"Fucked by the boss and durchgenudelt": Erika Lust about porn and reality
F Mag: Ms. Lust, how did you come to make feminist porn?
Erika Lust: When I was younger and just started discovering my sexuality, did I watch porn? and was incredibly disappointed. They were disgusting, women were treated degrading and sometimes even brutal. It disturbed me, I could not understand it. It was as if men had sex with women, as if women had sex for men.
The majority of the pornographic offer is just ridiculous for female viewers! Because, even if it has not arrived at all people: women have an active sexuality! So, a few years later, I started making adult films that I liked myself and that I thought women and men might like, who want something fresher, erotic, sensual, something that's really sexy , This became Erika Lust Films.
What exactly is the difference between your porn and conventional porn?
My films are completely different in absolutely every way! In the majority of mainstream porn, male satisfaction is a top priority. The female body is subdued and passive towards the man and the male lust. The man becomes an active, almost aggressive opponent.
This forces both man and woman into a role that makes self-development and genuine emotion impossible. That's a pity, because sex should be a holistic physical-emotional experience rather than a retelling of gender constructions.
Sex is the source of life? why do you deal so shabbily with it?
In mainstream porn, the artistic potential of the genre is not exhausted at all, and I never understood why. Sex is the source of life? why do you deal so shabbily with it?
I show a healthier, sex-positive perspective? intending to convey an authentic image of human sexuality in which people can explore their sexuality without feeling ashamed or degraded.
Sex is not a boring routine in my films, and I also want to portray female pleasure. I shoot in different locations, work with my art director for weeks to create the right atmosphere for each story.
My demands on the new adult cinema are:
- The needs of the woman are just as important as those of the man!
- Adult cinema can also fulfill aesthetic, narrative and cinematic criteria.
- We need more diverse body types, age groups and ethnic groups!
- The production process must meet moral and ethical criteria.
© Erika Lust FilmsDo pornos have any influence on our handling of sex?
Porn is a discourse about sexuality, an expression of sexual fantasy and a medium. He can give us different perspectives, perspectives and ideas of sexuality.
Today we face the problem that porn? because he is freely available? forming part of sexual education and giving unrealistic body images and negative gender roles to many young people.
The statements in mainstream porn are unfortunately absolutely misogynist. They give the impression that women are always available for sex and that brutality against women is normal. Fewest pornos teach women how to communicate their desires and needs. Instead, they teach them to put their partner's satisfaction above their own. Also, sex and feelings like respect, love and tenderness in mainstream porn are often treated as two separate things. As a result, we perceive sex as something filthy, shamed, and taboo.
And all that we have tolerated for too long! Porn can free us if done right. As we show more diversity and all the different parts of our society, people in these films can find themselves, be inspired and learn to be more tolerant of sex and sexuality.
And how could we benefit from such a more open and modern way of dealing with sex?
We live in a society that is particularly afraid of two things: sex and pleasure. We do not talk about sex and certainly not about porn. Some sex practices are considered to be more obscene than others and that does not contribute to sexual liberation? on the contrary, it makes us ashamed of our lust and sexual preferences.
Sex still stands in this dark corner as if it does not exist. Sex and the satisfaction that comes with it is considered something dirty, something that only belongs to our private lives. Many people are afraid to live out their lust. If all were sexually more open and tolerant, the world would be a much better place.
Do you think there is a connection between mainstream porn and #Metoo?
The #Metoo movement shows that there is an imbalance of power in our society, in every single area. Abuse of power is not a men's problem, but a human problem.
However, do we live in a society where it is? just like in many pornos? it's okay when men deal with women brutally and disrespectfully.
Pornography is like a mirror of our society. You just need to open a porno page to see parallels: secretaries fucked by their boss, petite young girls are pampered, stepsisters blackmailed for sex.
Seduction fantasies are not bad in themselves, and have always existed, but in pornography they are often portrayed in the worst possible way. And this unequal power relationship is not only shown in porn, but also shapes the porn industry itself? just like many other industries.
That's why I've always wanted to have women behind the camera, on set, in production and in positions of power at Erika Lust Films.
What do you think must happen to overcome this imbalance of power?
I can not say that often enough: we need more women in power and leadership positions! Only in this way can we guarantee that women get a voice and have something to say? without making fun of you or losing your job.
Absolutely everything we see? from TV shows and movies to business? is controlled by men. We are just beginning to realize the tremendous extent of this problem. But we must not now turn into self-pity, but should use the momentum of the #Metoo movement to band together, hold together and fight for women to come to power. It is high time for this change!
