To the editors:
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The Chicago judge who said “depictions of subordination tend to perpetuate subordination” is absolutely right. I suggest that he along with other antipornography feminists sell their televisions, stop going to any movies, stay away from most magazines and books, and by all means stay out of the adult bookstores. There are many problems with the depiction of women in the media across the board, but just because pornography is an easy target aimed at by fundamentalists, politicians, and guardians of everyone else’s morality but their own does not mean that feminists must take aim as well.
Along with the movement’s failure to contextualize is the movement’s failure to pay attention to the details of pornography and realize that the industry has changed and grown significantly. The movies being made today are very different from the movies of 20 years ago. I’ve watched a lot of films–obviously antipornography activists have watched very few–and the only rape scenes that I have viewed have been from very old movies. It is much more unlikely to see rape scenes in a well-made modern product. I’m not talking about something from the schlock, fly-by-night production companies consisting of some guy who could afford a video cam. I’m talking about the old respected companies that produce a quality product.
W. Sherwin
