i'm back// review of RKB's he's on top
Friends, bloggers, countrymen: lend me your eyes.
For after writing over forty pages worth of material this week, I’ve renounced my junior year and am now free as a jaybird to blog away! I’m finished like Britney Spears’ career, Don Imus’ reputation, and Katie Holmes’ sanity. It’s good to be back to blogs.
But first, some unfinished business. You see, in the midst of paper writing and hand wringing, I had scheduled myself a stop on the fabulous Rachel Kramer Bussel’s kinky book tour for her new releases, the erotica story compilations He’s On Top: Erotic Stories of Male Dominance and Female Submission. (This coincides with the release of She’s On Top: Erotic Stories of Female Dominance and Male Submission).
Um, oops.
April is far behind us, it’s true, but I think this He’s On Top review will serve as a deliciously erotic mea culpa.
“Dominant men get a bad rap in our society,” begins RKB in He’s On Top, and boy, is Kramer Bussel ever spot on! Although hot sex abounds between male tops and female bottoms, there is nary a good story out there that doesn’t equate male dominance with some antiquated spaghetti Western version of masculinity, or female submission with the Stepford-esque compliance of a brainless bimbo.
Thankfully, the artful stories in this compilation dispel any fears that He’s On Top will be some sort of misogyny fest before you can say “nipple clamps.” Consider this passage from “On The Twelfth Day,” a story in the compilation from Andrea Dale:
“For twelve days, I promised you gifts,” he said. “And for twelve days, you promised to accept them.”
She put her hand to her throat. “Have I not…?”
“No,” he said quickly, taking both her hands in his. “You’ve been amazing. Perfect.”
He took a deep breath. “Our agreement was twelve days. On this, the twelfth day, this is the gift I give you: me. Everything I’ve shown you, everywhere I’ve tried to take you. Understand this—I will always love you, always be with you, no matter what you decide, no matter if you decide that what we’ve explored isn’t how you want to be.” ...
“Her answer was simple. A sweet dazzling smile, before she bowed her head and held out her collar to him.”
Awww. Ain’t that sweet? Nora Ephron herself probably couldn’t make it sweeter.
Yet lest you think that Bussel’s put together some kind of Harlequin cheese fest, the depictions of loving, tender sex between considerate male tops and their female submissive is deeply intertwined with good ol’ raw sadomasochistic fucking. I particularly reveled at this cocksucking scene, which throws PC and propriety out the window:
“Your chest swells with the possibility of it, because you can do anything together. You can push her over the edge and catch her at the bottom, soft and safe in your arms. You can watch her dance and be inside her all at the same time, because you are the music she’s dancing to now, faster, and faster.
She cries out a response, but you know it’s the answer to another question, the one that matters more than anything. Because it’s the sweetest sound a man can hear, a woman you love coming around your cock, moaning, sobbing, sighing, and whispering that one magic word.
Yes.”
In a societal landscape which fears making too much out of the male top, this literary foray into his mind is an all-too-sparse treat in the world of erotica. With her thoughtful selections and clear enthusiasm for the subject matter, Bussel’s paean to the man on the “D” side of the D/s divide delivers.
here's looking at you, Mr. Clean
Above: The Cambridge Women’s Pornography Cooperative’s new book, “Porn for Women.”
The premise is simple enough—dress men up in domestic drag, and the women will drool. (I’ll admit, I laughed). All joking aside, though, the joke is based on a painful ideal of wish-fulfillment: women still work the legendary double day, and albeit a few exceptions, many men still act as though the dishwasher had an invisible sign that said “Estrogen Required.”
But this ain’t my main beef with the Pornography Cooperative. Don’t get me wrong, I find the occasional Sensitive Male as hot as the next gal, and as a gimmick, this book is pretty cute. A guy who’s intelligent, hot, and domestic? Count me in! But where’s my highly objectifiable imagery of fucking and sucking told from a female perspective? Is this really what the Cooperative thinks gets women off?
I realize I’m nitpicking, but that whole “women aren’t really sexual creatures, except when hubby finishes chores” meme is kinda annoying. Must we always be portrayed as conditionally desirous? Can’t we have our eye candy too? (And no, the primarily gay audience that devours Playgirl doesn’t count. That rag isn’t staying afloat from het female subscriptions, that’s for sure.)
I’m sure evidence will be thrown at me that women just “aren’t visual creatures”, but I’m not sure that isn’t just cultural wishful thinking. The chicks I know talk about hot guys all the time! So could it be that the porn industry just hasn’t found our market yet? Or is porn a phenomenon that will always belong to one side of the gender gap?
(This message brought to you from the Department of Cheekily Overanalyzing Cheesy Coffee Table Books.)
sanctify me baby
For those of you who miss the transgressive sexual art of Robert Mapplethorpe and the like, Japanese artist Japi Honoo could be your (shit smeared on a crucifix) saviour – he’s the man behind Porn Saints, a project which features holy renditions of your favorite up-’n-cummers.
Says the Porn Saints homepage: ”[Porn Saints] is an artistic approach to porn, a pornographic approach to art and a pornographic & artistic approach to religion. Here’s a pic of sex blogger/editrix friend of mine, Audacia Ray, as Her Holiness:
Perfect for those of you out there who like your wank with a side of sacrilege—or at least, a visceral challenge to that pesky little madonna/whore complex, courtesy of Sunday School.
ETA: Audacia and PornSaints corrected me: PornSaints is a multi-artist project. Thanks for the feedback, guys!
yo, sex in the news: really weird edition
Holy random-ness, Batman! We’ve got hijabs, prophylactics, and Lone Star lovin’ on the sex news menu this weekend:
- The Lone Star Pornutopia, an “adult entertainment” convention for sexy Southerners, kicked off this weekend in Houston. Guess the saying “everything’s bigger in Texas” just got a whole new meaning…
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- Just call her the Muslim Dr. Ruth. Heba Kotb, a conservative Muslim, has debuted her own sex talk show in her Egyptian homeland, shocking Arab viewers with her explicit frankness about the beast with two backs. Only caveat? Following the Qu’ran, she calls homosexuality a “disease.” But hey, progress is progress – and I can’t knock a woman advocating for a healthier vision of sexuality. And finally…
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- Spray on condoms? It’s a possibility, according to plastics researcher Jan Krause. He envisions a latex canister that could create a “custom fit” condom. No more practicing on bananas, ladies!
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crowjane is off the hizzle
When it comes to erotica, it takes a lot to impress me.
I've yawned through Anne Rice's Beauty series. I've snored through Letters to Penthouse. And I've rolled my eyes at the countless fetish photographers who seem to believe that they are somehow "edgy" for daring to feature a lass with both sets of lips pierced. What can I say? Sameness is a turn off, and if I got a nickel for every time I read about someone's heaving bodice or giggled at yet another totally cliched tramp stamp, well... I'd certainly be somewhere where "laptop" described the company surrounding me, rather than my computer.
Yet this photo took my breath away. It manages to toe the line between banal erotic "art" (almost always done in grainy black and white, mind you) and raw, objecti-ma-fied smut. The vulnerability of the girl and the the way her toes turn in those Mary Janes and the way she's barely concealed-yet-exposed-at-the-same-time ---
Well, damn. Color me impressed.
Sugasm #51
Sugasm #51
The best of the sex blogs this week by the bloggers who blog them. Spotlighting the top 3 posts voted by Sugasmer participants. Want in Sugasm #52? Submit a link to your best post of the week using this form. Participants, repost the linklist within a week and you’re all set.
This Week’s Picks
Tempting Decisions — a dialogue (http://junohenry.wordpress.com)
Petting Teacher (http://dirtydetails.blogspot.com)
D-Day for Dior (http://theholidaylife.blogspot.com)
Mr. Sugasm Himself
Porn Fatigue (http://sugarbank.com)
Editors’ Choice
First Taste (http://engrailed.com)
(Sugasm participants should re-post all the links above. The following links may be excluded as long as you include all the above links.)
Erotic Writing and Experiences
Ahh The Weekend - The Second Night (http://mandyseroticlife.blogspot.com)
Giving it my all (http://sexandtheivy.com)
I want you (http://sexcakes.blogspot.com)
Like Kids in a Candy Story Part II (http://www.taratainton.com)
Phone subbacultcha (http://pick-up-pieces.blogspot.com)
The Story of Fifteen (http://confessions112.blogspot.com)
There’s Something About A Blonde (http://makemycopcome.blogspot.com)
U wanan cybr? (http://finforhertograb.blogspot.com)
BDSM and Fetish
The First of a Trifecta (http://aliceinawonderbra.blogspot.com)
FuckFace!!! And other KINKY Fantasies of Mine…. (http://totalsensuality.blogspot.com)
A Great Session (http://radicalvixen.com/blog)
Halloween Costumes (http://www.caramelvixen.com)
Overdue (http://thebinside.blogspot.com)
‘She’s spanked, Jim’: Science Fiction & Fantasy in Spanking Films (http://adelehaze.com)
Spanking in space (http://www.spankingwriters.com)
Vancouver Ink (http://darkside-journey.blogspot.com)
Thoughts on Sex and Relationships
Bow, chicka chicka, wow (https://jessicagoldharalson.com)
Melanaise’s Specs (Da Bootyologist) (http://wetbeyondbelief.blogspot.com)
My top 5 (http://hard-and-fast.blogspot.com)
The Politics of Tease and Denial (http://fullfrontalpolitics.com)
Swinger vs. Poly: What Exactly IS Polyamory? Part 1 (http://perverselypoly.blogspot.com)
The Vibe Is Dead, Long Live The Vibe!! (http://talktovanessa.com)
NSFW Pics (& a video)
Casey Parker Poses For DDGirls (http://www.ddgirlsblog.com)
CockCuntblogging Wednesday 9 (http://shayssexcolumn.blogspot.com)
Emergency Boobs For The Sniggs (http://www.internetisforporn.com)
Erection Workout (http://myhotbox.blogspot.com)
Monica passes the phat booty test (http://phatbootysolos.ilovejulienight.com)
Natural Beauty (http://hotboxbabe.thumblogger.com)
ObsessionArt (http://eroticandy.blogspot.com)
Sex News and Sexy Reviews
Alt-Porn for Everyone! (http://sexualevolution.blogspot.com)
Fleshlight - first impressions (http://nakedcondo.blogspot.com)
NEW Kinky & Cultural/Political Designs Added! (http://www.tarasnaughtyshop.com)
Top 5 Pornos to Jerk Your Halloweenie To (http://blog.johnqafterhours.com)
Obsession Art courtesy of ErotiCandy blog.
Ha!
Just days after I posted my ode to retro raunch, a friend tipped me off to the pseudo-porn gasm that is Italian DJ Benny Benassi.
His latest single, Who's Your Daddy, features a video which plays on classic 70's porn like Emanuelle, Hot Lunch, and the Russ Meyer films:
The one thing about old-skool porn I don't miss? Pornstache. I mean, geez. Did anyone find that sexy? Ever?i'll take "the rapist" for 200 rape dollars, trebek
When it comes to handling censorship threats, Philadelphia porn peddler Mouhammed Shaukat is playing Spiderman, and the city of Philadelphia is Mary Jane.
Shaukat, whom displays porn at his street corner newsstand adjacent to the Liberty Bell, claims he will rape anyone from the city who tries to stop him:
After inspectors told Shaukat to rein in his wares, DiCicco said, "He posted a sign saying that he would rape and kill anyone who interfered with the operation of his newsstand."
Shaukat, who said he went into vending because of an eye condition, responded, "I'm not bothering anybody. Everybody sells those magazines."
His sign said, in part, "I gone a f--- his mother, sister, wife or her... who complain my newsstand. Come front of me."
And now Frank DiCicco and Co plans to ban any "obscenity" from being sold near the Bell. For some reason, I think the lascivious Ben Franklin would look upon this with some amusement.
yo, sex in the news: hollywood edition
Those crackpot Hollywood liberals have thrown us plenty of sexy morsels to mock this week. And I thought we'd hit the jackpot with the Dustin Diamond sex tape! Tits feature aplenty -- and we wouldn't want to ruin the stereotype that Philadelphians are bonkers for breastesses, would we, Philadelphia Will Do?
- Jennifer Aniston sets the record straight: her newly bodacious ta-tas come from brie, not breast enhancement. At least she's not pulling out the old "exhaustion" excuse.
- Country sweetheart Sara Evans spills the beans on her sordid divorce from hubby:
According to the petition filed in Williamson County, Tennessee, Schelske was keeping a stash of porn on his computer, including at least 100 pictures depicting him fully nude and several showing him engaged in sex with other women.
"On his computers husband maintains 'Craigs Lists'," documents state. "Many of them involve requests for three party and anal sex. Husband's 'Craigs Lists' are composed of personal ads on his personal sex engine involving him and prospective sex partners.
... Classy!- Christina Aguilera keeps things hot with her fug-face producer husband by instituting "Naked Sundays". Question is, does he ever to wear her Xtina chaps?
- LJ user, libertarian lawyer, and kinky polyamorous pervert Alan, Esq reports that the IMDB is deliberately hiding skin flicks from their search feature. What's, next, IMDB, profiles in double-plus-good Newspeak?
- There's nothing new under the sun: Monica Belluci is hot. You already knew that, but dayaammmn.
yo, sex in the news: culture edition
Who says you can't be erudite about erections? Check out the following uber-pretentious sex salons coming to a kinky town near you:
- Jennifer Aniston sets the record straight: her newly bodacious ta-tas come from brie, not breast enhancement. At least she's not pulling out the old "exhaustion" excuse.
- Mah girl Rachel Kramer Bussel, the beautiful buxom lady in este foto, will be throwin' down her In the Flesh Erotic Reading Series tonight at 8 in New Yawk. I wish I didn't have class!
- Not only does Denmark have better speech rights than us Amurrkans, they also have better erotica museums as well. Dude, a giant golden cock statue in the foyer? I'm there like shareware.
- Berlin and NYC are both hosting kinky sex film festivals this week. Wooo! If I wasn't a poor-ass college student, I'd totally mosey on over to Cinekink.
- LAist.com reports that good ol' Howard Stern is bringing his Sirius act to the Internet, in hopes of getting even more 13 year old boys hooked on his brand of raunch. How does this relate to culture, you ask? Yeah, I don't know either.