Pornography is obviously an extremely controversial topic, and like so many controversial topics, the information you get depends largely on who you're talking to. As such, getting the truth can be surprisingly difficult. Speak to an anti-porn conservative or feminist and you'll get a plethora of statistics about its supposed dangers; speak to those inside the industry and you'll get a run-down of the benefits of porn alongside the unfair actions to target actors and directors.
Porn, then, is a tricky subject. Even simple questions like, "What is porn?" will elicit different responses from different people. Luckily, Shira Tarrant's new book addresses a wide array of questions in a disarmingly neutral fashion. Reading this book, from beginning to end I was stunned by just how balanced her discussion was. At no stage did she stray from the role of a moderator in a debate.
If that makes the book sound at all boring, it's not. It is relentlessly informing, yet well-written enough that it isn't just hundreds of pages of dry fact. It is a well-structured and meticulously researched compendium of otherwise surprisingly elusive details. She documents porn's history, its legal status, the ins and outs (pun intended) of day-to-day filming, the financial aspect, and its impact on society and health.
I read a lot of books these days about science and society, and I'm sick of reading biased opinions - even if the author shares my own viewpoint. That's why it was so refreshing to read Shira Tarrant's book and feel that every detail was open to criticism and interpretation. This should not be so surprising, but in today's environment, a book like this is a rare and valuable thing.
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The Pornography Industry will be out on April 1st, 2016.
Porn, then, is a tricky subject. Even simple questions like, "What is porn?" will elicit different responses from different people. Luckily, Shira Tarrant's new book addresses a wide array of questions in a disarmingly neutral fashion. Reading this book, from beginning to end I was stunned by just how balanced her discussion was. At no stage did she stray from the role of a moderator in a debate.
If that makes the book sound at all boring, it's not. It is relentlessly informing, yet well-written enough that it isn't just hundreds of pages of dry fact. It is a well-structured and meticulously researched compendium of otherwise surprisingly elusive details. She documents porn's history, its legal status, the ins and outs (pun intended) of day-to-day filming, the financial aspect, and its impact on society and health.
I read a lot of books these days about science and society, and I'm sick of reading biased opinions - even if the author shares my own viewpoint. That's why it was so refreshing to read Shira Tarrant's book and feel that every detail was open to criticism and interpretation. This should not be so surprising, but in today's environment, a book like this is a rare and valuable thing.
*
The Pornography Industry will be out on April 1st, 2016.
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