Where does the adult entertainment industry go with the increasing spread of porn into popular culture? Suzy Freeman-Greene examines the evidence of two new books.Delving into the world of porn turned out to be fun for researcher Jenny Burton. Female porn users showed little embarrassment, speaking in public places or opening their doors to her. One woman, for example, invited her to the home she shared with her parents.”She wasn’t embarrassed. . . about me going over there,” reports Burton. “Her whole family knew. I’m surprised they weren’t there, actually, to listen in.”Porn has gone so mainstream that for users like this woman (a “bubbly” artist), it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Thanks to the internet, anyone can instantly indulge a passion for spanking or buffed studs or horny grandmothers. No need to sneak into a cinema or order an X-rated video.Even conventional media has embraced a soft-porn aesthetic. Recently, a morning TV news program covered the American adult film awards as if they were just another Hollywood event. And this newspaper recently listed porn star Jenna Jameson among Hollywood “celebrities” backing Hillary Clinton for the US presidency. Meanwhile, pole dancing features on So You Think You Can Dance and Brazilian waxes, the porn star’s signature look, have entered the popular lexicon.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/02/28/1203788544143.html