Thinking XXX: the two sides
My thoughts on the HBO documentary, “Thinking XXX” by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders:
Of course, his concept of photographing “XXX: 30 Porn-Star Portraits” clothed and then nude is a nod to Francisco Goya’s paintings of The Clothed Maja and The Nude Maja. The Spanish Inquisition considered both paintings obscene, but human civilization has come a long way since then. Or have we?
It was great to hear the porn stars talk about their lives, the positive and negative sides of the industry they are in. It’s really wonderful seeing women like Jenna Jameson, Nina Hartley and Jesse Jane choose their place in the world with such conviction. There are no barriers for people like them. The world is their oyster.
Then there is the other side. Tera Patrick talked about being burnt out on her work, how at home with her husband she only makes love missionary style with the lights off. It’s ironic that she is willing to do for money something she does not freely give to her husband. Does she consider her work “dirty” and that this sort of work has a high price, too high for her own husband to pay? And who’s the schmuck who gets to say, “She won’t do this for her own husband, but she’ll do it for me.” Strange world.
P.S. Maybe I’ve gotten desensitized to the sight of skin on screen, but I was most intrigued by how John Waters looks. He is so interesting!!!
