Hello everyone
I hope this post does not come as an intrusion in your forums. If other members and moderators find it inappropriate, I will understand its removal.
My (nick)name is Mayuki and I am currently a student in an English class at the University of Illinois focusing on the Goth(ic) (sub)culture(s). In the framework of this class, I have been asked to make a presentation on a Goth(ic) “artifact” of my choice. Not a whole lot of students have done their presentation yet, but things have been pretty tame so far and I felt like taking a little more “risks” by tackling the subject of Goth(ic) “erotica”/”pornography” with my peers. While all presentations so far have focused on what students have read about the topics/artifacts they chose (one person talked about an old Gothic novel, another about the Ankh sign, yet another about an on-line store that sells Goth-inspired objects), I wanted to create a real discussion going on this topic with people who, like many of you, identify with the Goth(ic) culture instead of simply regurgitating what scholars might say on the subject or, well, making things up. I am really interested in knowing what you think about it and to share your thoughts with the other students in my class.
My main question, I guess, would be something like, “Is there something ‘out there’ that can be defined as truly Goth(ic) erotica and/or pornography?” and, if there is, “What does it look like and how is it different from ‘mainstream’ or ‘commercial’ erotica and/or pornography?”
The reason why I ask this question is because I feel that, in the same way as parts of the Goth(ic) culture has been ‘commercialized’ to appeal to people that might not be clearly identifying themselves as Goth(ic) individuals, it seems to me that part of today’s “sex industry” is using Goth(ic) imagery to sell some of its products. The thing I am wondering is whether these pictures (or videos) (I won’t link to sites for now, but can if moderators allow me to) actually appeal to you, or if you feel they are deforming the Goth(ic) aesthetics (and ideas) you believe in. Do you feel that these “Goth erotica/porn” pictures are mainly directed to a mainstream audience that does not really care about Goth(ic) subculture or that Goths will enjoy them as well? Is erotica/pornography compatible with Goth(ic) ideas? Is it a good or a bad thing (for the culture you identify yourselves with) that such form of erotica should become more and more popular? For many of these “Goth porn sites”, Goth and BDSM are often connected. Should it be so? And, last but not least, what would be your very own definition of “Goth(ic) erotica/porn” and do you feel that there are examples of that available?
I started thinking about the subject when I first heard of the ************* website (which some of you might have heard of) and how it presents itself as an “alternative” to mainstream erotic/porn sites. The site tends to emphasize its “punk” roots, but some of its models present themselves as “Goths” (which is of course not necessarily mutually exclusive). Yet, there has also been a lot of talks about how Suicide Girls might be, after all, only a disguised mainstream site which (possibly) exploited some of its models and which, on the whole, mainly targets a mainstream audience and not so much alternatives ones. What do you think?
Thanks a lot for reading this far and, in anticipation, thanks a lot for considering sharing your thoughts about the subject with me and other members of the forum. I feel a little awkward, almost rude, simply “popping in” here, being very interested in Goth and Gothic cultures but not identifying myself as a member of these cultures. I hope you understand that I will do my best to be as respectful as I can of the thoughts you would be ready to share and, it goes without saying, I will both be involved in the discussion that might follow this post and keep you posted on the conversation that will follow in class (which will take place in early November). So that you know, I’m posting this on a couple of Goth(ic)-related forums and Facebook pages, so don’t be surprised if you see it elsewhere (this does not mean it’s spam, it’s just that I try to cover as much ground as I can) ;-)
Again, thanks a lot in advance!
Mayuki
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