3rd entry - Q: Would you go Gay for Pay?
A: Why not?
Tyra Banks recently highlighted a (what I consider to be) controversial issue on her talk show "Tyra": Men who are Gay for Pay. I found it rather interesting and decided to express my views about this issue (perhaps my perspective will change again in future so I thought I should put it down in writing and review what I wrote in time to come).
Before I comment about the issue, I first like to say that I enjoy Tyra's shows because I find them very entertaining. Although the issues she discusses are primarily for a female audience, and they are not dealt with in intellectual or analytical depth (unlike some of Oprah Winfrey's shows), she is able to draw out responses from her interviewees and her audience in an amazing way. Sometimes she raises some pretty difficult questions that many of us have thought about privately but are afraid to confront especially in public or even articulate to others.
In the show, many of the interviewees who acted in gay porn but were self-confessed straight men revealed that the gay porn industry is more lucrative than straight porn. They claim that they were "forced" to act in gay roles for the money because they were only getting paid $500 a scene to act in straight porn but they could earn ten times more in gay porn. They apparently "force" themselves to perform sex acts by mentally preparing themselves before each scene. Judging from their growing fan base, they were pretty good actors.
My first comment is that I am convinced that not everyone in this world is totally straight or gay; some of us are perhaps more one way than the other at some point in our lives - what is commonly termed "bisexual". Society at large has been artificially categorizing us as being straight or gay or bisexual, when in fact I believe that everyone is bisexual in various degrees. I dont have scientific proof, but plenty of anecdotal evidence. I know of numerous men and women who are more gay or straight some time in their lives, or who believe that they have made conscious choices to be gay or straight (i.e. their preference). Of course, there are rare exceptions of people who are neither straight nor gay - like the European guy who reportedly will only have sex with cars (yes, through their exhaust pipes, and yes, always with a condom) and some rumored shepherds who are curiously attracted to certain members of their flock...
My second comment is that there is nothing morally wrong with (watching) porn. Lets face it - watching sexual acts being performed by adult actors/actresses is a lifestyle choice that should be respected like any other hobby. If I cannot accept it, I simply do not watch it, but I wouldnt stop others from watching and enjoying it. Besides, I think porn in itself does not sensationalise sex or promote fornication - do thriller movies like "Saw" or "Psycho" promote psychotic acts or murder? People who cannot distinguish between fact and fantasy should be counseled or banned from watching TV - period. Above all, I think its wrong to judge others. Masturbation with the assistance of porn is even touted as an alternative to sexual promiscuity and unsafe sexual practices; it might even save marriages in situations where men and women have incompatible sex drives.
Similarly, there is nothing morally wrong with being a porn star. Its a job, and a tough one at that. I admire porn stars for their professionalism - I imagine that its not easy to get sexually aroused in front of the camera especially when the partner is a total stranger (or someone who the star is just not attracted to), much less perform picture-perfect karmasutra feats in front of the camera with the person (usually in as few takes as possible), and the typical weak plots/scripts probably do not help the stars very much in terms of preparing them mentally for their roles, either. Porn stars are quite pitiful even - facing all sorts of pressure and challenges in showbizz (on and off stage) and getting NO recognition for their professionalism whatsoever.
Remember the romantic comedy, Zack and Miri Make a Porno? Given the current economic downturn and possibly prolonged recession, porn seems like a very lucrative option for those who lost their jobs and have difficulty finding new jobs. After all, isn't the government encouraging "re-training", "skills upgrading" and "employability"? I would not hesitate if I were given the opportunity to act in porn, regardless straight or gay. Problem is, I think I am quite unlikely to get accepted at the auditions with my physique and appearance (if I am auditioning for mainstream porn). Maybe I would have better luck as a director or a producer (I dont even mind being the guy who puts oil or makeup on the stars if I can stay on the production set)...
Hmmm - I wonder whether there will ever be a talent competition for porn stars in the future - The American Porn Idol or America's Next Top Porn Star and a Best Porno Award in the Oscars/ Emmy/ Golden Globe...? For now, we shall be content with voting for our favourite stars only on porn sites.
Tyra Banks recently highlighted a (what I consider to be) controversial issue on her talk show "Tyra": Men who are Gay for Pay. I found it rather interesting and decided to express my views about this issue (perhaps my perspective will change again in future so I thought I should put it down in writing and review what I wrote in time to come).
Before I comment about the issue, I first like to say that I enjoy Tyra's shows because I find them very entertaining. Although the issues she discusses are primarily for a female audience, and they are not dealt with in intellectual or analytical depth (unlike some of Oprah Winfrey's shows), she is able to draw out responses from her interviewees and her audience in an amazing way. Sometimes she raises some pretty difficult questions that many of us have thought about privately but are afraid to confront especially in public or even articulate to others.
In the show, many of the interviewees who acted in gay porn but were self-confessed straight men revealed that the gay porn industry is more lucrative than straight porn. They claim that they were "forced" to act in gay roles for the money because they were only getting paid $500 a scene to act in straight porn but they could earn ten times more in gay porn. They apparently "force" themselves to perform sex acts by mentally preparing themselves before each scene. Judging from their growing fan base, they were pretty good actors.
My first comment is that I am convinced that not everyone in this world is totally straight or gay; some of us are perhaps more one way than the other at some point in our lives - what is commonly termed "bisexual". Society at large has been artificially categorizing us as being straight or gay or bisexual, when in fact I believe that everyone is bisexual in various degrees. I dont have scientific proof, but plenty of anecdotal evidence. I know of numerous men and women who are more gay or straight some time in their lives, or who believe that they have made conscious choices to be gay or straight (i.e. their preference). Of course, there are rare exceptions of people who are neither straight nor gay - like the European guy who reportedly will only have sex with cars (yes, through their exhaust pipes, and yes, always with a condom) and some rumored shepherds who are curiously attracted to certain members of their flock...
My second comment is that there is nothing morally wrong with (watching) porn. Lets face it - watching sexual acts being performed by adult actors/actresses is a lifestyle choice that should be respected like any other hobby. If I cannot accept it, I simply do not watch it, but I wouldnt stop others from watching and enjoying it. Besides, I think porn in itself does not sensationalise sex or promote fornication - do thriller movies like "Saw" or "Psycho" promote psychotic acts or murder? People who cannot distinguish between fact and fantasy should be counseled or banned from watching TV - period. Above all, I think its wrong to judge others. Masturbation with the assistance of porn is even touted as an alternative to sexual promiscuity and unsafe sexual practices; it might even save marriages in situations where men and women have incompatible sex drives.
Similarly, there is nothing morally wrong with being a porn star. Its a job, and a tough one at that. I admire porn stars for their professionalism - I imagine that its not easy to get sexually aroused in front of the camera especially when the partner is a total stranger (or someone who the star is just not attracted to), much less perform picture-perfect karmasutra feats in front of the camera with the person (usually in as few takes as possible), and the typical weak plots/scripts probably do not help the stars very much in terms of preparing them mentally for their roles, either. Porn stars are quite pitiful even - facing all sorts of pressure and challenges in showbizz (on and off stage) and getting NO recognition for their professionalism whatsoever.
Remember the romantic comedy, Zack and Miri Make a Porno? Given the current economic downturn and possibly prolonged recession, porn seems like a very lucrative option for those who lost their jobs and have difficulty finding new jobs. After all, isn't the government encouraging "re-training", "skills upgrading" and "employability"? I would not hesitate if I were given the opportunity to act in porn, regardless straight or gay. Problem is, I think I am quite unlikely to get accepted at the auditions with my physique and appearance (if I am auditioning for mainstream porn). Maybe I would have better luck as a director or a producer (I dont even mind being the guy who puts oil or makeup on the stars if I can stay on the production set)...
Hmmm - I wonder whether there will ever be a talent competition for porn stars in the future - The American Porn Idol or America's Next Top Porn Star and a Best Porno Award in the Oscars/ Emmy/ Golden Globe...? For now, we shall be content with voting for our favourite stars only on porn sites.
posted by sunshine wallflower at 11:37 PM
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