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Reviews
The Pornography Wars: The Past, Present, and Future of America's Obscene Obsession by Kelsy Burke
jeffbrimhall's review
Audio Book
This was a good book. A bit too much of the objectivity thing and not really taking a pro or against anything. Last chapter of the book finally had some conclusions.
Pointed out to me that big pornography is just another triumph of winner- takes-all capitalism. Regardless of the morals involved.
This was a good book. A bit too much of the objectivity thing and not really taking a pro or against anything. Last chapter of the book finally had some conclusions.
Pointed out to me that big pornography is just another triumph of winner- takes-all capitalism. Regardless of the morals involved.
jmahalt's review
Burke claims to be neutral, and I believe she genuinely tries to be so, but she betrays her true beliefs on porn with the conclusions she draws and the types of stories she focuses on.
Half way though the book and the only real narrative she discusses is the perennial fight between religious/social conservatives and secular progressives.
I realize she is a feminist scholar, and so I expected a decent treatment of feminist literature and theory, but I think she leans a little too heavily on the pro-porn vs anti-porn feminist divide. Plenty of men and women oppose porn on non-feminist and non-religious grounds and they seemingly aren’t even mentioned. Perhaps they are spoken about later in the book.
The legal history component of the book is interesting, if a little basic. Certainly nothing revelatory.
Half way though the book and the only real narrative she discusses is the perennial fight between religious/social conservatives and secular progressives.
I realize she is a feminist scholar, and so I expected a decent treatment of feminist literature and theory, but I think she leans a little too heavily on the pro-porn vs anti-porn feminist divide. Plenty of men and women oppose porn on non-feminist and non-religious grounds and they seemingly aren’t even mentioned. Perhaps they are spoken about later in the book.
The legal history component of the book is interesting, if a little basic. Certainly nothing revelatory.
sockfood1's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
This book overall was full of informative and interesting information. However I felt that at times the writing was dense and academic. I also felt like the writing repeated itself often, sometimes sharing the same idea multiple times.
casey_hudson's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
This is a topic that is often dealt with from a moral perspective, so this book's straightforward approach to the history and legal framework around the definition fo obscenity and pornography is refreshing.
I appreciate that the author stated upfront that this was not an objective look at the subject. This transparency about the writer's bias makes for a more trustworthy narrative and makes it easier for the reader to sift through the rhetoric to make up their own mind.
Overall, a very interesting and informative read.
I appreciate that the author stated upfront that this was not an objective look at the subject. This transparency about the writer's bias makes for a more trustworthy narrative and makes it easier for the reader to sift through the rhetoric to make up their own mind.
Overall, a very interesting and informative read.
xandraanneww's review
5.0
Well, I loved and appreciated this very factual adventure through the history, legality, and culture of pornography. I also cannot believe the author was able to say some of these names and titles without flinching