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Is it just me or does anyone get bent out of shape in regard to the (above picture) "sexual acts" disclaimer (pictured above) at the beginning of porn video credits???!! I know some people may laugh at me for getting bent out of shape about a disclaimer on porn (despite it's overall artistic endeavors and impact on the world being low on the totem pole). However, there is something to be said about the psychology of this kind of thinking and propaganda and one's self-worth to even address this on a video.
Although this particular disclaimer above is from the Rocky Ruiz porn video, I've seen this type of disclaimer in a number of homosexual porn videos as well as same gender loving (SGL) lifestyle magazines like PULSE, CLIK and Bleu (see the fine print).
I mean, why do these companies need to say that? Do heterosexual porn videos or general (non-homosexual) lifestyle magazines out there state a similar disclaimer? Well, NO, not that I've ever seen. To me this speaks of internalized-homophobia: the idea of being featured in a homosexual porn video or a respectable and excellent lifestyle magazine, yet claiming a loophole that some of the actors, stars or models may not have a homosexual orientation because they're featured in a homosexual product. This is NOT needed!! It's like being apologetic for someone featured in a magazine who might be misconstrued as being homosexual because the target audience is Black or Latino same gender loving folks. Come on... Actors are actor! Stars are stars! Models are models! As long as the viewer's fantasy is fulfilled in a video, or a magazine model's picture compliments the words of a particular feature article(s), then that is all that matters.
I don't wonder or muse through a video or magazine on whether a brutha is hetero or homo. I sometimes think to myself in some cases that "Wow! He looks mad cute" or "Man! He's a hottie" and then I move on because I don't know these bruthaz.
I've had this discussion with other bruthaz in my circle and basically I get a body language shug of "So what?" or no response as it's not important to them. I told one of my mentors that I'm going to publish it here on the Nubian Knights Network, and his question was "Do you actually read the credits during a porn video?" I didn't say this to him (my mentor), but I do like to read credits only for the productions dates of the video to see how recent the video is otherwise I don't read anything else except the starring people. It just so happens that I've been catching these disclaimers in a number of videos and remember seeing it in PULSE magazine, too. And YES, I do proudly claim that I do sit through and read the credits of Indy and Hollywood films at the end of a film in the movie theater, and also watch the credits through and through for home viewing. Going all the way back to when I was a kid, I've always taken the artistry of filmmaking (not porn) seriously and I like to see the credits of the hundreds of folks it takes to put a film production together. I guess, hence me persuing the dream as a filmmaker myself. So sue me!
Click The Above Image To SeeThe Yellow Hi-lited Fine Print
On The Ridiculous Sexual Orientation Disclaimer
Again, maybe it's just me, but I wanted to get this off my chest. I just think it's stupid and ridiculous and speaks to one of the myriad of problems in the Black (and Latino) SGL community regarding our (non) comfortability with our fluid sexuality and the emasculation and woundedness of the Black male which goes all the way back 400+ years to our powerlessness during slavery and the middle passage.
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Hi, Rod,
ReplyDeleteI was really impressed with your blog/article and it's concern with identity perception in magazines and videos. I could side with the "reasoning" being that yes, I know that the models and actors in the pieces want to make it clear in a product that may be going worldwide, want a way of distancing themselves or protectign themselves and their identity. But I'm going to side with the disclaimer being ultimately fear based. And I'll even challenge it and fear based projections more deeply: the announcement of someone's sexuality.
"You know so and so celebrity is gay, right?"
"You know such and such is family, right?"
"Uh huh, we know about him....."
Part of this is told in a sense of developing community or identification but mostly peopel pass it back and forth in GOTCHA!
It's a game of guess who I just told about their sexuality---heheheh---as if you've exposed someone or have the right too.
The disclaimers and this outting are on the same continuum of other than heterosexuality being something we "catch" people in and something one can get caught up in and mis-identified in.
Part of what we're doing is sharing and perpetuating shame, suggesting that we someone GOT info on someone and that we have a new way of viewing them---these outtings are never accompanied with pride or even a level of manners of: is that really any of my business unless they're going to ask me out?
We're in a society that "catches" people on their beliefs or their actions, no matter how normal or banal.
Hurt people, hurt people. So it stands to reason that people who play the GOTCHA game would shamefully pay the neutral sexuality disclaimer. It's funny, I didn't knwo that Graydon carter, editor at Vanity was not only gay but owned a restaurant until his partner casually mentioned their relationship and ownership of the restaurtant on TV. In fact, they had to keep saying "partner" so many times that it finally dawned on me---oh, they're PARTNERS as well as partners.
White people (hate to reduce it) like themselves and don't apologize for their sexuality or their media or their business, even when it's also BUSINESS.
Hey Kyle,
ReplyDeleteBeen a while since I've seen you. Hope things are good with you.
I can definitely appreciate and understand your comments fully, Kyle.
I also believe this GOTCHA or the OUTTING thing you mentioned has to do with rising or established heroes (successful people) that are similar like us in some way. And I'd also sadly say that GOTCHA employed by some people is also equally meant to discredit (shade) someone. That to me is INTERNALIZED HOMOPHOBIA or HOMO-REACTIONARY as BMX-NY uses as a term.
Lastly, though the disclaimer is present in these different mediums it certainly won't stop the above mentioned homo-reactionary folks from discrediting someone. That stupid guilt by association nonsense is enough for some folks and none too rational.
Thanks for your comment bro. I'm humbled especially someone just starting this blogging thing.
Hi Rod: You know I had never thought about the disclaimers in this context. I had always just assumed that they were there to give the "actors" and out so that they would be able to say, "I was just playing a part", but no disclaimer is necessary for an actor who plays an axe murderder or rapist or you fill in the blank. Interesting point.
ReplyDeleteThe following is a email from my friend, Sava, and then my response:
ReplyDeleteHi Rod,
I just read your blog on the disclaimer issue. I am one of those brothers that don't read the disclaimer but I do know most of the actors/models that are in the movies and magazines. I see the disclaimer as a tool to sell more videos and magazines then more of a way to place someone's identity on display to be categorized within in a certain community.
I am not saying the disclaimer is right, I'm looking at it as a business point a view.
I think the disclaimer is more for the actor/model and their fan base. You know that the adult industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and most of the actors/models are straight. Why? Because its about the money. I've seen many interview where guys go outside of their striaght scene because they can make more money then if they were to do the same gender things.
I have been watching more main stream movies and tv show where the "gay" person is actually played by a straight actor. I have no problem with this because if the person claims to be an actor then they should act the part and make me a believer just like the "gay" actor perpetuating to be straight.
In the DL chronicle (I love this movie) all of the actors are straight except 3 of them. On of them is now on one life to live. (story 2, the Mark character? I think)
I do question...why we, as same gender loving men, are more incline to date guys who are "acting" to be straight then the men who are comfortable with letting the world know they are SGL. That's a hot topic.
ROD's RESPONSE:
Hey Sava,
Another brutha posted a comment and pointed out the same "business point of view" reason. Okay... if that is the case then how come mainstream magazines don't point out sexual orientation disclaimers as well??? The double standard mentality always seems to rear its ugly head when there needs to be a conveienet loophole. Why is the specific disclaimer attention placed on SGL lifestyle magazines and porn vidoes and not other mainstream mags and videos if this "business point of view" is so important for many in the industries.
This is a cop-out!!There's no skirting around this: it's clear to me that there's shame involved in this equation and guilt-by-assocation (of being percieved as homosexual/bisexual) is NOT an option for some folks.
As it stands, thanks for your comments, Sava! LOVE U boy!
SAVA's 2nd RESPONSE (REBUTTAL):
You're right... but to answer your question and to make it clear to our SGL brothas...you need to ask...who are the movies and magazines target group? Once we figure this out, then we must look at who are the models in the shots? Are they the same models we see in other publications and movies? Here is the most important part...what are the legal reasons behind the disclaimer. As you know most of the models/actors do cross over and work in both sectors of the straight and SGL world. The disclaimer is mostly posted to keep the legal actions of discriminating or falsely assuming a person is believed to be a certain way because of their association.
Ask yourself...if you were a straight actor and you heard about a role playing a SGL in a porn, movie or magazine that was paying twice as much as being in a straight movie or publication ...would you refuse to take the job? No.
Also as an added incentive there is a disclaimer stating that you are portraying a character that is not a true reflection of your actual belief or nature. This disclaimer is posted to insure that you, the model/actor, have the ability to acquire a job or position that is not exclusive to a specific group.
Now...I hope this help in seeing this issue from more of a business aspect.