As some of you know, I am a devout fan of Penn & Teller’s Bullshit. This season’s premier, episode 60, brought to us by Showtime, was titled “The War on Porn”. Anthony’s seen it as well, and was kind enough to send me a jewel of a link you’ll see a few lines down…But the show? It was a beautiful thing. If you don’t mind actual porn in your Penn & Teller, do make a point to see it: in a rerun, on demand, whatever. They even had anti-porn people on…and surprise surprise, some of them were not pleased with the show’s outcome…
Guess what? Poor, poor Gail…this is my heart not bleeding for you. How does it feel to be mocked, have your words and image twisted in a way you do not like? To see what you said twisted for someone else’s agenda? And you even consented to it and signed papers for the use of your words and image and thoughts in the P&T show…unlike the images of the porn performers you use in your Stop Porn slide show. Oh, did Penn piss you off? Make you angry? Awww…so sad. Or not, at all.
How does it FEEL, Gail? How much do you like it? Me, I am cheering Penn and Teller in an angry, red-faced way that would probably disturb you…except I’m not a 6’7” man, of course. I’m a woman, who digs porn, and doesn’t need saving by the likes of you. Oh, and Gail? The porn they showed in the episode? Far more indicative of mainstream porn that what you use for shock value, I’d wager.
Why else did this show rule? Let’s see, they took on the same old tired line about porn causing child molestation, and sure enough, the overuse, misuse, and abuse of the word rape. And gee, P&T actually talked to a porn gal…who happened to be happily married, a mom, and over 21…something other folks would never think to do, because it would mess with the agenda.
Funny, I didn’t think it was possible for me to love P&T any more than I already did. I was wrong.
So wrong, I already wrote Showtime cheering the show.
18 comments:
Oooohhh, I saw and loved that show too!
This woman is so twisted, lol, but it was fun to see her and the other anti porn activist talk themselves into a rage.
And thanks Ren for reminding me to buy that book about America's War on Porn. :)
Oy, Gail Dines has been a fly in my ointment lately. Or some other bizarre metaphor, I don't know. This spring she came to give a talk at my university about stopping porn culture (what else) which I didn't see, but which my friends did--and now they want to use her slideshow to educate the rest of the campus about the evils of porn. Which has me in a bit of a predicament. Because while I love and respect these people, there are times (such as now) when I want to tell them to look before they leap. When I honestly think that they have not done their research on Gail Dines, the industry, 2257, et cetera, whereas I have (thank you, Ren) and therefore cannot support the showing of Dines' work. Besides, I watched half the slideshow. It's boring. And as a fledgling campus group without official recognition, if we're going to get the support of the university community, this is the wrong way to go about it.
So yeah, Gail Dines...psh.
To be totally honest, Ren, I didn't manage to catch that particular episode of P&T (was at work at the time it aired), but I did manage to catch Gail Dines' account of her experience there...and got enough of a snark to remember what a fan of Penn and Teller you were.
And of course, hearing Ms. Gail break out the violin quartet tearing up about how she was sooooo misinterpreted there only makes me that much more snarky. Hey, Professor Dines.....'ya think that the world owes you a podium where you can speak your lies freely without response???
That apology to Nina Hartley and Ernest Greene would be much appreciated any day now, you know....
Penn may be a touch too libertarian Right for my tastes, but on this one, they rocked the house.
Now...can someone get me some Showtime listings so that I can see the replay???
Anthony
I really wonder where people take this whole "porn culture" thing from anyways, especially in the US with their purity vows and whatnot.
Though I can't really speak for the US first hand.
But over here, we've had this whole public debate goingon about young kids watching porn etc., and I just think, they've always done it. I rmemember sneaking down to the living room after 11pm trying to catch softcore porn on cable tv.
Nowadays the kids can go online and get harder stuff, but I don't think that makes them any more - or less - screwed up than we were.
And miniskirts etc.: you see the extreme ones way less in the streets than fashion magazines will have you believe, and the kind you do see have been around since the 60s.
Sorry, rambling.
In short, I'm just wondering what is this porn culture that people are so desperate to stop.
Incidentally enough, the episode is scheduled to be re-aired on Showtime at midnight ET tonight, and again on the 28th at midnight ET. It is also available online for downloading at Showtime's VOD site.
If I didn't have to go to work early tomorrow morning, I'd be watching it....oh, well.
Anthony
Any idea where someone who missed this can watch it? I don't have the On Demand that has it, it would seem. :(
Unefemme, what is the slideshow like? I'm dying to see it, actually. I saw one once at my college, put on by random NOW'ers, and I never could figure out how the HELL they came up with the sample they did... o.O
Trin....if you do happen to have Showtime, you can catch the repeat of that episode tonight at midnight EDT; and then on Friday at 10:30 EDT.
They haven't released the On Demand download of that episode yet...but when they do, it should be available through iTunes or some other service.
Anthony
unefemme-
I would suggest mentioning to your friends the lack of 2257 compliance. Or, if they're going to do this...try getting them to ALSO host an event with views from the other side. Fair is fair after all.
Trin--Very monotone voice, a lot of images of covers of magazines such as Maxim and Playboy (and that very infamous Hustler cover)...I didn't get all the way through because it kept screwing up, but when I stopped they were talking about Jenna Jameson and her sad life prior to becoming a famous porn star. The general idea was that porn was bad, but they hadn't gotten into how to "stop" porn culture (if that's the point).
Ren--Yeah, I've been considering both of those things. I would honestly love to have some sort of debate about porn--similar to the one you spoke at at William and Mary, that sounded pretty awesome--but this isn't the way to go about it (considering that it ain't even a real debate).
Anthony- I think Ren & Penn are actually long lost cousins or something.
Just saw the show and thought it was awesome but there one on PETA was far superior.
"and that very infamous Hustler cover"
Um, so this is *still a problem*, and to prove its contemporary relevance, we shall use a picture from 1970something?
REEL SMRT, THAR.
Trinity-
The slideshow is up on Google Video if you would like to see it:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5003155114018800220
It is very NSFW. It is also an hour long.
Personally, I find P&T amusing when I agree with them and obnoxious when I don't, and I tend to agree with them exactly half the time.
Either way, I kind of agree with Dines' assessment of their journalistic integrity, though I don't really think any better of her than of them.
DJ- thankyou for the slide show link....
Ooh, I REALLY want to see this episode!! I don't have Showtime though... I'll have to figure out a way to track it down.
I agree with Amber. I don't have cable AT ALL...maybe I can ask my brother to DVR a reshowing of the eppy and I can watch it that way.
I will definitely buy this season's DVD box set. I bought season two's box set for their fisking of PETA.
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