Sex News: James Deen Chimes In On the "Porn For Women" Hot Topic

by Coleen Singer.

In a recent interview with Refinery29 Senior News Editor Leila Brillson, James Deen (often now referred to as “the Ryan Gosling of porn”) confirmed that his audience and fan base is, by and large, female. “He provides a complete fantasy; a guy who wants to both ravage the woman he is currently performing with and also snuggle with her. For instance, a huge part of Deen’s performance involves kissing, which is a little different for the average porn star. In Deen’s approach to porn, sex isn’t just positions and orgasms (though, there is a lot of that), but an exploration of sexuality, too.”

Read on…

When pressed to answer whether or not he makes porn for women — or, perhaps even “feminist porn” — Deen was quick to set the record straight. “Every individual likes a different thing. If market research was done that revealed that most women viewing porn like this type of thing, then yeah, I’d take that and put it in a movie. But from what I can tell, it runs the gamut, like it does with men. Some men like tattoos, long hair, and piercings, and there’s men who like everything in between. Some people like plots and dialogue, slow disrobing, and then there’s people who don’t care, who want them naked and sexed up right off the bat.”

Deen clearly lays it out: “My theory on porn for women is it’s just porn. Why is there porn explicitly only for women? By saying there needs to be porn for women, you’re basically isolating women as a gender, and saying, ‘This is how women should think. This is how their sexuality should be.’ It’s counterproductive (from what I understand) to the equality movement. Who says that one woman’s take on sexuality is the right way to think? One woman might like to watch a film with high production value and beautiful sex. Another might like some BDSM things with beating, degradation — and it doesn’t mean either is right or wrong. Pornography is made for individuals to find what they enjoy, and what turns them on. There’s no market research on this because sexuality is always developing, growing, and evolving. You could talk to a million people about what they like in porn, and you’re going to get a million answers of what a million people like in porn at that moment.”

He goes on to say, “My theory is: If you’re not into porn, you don’t need to watch it. It’s fine. I don’t like mayonnaise. I don’t eat it. If someone is eating mayonnaise near me, I won’t vomit and run away. Of course, porn is different. If you’re sitting on the bus and someone is masturbating next to you, it’s unacceptable. My point is the idea that if people don’t like adult films, then they shouldn’t partake in them. If you want to preach that you’re right, fine. There’s nothing in adult film’s that’s exploitative — everything is consensual. As an entertainment factor, adult stars are creating a movie for people to enjoy. The entertaining factor is to arouse and stimulate. It’s an individual choice. We’re not trying to make movies that people live their lives by. The purpose is just that; entertainment. You’re asking the wrong question. It’s not does porn do this, it’s what do you get from porn? I look at it as a piece of erotic entertainment to curb my sexual desires. Are you looking at it as something beyond entertainment? Do you think you can drive your car down the stairs like in `The Bourne Identity`?” [James Deen quotes originally published on Refinery29.com – Click here for the full interview]

So, now that James has confirmed what I’ve been suspecting for a while, that women have a vast array of tastes and kinks for what kind of porn they like, are there at least any common denominators for what “many women” look for?  I think there is: “Production Values”.  No, I’m not saying exotic locations, fabulous scripts and storylines and all of the other cliches that are often trotted out to define what women want.

There is an old joke that at least alludes to a partial answer:
Q: What’s the difference between porn and erotica?
A: Good lighting!

This can range from Ashley Fires dominating some poor fellow, to the highly stylized porn films by such directors as Marc Dorcel, Andrew Blake, Viv Thomas and Michael Ninn.  What’s the one thing they all share?  Good lighting!  Whereas some women get turned on by spitting and flogging and facials, and other women go right for the “Harlequin Romance Novel” coming to life (on a Pirate ship, of course), pretty much all of my friends like to watch porn movies that at least kinda-sorta look like a real movie.

One positive thing that this big raging debate about feminist porn, porn for women, and even “make love not porn” porn has resulted in a LOT of revived attention by adult film makers putting in some extra care for good production values in hopes that the allegedly huge untapped market of women might buy their movies.

A good example of this is last year’s award-winning and critically acclaimed movie, “Wasteland“, by the very talented and skillful director, Graham Travis (who also wrote and edited the film).

Let’s take a peek at the SFW teaser/trailer to see some REALLY good lighting!

Now, this film certainly had a lot more assets and production values than simply good lighting, but this was not an over-the-top budget busting production like “Pirates” a few years prior.  Graham Travis wrote it, directed it and edited it.  Alex Ladd did a bang-up job on the cinematography (which includes lighting). Producer Patrick Collins kept a steady hand on production costs. A cast of 8 principal actors worked their butts off to give good performances. All this done on a relatively small number of sets and locations with no helicopter chase scenes or sinking ocean liners.  I’m a girl and I liked it!  I know lots of guys that liked it too!

Perhaps the “happy ending” to all of this is that a lot of porn producers and directors are now giving it a good go at improving production values in hopes of luring women buyers, but regardless, increasing the quality of the “body of work” that all of us in adult entertainment work so hard to produce. Add to that good-looking guys like James Deen to provide the eye candy, and many more good films are on the way.  Just be sure to “hold the mayo”!  But, fear not if you are a fan of gonzo porn.  There will always be a steady supply of that if that’s what turns you on!

Back to James Deen, speaking of “happy endings”….
I applaud this hard working man for his enormous success (his net worth is TWICE that of Lindsay Lohan. Strange but true, considering her “Parent Trap” residuals), and am watching him cautiously move out of porn and into mainstream with such works as The Canyons, and his new successful Kickstarter project, Cowboys and Engines.  On a reverse-converging path is James Franco who I suspect really, really, really, REALLY wants to do porn. The grass indeed is generally greener on the other side.

For more writings by Coleen Singer, go to EroticScribes.com
You can also see Porn For Women films and photo shoots directed by Coleen at Sssh.com