Art or Porn?
May 9th, 2011
When does art become porn? And why do I react differently to those words? Porn has negative connotations to me. Porn is dirty, undignified, disgusting. It has no plot, no thought, no meaning. Art is a creative process. Art is done with thought and meaning, for everyone to appreciate and enjoy. Art is dignified and beautiful.
When I did photography before, I thought of it as art. When the photographer started talking about doing a pay site. Started talking about charging people to see the bondage photos. It became porn in my mind. It became something lower than the art I felt we had been creating.
I liked being a bondage model. The energy, the play, the fun. But a porn star? Have a bunch of creepy men perving my pictures after paying a fee? I didn’t want that. To be part of a photographer’s portfolio was one thing, but to be on a paid porn site is another.
Maybe I’m deluded, fooling myself. Maybe it’s all the same. Can’t blame a man for wanting to make a living at his passion. No, but I also don’t have to be part of it. The photographer has plenty of models and photos and contacts. He doesn’t have to put my pictures up. And he is completely willing to not do.
So, what’s the trouble with saying no? The photographer wants to put them up, and I am a pleaser. He says he wants a good variety when he first goes live and my pictures would help with that. I do like attention, and the pictures he has taken. What if he linked back to my blog, since he can’t actually pay me? (If my face didn’t show in any of the pictures. But in one set it does, I’ve got a big gag covering half my face, but I still can see me in them.) They say any publicity is good publicity. I don’t want to be a porn star, but what harm could a little publicity do? And that phrase right there makes me want to knock on every wooden surface in my home.
Complete Shibari: Land and Sky
May 6th, 2010
My mentor recently ordered Complete Shibari Land and Complete Shibari Sky by Douglas Kent. After looking at them, let me just say they are gorgeous. Full of clear color photographs of knots, ties, suspensions and beautiful art. He lets the photos and simple icons take the place of lengthy instructions, including words only when necessary. He starts each book with sensible safety information, as well as a photographic index. He goes into the physics of suspension and lifting. He writes in a clear and approachable manner, and takes time to point out that not every bottom is healthy, fit or flexible enough to accomplish all the things in the book, especially some of the artistic photographs. He also talks about how important it is to understand the concepts, not just memorize the patterns. They are both incredible books, and are clear, concise and very informative.
We have been working on learning the knots and the ties he shows. Experimenting with the designs, combining them and seeing what works for us. Some are very different ties than we usually do. Focusing on aesthetics rather than on comfort. We work to find balance and make them fit to my body and his vision. I have enjoyed working with them, and look forward to his third book, as well.
I recommend them to anyone with an interest in rope, and especially to anyone who loves shibari.
Website: http://www.completeshibari.com/