie Q has long been a committed artist and organizer. This dual path has garnered her significant recognition for both her creative works and her advocacy. Yet one thing that stands clear in Q’s story is that her motivation transcends mere acclaim.

Women In Adult ·
Show More