The Pornography Wars
The Past, Present, and Future of America’s Obscene Obsession
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The Pornography Wars
Narrated by:
Kelsy Burke
Buy Now for £14.82
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Narrated by:
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Kelsy Burke
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By:
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Kelsy Burke
For readers of Peggy Orenstein and Rebecca Traister, an authoritative, big think look at pornography in all its facets – historical, religious, and cultural.
In the 1960s, sex researchers Masters and Johnson declared the end of the fake orgasm. Nearly two decades later, in 1982, evangelical activist Tim LaHaye foretold that the entire pornography industry would soon be driven out of business. Neither prediction proved true. Instead, with the rise of the internet, pornography saturates the American conscience more than ever and has reshaped our understanding of sexuality, relationships, media, and even the nature of addiction.
Dr. Kelsy Burke has spent the last five years researching and interviewing internet pornography’s opponents and its sympathizers. In The Pornography Wars, Burke does a deep dive into the long history of pornography in America and then turns her gaze on our present society to examine the ways this industry touches on the most intimate parts of American lives. She offers a complete understanding of the major players in the debates around porn's place in society: everyone from sex workers, activists, therapists, religious leaders, and consumers. In doing so, she addresses and debunks the myths that surround porn and porn usage while showing how everything from the way we teach children about sex to the legal protections for what can be published is tied up in the deeply complicated battles over pornography.
Sweeping, savvy, and deeply researched, The Pornography Wars is a necessary and comprehensive new look at pornography and American life.©2023 Kelsy Burke (P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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Critic reviews
Compelling . . . No other book has covered American battles over porn quite so extensively . . . Burke establishes herself as a reliable guide with firsthand knowledge of the allure emanating from countervailing social forces . . . I learned a great deal from The Pornography Wars and recommend it to experts and beginners alike.
A mature, thoughtful book about a complex and divisive topic. No matter their personal opinions, readers will likely find observations here to inform their thoughts about pornography's creation and consumption.
Compassionate and well-balanced … refreshingly unbiased … an astute and forthright presentation of a hotly contested issue.
A thought-provoking examination of pornography in America … well balanced and rigorously researched, featuring dozens of opinions from across the spectrum of debate … An intellectually stimulating read for porn fans and critics alike.
Thoroughly researched and refreshingly readable … this volume does a remarkable job of conveying points of view from all sides of the issues, resulting in a much more complex understanding of a lightning-rod subject.
A great overview . . . informative . . . And it has a fresh angle: rather than portray porn performers, producers, and pro-sex feminists as polar opposites of the people crusading against pornography, Burke suggests 'this dividing line of anti- or pro-porn is a false dichotomy.'
The Pornography Wars is a tour de force! Weaving together history, politics, science, and technology, Burke meticulously documents all sides of the pornography debates... always staying above the fray. If you want to be truly informed, this is where you start!
Whether you believe pornography exploits or empowers those who engage in it, you’ll enjoy how Kelsy Burke deftly blends storytelling and rigorous social science research to enlighten us on this complex and often taboo subject. The Pornography Wars is relevant to anyone who is concerned about the influence that pornography has on our culture and our lives, including parents, clinicians, educators, and researchers alike. A fascinating read!
In The Pornography Wars, Kelsy Burke offers a timely and insightful perspective on one of the world’s most contentious topics. She uses careful research and details from numerous interviews to convey realities about anti-pornography and pro-pornography advocacy positions, all while remaining transparent and clear about her own position and analytic frame. The writing is rich, highly accessible, and often personal. This is a provocative, extraordinary, must-read.
A clear-eyed, engaging, and deeply-researched study of an industry and an argument we cannot afford to ignore.
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