It's hard to resist a film titled Passion and Power: The Technology of Orgasm.
Though the production left something to be desired -- off-kilter frames lay over moving wallpaper (talking heads are just fine when the story is intriguing) and there was an excessive amount of visual innuendoes and opera music -- the topic was quite interesting.
Based on a book by Rachel Maines, the author was initially researching turn-of-the-century needlework magazines when she noticed a plethora of vibrator ads. The documentary delves into the history of doctor-administrated masturbation as treatment for "hysteria," and follows the evolution of various vibrating aids and a woman's right to use them without shame.
Or without being arrested. Joanne Webb was charged with promotion of an obscene device after she began working part-time for the Passion company, which essentially has Tupperware parties for vibrators. Take note: it is Texas law that you may have five vibrators, but six or more implies an intent to sell. Don't worry, you can still buy a gun or Viagra easily enough.
An interesting little flick that uses vibrators as a tool in the women's movement and raises some very curious points about sexual inequality.
Filmmakers Emiko Omori & Wendy Blair Slick were in attendance, and said that there goal was to present something that fell somewhere in between being lurid and academic.
Unfortunate commentary in the fight for education: They were interviewed just this week by a television station and were not allowed to say the world "vibrator." Good to know.
Comments (1)
Not surprising they couldn't say vibrator as you can still see these ads in magazines and they are called massagers even though they are phalic in shape - they are always advertised to relieve tension in your neck...sure whatever works for you. You say tomato...
Posted by Diane | January 12, 2008 1:53 PM
Posted on January 12, 2008 13:53