Posts
Monday, October 6, 2008
Porno Singalong
Just a fluffy post because I'm feeling musical. And because, quite frankly, if you can't joyfully sing about porn in our world today, I'm not sure I want to live in it. Not all these songs are exactly sex-positive, and most have at least some little barb either about porn's stars, it's fans/viewers, or the industry, but I've tried to choose the top then that celebrate it nonetheless.
1) Avenue Q's "The Internet Is For Porn". Yes, Trekkie Monster, it truly is. Who knew puppets watched porn?
2) "Thank You For The Porn" by Sean Cullen. I want this to be sang at the AVN Awards!
3) French Stewart (on Penn and Teller), singing "Hooray Pornography". With blow-up doll dancers!
4) Trucks "It's Just Porn, Mom!". A very catchy protest to parents everywhere.
5) Paul and Storm's "Internet Porn". Another very catchy little tune that you'll get stuck in your head, singing under your breath in the supermarket . . .
6) David Keystone's "The Porno Song". I'd say he's asking a pretty valid question!
7) "Ode To You Porn". Touching, really.
8) Foxycock's "Internet Porn". A loving and groovy tribute to the stuff.
9) "Poor Man's Porn" by The Worst. Anybody know what SBS means?
10) Does Gwen Diamond's special rendition of "Don't Speak" count? Either way, I'm still humming "Fuck me" . . . oh, and if she counts, then so do all these gay porn star singers, even if they aren't exactly singing about pornish topics.
1) Avenue Q's "The Internet Is For Porn". Yes, Trekkie Monster, it truly is. Who knew puppets watched porn?
2) "Thank You For The Porn" by Sean Cullen. I want this to be sang at the AVN Awards!
3) French Stewart (on Penn and Teller), singing "Hooray Pornography". With blow-up doll dancers!
4) Trucks "It's Just Porn, Mom!". A very catchy protest to parents everywhere.
5) Paul and Storm's "Internet Porn". Another very catchy little tune that you'll get stuck in your head, singing under your breath in the supermarket . . .
6) David Keystone's "The Porno Song". I'd say he's asking a pretty valid question!
7) "Ode To You Porn". Touching, really.
8) Foxycock's "Internet Porn". A loving and groovy tribute to the stuff.
9) "Poor Man's Porn" by The Worst. Anybody know what SBS means?
10) Does Gwen Diamond's special rendition of "Don't Speak" count? Either way, I'm still humming "Fuck me" . . . oh, and if she counts, then so do all these gay porn star singers, even if they aren't exactly singing about pornish topics.
And let's not forget that fun little Porn: The Musical, either. "We're going for the money shot!"
Queers Claim Webspace
Of course, this isn't a new thing- a small, but precious niche for queers has been carved out on the Internet, providing resources and information for a long time. And we gay and fey folk have done what's natural and created groups and networks on various non-queer sites to represent ourselves. And yet, there's a new trend sweeping by thatBut what I love and impresses me most about these new sites is the level of interactivity. Following off of famous models like Youtube, Myspace, and so on, they are often even better because they combine the best features of these various sites, creating a one-stop shop where you can catch up on news, write your own blogs, post pictures and post videos (hooray for these sites that allow for PG as well as X-rated videos and pictures!), chat in real time, talk in delayed time through forums, read literature, create your own 'page' to represent yourself, spread the word about events, befriend people in virtual space and leave them comments, play games with other users, join groups of like-minded people, take polls, search out members in your area . . . the list goes on.
Case in point: go visit that lesbian place where all the hot girls come, Digiromp, or FtM haven The Men's Room, where you can do all these things and more. And, to a lesser extent (both in terms of what you can do on the sites and in 'queerness factor'), nifty places like Sharing Is Sexy, Playful Bent, and Creative Filth (among others).
Compared to the sites of old, where information was one-way and hardly interactive, and it's evident that we've come far- very far (especially when these amazing websites are being created, not by super-advanced technological experts, but ordinary folks with just a little web design knowledge to their names). The community grows and evolves by the interaction of the users . . . which isn't to say that the big professional non-interactive sites where the information only comes from the creators (often limited by and dependent on sponsorship from advertisers) don't have their place as well. But there's something to be said for these new sites popping up, grass roots-style, with most content being collaboratively shared and created.
Or maybe I'm just being supremely influenced by my computer-assisted language learning class this semester and hence I'm all starry-eye'd at the idea of technology helping queers get together and learn together.
Either way, it's cool.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
One Step Closer To Solving The Mystery
Well, I woke up this morning determined to dig a little deeper into last night's mystery, and sure enough, I started getting a lot more information. That's forgiveable, right? Well, in my defense, when I wrote that post last night, it was 4:00 in the morning and I was still slightly buzzed off of 2/3 of a six pack of Smirnoffs.
Turns out there was a little bit of name disambiguation here . . . it would appear the director of said film is not "Angie Downing", but rather "Angie Dowling". Which still boggles my mind, even as a linguist, because while I've studied the phonological cause for nasalization of various sounds, I still have no idea how someone would mix up "l" and "n". But, whatever. So, now we're getting closer. Turns out she's not British, but rather, Australian, although living (or was living at the time) in London. She was apparently the UK's first lesbian pornographer (though I can find no other mention, nor any of her work), and previously worked as a producer/panelist on several lesbian-themed documentaries commissioned by Britain's Channel 4 (such as "The Money Shot"). She was inspired by the work of her idol Pedro Almodavar, who began his directorial career in porn. She may or may not have organized the 2007 BOLD in Pensacola, Florida and been part of writing the same titled play, starring as Natalie in its run, and being a big part of its parent organization BOLD (which stands for "Birth On Labor Day" and is pretty much like "The Vagina Monologues" for labor and childbirth).
The names of her other three films have finally surfaced, too: "Knock Knock", "The Girlie Urge", and "Tick Tock". "The Girlie Urge" was marketed as "the first lesbian masturbation movie in the world", featuring seven separate solo scenes of girls getting off. "Tick Tock" takes place in a belltower where a closeknit group of seven gay girls live and spend their time exploring the realm of intense feelings. Supposedly very brightly colored and shot in "funky cartoon style" . . . whatever that means. "Knock Knock" takes a slightly more "boys, you can't have it" stance with its marketing: "These lesbians are 100% real, men have no chance at all. The ladies indulge in erotic pleasures at London appartments, vaginal juices flow like Indian mountain streams and clitorises swell to the size of golfballs. No bi-sexual women here, only true, hot-blooded lesbians in a colourful lesbian sex show." Quite frankly, I'd be a little scared of golfball-sized clitorises, and I have no idea how freely Indian mountain streams flow, but you've got to give them credit for creativity.
Turns out there was a little bit of name disambiguation here . . . it would appear the director of said film is not "Angie Downing", but rather "Angie Dowling". Which still boggles my mind, even as a linguist, because while I've studied the phonological cause for nasalization of various sounds, I still have no idea how someone would mix up "l" and "n". But, whatever. So, now we're getting closer. Turns out she's not British, but rather, Australian, although living (or was living at the time) in London. She was apparently the UK's first lesbian pornographer (though I can find no other mention, nor any of her work), and previously worked as a producer/panelist on several lesbian-themed documentaries commissioned by Britain's Channel 4 (such as "The Money Shot"). She was inspired by the work of her idol Pedro Almodavar, who began his directorial career in porn. She may or may not have organized the 2007 BOLD in Pensacola, Florida and been part of writing the same titled play, starring as Natalie in its run, and being a big part of its parent organization BOLD (which stands for "Birth On Labor Day" and is pretty much like "The Vagina Monologues" for labor and childbirth).The names of her other three films have finally surfaced, too: "Knock Knock", "The Girlie Urge", and "Tick Tock". "The Girlie Urge" was marketed as "the first lesbian masturbation movie in the world", featuring seven separate solo scenes of girls getting off. "Tick Tock" takes place in a belltower where a closeknit group of seven gay girls live and spend their time exploring the realm of intense feelings. Supposedly very brightly colored and shot in "funky cartoon style" . . . whatever that means. "Knock Knock" takes a slightly more "boys, you can't have it" stance with its marketing: "These lesbians are 100% real, men have no chance at all. The ladies indulge in erotic pleasures at London appartments, vaginal juices flow like Indian mountain streams and clitorises swell to the size of golfballs. No bi-sexual women here, only true, hot-blooded lesbians in a colourful lesbian sex show." Quite frankly, I'd be a little scared of golfball-sized clitorises, and I have no idea how freely Indian mountain streams flow, but you've got to give them credit for creativity.
"Madam and Eve" also has more secrets to reveal: some of the cast members are also part of Britain's all-girl shock-rock band Rockbitch. Some say it was shot in a abandoned hospital; others say it was shot in a disused Benedictine monastery in France. It's rumored that the film stars the members of a real-life sex commune. Everyone apparently got to wear costumes from latex fetish fashion label and production/performance agency Torture Garden.
I guess I should be pretty happy- I've got a correct name, a lot of personal history that seems to track a very vibrant globe-trotting activist woman, and I've got a number of websites selling all four of her real dyke films. But I'm still curious- I want to talk to this woman who has, it seems, never been interviewed (at least, and then had it published online). First dyke pornographer in Britain is a big title. Does she ever want to return from advocacy for pregnant ladies to producing more dyke smut? I visited Rusty Films but, as often happens, the domain name has expired and now whatever information it once held has been lost.
On the upside, all this searching through British female pornographers has unearthed some seriously cool ladies, including Hungry Films' Anna Brownfield and Anna Span (even if their stuff is mostly het). Although, let's not forget the amazing Brit Petra Joy, either, whose exploits are well-documented on the Web.
Anyways, that's Angie Dowling, Australian-British dyke pornographer maverick, still somewhat of a mystery. You can find her films scattered about UK retailers, but the best site I found, in terms of reviews, screenshots, and 0 (or region-free) coded DVD's, is Orgazmik Europe. Go ahead, buy them. I mean, seriously, you can borrow "Champion" from any of your trendy friends when it comes out. Who else is going ot have these films, though?
Who Is Angie Downing? Or: Dyke Porno Mystery
Yeah, I know, I know, it was only a short while ago that I was complaining about not being able to even keep up with all the new dyke porn out there. So you'll probably only have bad things to say about me when I bring up some old-school porn (old-school, in this case, being at least 5 years old). I can't help it, okay? I have an all-encompassing drive to have *the* most complete real dyke porn collection ever, or at the very least, the most comprehensive knowledge of the genre, no matter how obscure.And this one really does appeal to the dyke detective in me, because, quite frankly, I can find out almost nothing about it.
"Madam and Eve" is a UK flick, which might help explain some of its obscurity for a Yank like myself (along with its age and the relative presumed obscurity of being a real dyke porno). But nonetheless, the information I can scrounge up tells me that the film was nominated for Best Erotic Film of the Year 2003- certainly that means it got some acclaim and fame, right?
But Google is not being very forthcoming with information. All I know is that Angie Downing is the director of the video, and that her name is sometimes spelled "Angia" and that she also sometimes goes by 'Rusty Cave', which really makes me curious. And I know that the cover is plastered with the phrases "100% Lesbian Made" and "Real Lesbians Enjoying Real Sex". And that it has a delightfully wacky plot, involving a lesbian hospital where women are rushed in with their sexual emergencies. The tagline given to every site that sells it: Laugh as Madam gazes through her crystal ball predicting what sexual awakenings will happen in Eden today. Experience the loudest, longest multiple orgasm from Pinkie Vindaloo, witness Madam receive the most divine oral sex from Sista Kitty, and let Eve amaze you with her strap-on techniques.
Certainly, I've had my share of mysterious porn- I still haven't solved, for example, the question of who was really behind Mojo Video's "Real Butch Dyke Lesbians". But I do have Ms. Downing's name and the allusion on the interwebs that "Madam and Eve" is actually the third- yes, third!- lesbian film she's produced/directed.
The companies listed as part of the production are Red Hot Diva and Rusty Films (perhaps shedding light on the nickname), but I can find little about the former (except for the fact that they are heavily into publishing lesbian erotica), and absolutely none on the latter. Dead end there (for me, at least . . . maybe you're better).
Really, what I'm hoping as I post this is that some fantastic reader of mine will be a super-searcher or Internet troller who can promptly report back to me and solve this little mystery. At the risk of cheesily ripping off Ayn Rand, who is Angie Downing? Where have you gone, Rusty Cave? Are you still making lesbian porn for lesbians? What were the other two films you made? And most importantly, if I paid you in British pounds and exorbitant shipping fees, could I get "Madam and Eve" to play on my region 1 DVD player?
I truly am curious to get to the bottom of all of this, Scooby Doo-style. But even more than that, I want to explore this new aspect of queer porn history. I'm well-acquainted with the tale of American queer smut, way back from humble beginnings with OOB (that's "On Our Backs" for you layfolks) and Ssspread.com, all the way to cutting-edge companies like Pink & White Productions. And I got a taste of modern French queer smut with Emilie Jouvet and her film "Pour Une Nuit"/"One Night Stand". But British dykes . . . I know nothing except that Sarah Waters can write one hot lesbian period piece, for sure. I don't even have a language barrier, so it's sad that I- and, presumably, the rest of the the American queer porn fanclub- don't know about our friends across the Atlantic and what they were doing 5 years ago . . . or for that matter, what they might be doing right now. This is now my new goal: investigate Britain's queer porn scene. I shall report back.
In the meantime, if you're out there, Angie, let me know!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Feel Better About Yourself, Now!
No, I'm not talking about diets, exercise, showers, self-help books, self-esteem seminars, makeovers, new wardrobes, a sassy new haircut, new boyfriends/girlfriends, finally getting laid in, like, forever, having your mother call and actually not set you up for self-sabotage, Dr. Phil, a very welcoming religion-slash-cult, or naked "I love me!" sessions with your mirror.I'm talking about Daily Drag Queen Affirmations! (Or, DDQA, as it's called). Each morning you receive an email that links you to that day’s video: a man, dressed up like a woman, giving you praise or an uplifting thought that will hopefully brighten your day. As they say- "it’s like those little page-a-day calendars except fiercer and we don’t kill trees". And it's a chance to see your favorite drag performers- Jackie Beat, Willam Belli, Jazzmun . . . get out your credit card!
Because, really, what else can make you feel quite as good as a outrageous drag queen heaping you with praise? Perfect for those of us who don't know any real life queens, or those who do but would love to escape the catty and bitchy wit that can just as easily tear down that good vibe.
I find this site absolutely hilarious and cool and yeah, if I had $20 to spend, I'd start off my day with a laugh, too, and getting loved by a bunch of drag queens for a year.
And even better is the underlying message and rationale behind Auntie Luscious' project: that drag queens do a lot more than just look awesome and turn gender on its head. Drag organizations do amazing charity work and "It's the boys in heels who heal . . . if you're gunna look fierce you may as well act fierce, and nothing is fiercer-er than kindness, it kills 'em."
So, try it! Give it as a gift to a friend! Are you seriously telling me that there's someone out there who wouldn't benefit from this? And it's so much cheaper, and rewarding, than actually getting up and doing something that takes so much work. Let the drag queens soothe away your self-doubts.
And here's a couple of freebies, anyways:
And my crush object, Willam Belli:
See . . . doncha feel better? :)
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Public Sex: Kinky, Taboo, and . . . Unethical?
This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.Get Your Rocks Off Cheap: $10 Dyke Porn
Yeah, you read that right. I didn't leave off a zero or anything. For the next two weeks, Bren Ryder of Good Dyke Porn is offering you the amazing deal of $10 a month for loads and loads of hot, authentic, honest-to-goodness dyke porn, chock full of butches, femmes, home invasion gangbangs, circle jerks, and much, much more.
I don't know how she does it. I really don't care. You shouldn't question awesomeness, should you?
Go on, support real lesbian porn. Support small, indie porn companies. Support women-run porn. Support Canadian porn. Just, you know, subscribe. (Oh, and get on the forums, even if you don't have a membership- it's lonely in there!).
Hell yes, show me where to I sign up!
No, thanks, I am too poor and must subsist on the few bits o' free dyke porn on the Web. (Found last night on a random "dykes" porn search).
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