A Lesbian who teaches French at Columbia says that artistic portrayals of lesbianism are unrealistic, exploitative, and a “spectator sport … by men, for men…”
Cinematic portrayals of sex between women have often been seen as voyeuristic and exploitative. Unlike sex scenes between men, lesbianism is assumed to have wide appeal — straight women are curious, and straight men will apparently line up in any weather. Actual lesbians, and possibly gay men expressing solidarity, have generally been the only demographic offended by such scenes, but that doesn’t stop us from buying tickets, if only to see exactly how we are being exploited.
Does lesbian sex really have such wide appeal? I was under the impression that it was more of a curiosity than a standard male fantasy, invariably involving attractive women rather than “realistic” lesbians. If films included realistic lesbian sex, would anyone want to watch them?
Would even lesbians want to watch them?
Given the scarcity of pornography made for lesbian consumption (as opposed to the lucrative industry of gay male porn), I think the answer is pretty clear.
