1988: Prologue: Porn, Feminism & the folly of NC-17 (Erotic 90s, Part 1) / by Karina Longworth

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Erotic 80s began with a prologue about the short-lived heyday of the X rating, pornography, and feminism. Erotic 90s begins with a prologue about the disastrous rollout of NC-17 –the X rating’s replacement  – and the evolving state of both porn and feminism at the dawn of the 90s. Topics include David Lynch, Harvey Weinstein, “pro-porn” feminism, “the new morality,” video stores, Magic Johnson, date rape and much more.

SHOW NOTES:  

Sources:

“Burning Desires: Sex in America. Part One: The World’s First Safe-Sex Orgy” by Steve Chapple and David Talbot, Playboy, April 1989

“Movies” by Bruce Williamson, Playboy, April 1989

“How We Play The Game” by Lillian B. Rubin. MS, May 1989

“Ziplash: A Sexual Libertine Recants” by Erica Jong. MS, May 1989

“Nice Girls Do (Or Want To)” by Katie Monagle. MS, May 1989

“Women: It’s now, it’s trendy, it’s codependency!” By Cynthia Heimel. Playboy, May 1990

“Almodovar Film's X Rating Is Challenged in Lawsuit” by Andrew L. Yarrow, NYTimes, May 24, 1990

“Sex is Back! A field report on the end (at last) of the ice age” by Michael Kelly, Playboy, May 1990

The Death And Rebirth Of Ms.” - The Washington Post, MS, July/August 1990

“Judge Upholds X Rating For Almodovar Film” by Glenn Collins, NYTimes, July 20, 1990

“Businessman With a Nasty Rep: Rap: 2 Live Crew’s Controversial Luther Campbell Says He’s ‘just A Hard-Working Guy Marketing A New Product.’ by Chuck Philips, LA Times, July 25, 1990

“X-Rated ‘June’ Could Ignite Major Revolt Against MPAA” by David Kissinger, Variety, Sept. 10. 1990

“X Film Rating Dropped and Replaced by NC-17 : Movies: Designation Would Bar Children Under 17” by David J. Fox, LA Times, Sept. 27, 1990

“Venice Film Festival Review: Henry & June” Sept. 17, 1990

“A 'No Children' Category To Replace the 'X' Rating by Larry Rohter, Special To the New York Times, Sept. 27, 1990 

“Not Quite As Wild”, People Magazine, Sept. 27, 1990

“The First Impact of the New Movie Rating : Film: The New York Times Decides to Publish Advertisements For Adults-only Fare” by David J. Fox, Sept. 28, 1990

“2 Church Groups Condemn NC-17 Rating” LA Times, Sept. 29, 1990

“First Film Rated NC-17 Is Banned Near Boston : Movies: Town officials threaten to revoke theater’s license, LA Times, Oct. 5, 1990

“Taking the Hex out of X” by Richard Corliss, Time Magazine, Oct. 8, 1990

“Sell-Out Crowds for Henry & June” by Jack Matthews, LA Times, Oct. 8, 1990

“Hollywood Report”, Hollywood Reporter, Oct. 10, 1990

“The Playboy Forum: Ratings and Reel Life” Playboy, Oct. 1990

“Date Rape: Does Anyone Really Know What it is?” Stephanie Gutmann, Playboy Oct.1990

“Is NC-17 an X in a Clean Raincoat” by Janet Maslin, NYTimes, Oct. 21, 1990

“Movies” by Bruce Williamson, Playboy, Nov. 1990

“Building Controversy Over NC-17 : MPAA Opposes Attempt to Turn the New Guideline on Adult Fare Into Law” by David J. Fox, LA Times, Nov. 20, 1990

“The Ratings Game” by Pete Travers, US Magazine, August 1992

“Reviewing the NC-17 Film Rating: Clear Guide or an X by a New Name?” by William Grimes, NYTimes, Nov. 30, 1992

R vs. NC-17--What’s the Difference?: Filmmakers, Exhibitors Are Bewildered by Inconsistent Ratings” by David J. Fox, LA Times, Jan. 18, 1993

“A Strange Justice For All By Judy Mann”, Washington Post, Nov. 9, 1994

“Why Movie Ratings Don't Work” by Benjamin Svetkey, Entertainment Weekly, Updated November 25, 199

“First Major Film With an NC-17 Rating Is Embraced by the Studio” by Bernard Weinraub, NYTimes, July 21, 1995

“NC-17 Gets an F The MPAA has forced "Eyes Wide Shut" to blink, "South Park" to wash its mouth out, and "American Pie" to be less spicy. Now the backlash begins” By Andrew Essex, Entertainment Weekly, August 13, 1999 

Ugly Reality in Movie Ratings by Roger Ebert, Sept. 24, 2000

“DGA: Re-Cut Pic Ratings Helmer's Union Calls For Overhaul Of MPAA System” by Dave McNary, Variety, Sept. 15, 2000 

“Can’t Get No Satisfaction, Philip Kaufman Thrusts Again with “Quills”, Indiewire, Nov 28, 2000

“The Naked Truth: "Showgirls" and the Fate of the X/NC-17 Rating” by Kevin S. Sandler, Cinema Journal, Vol. 40, No. 3 (Spring, 2001), pp. 69-93 (25 pages) Published By: University of Texas Press

Please note: as an Amazon Associate Karina earns from qualifying purchases. #ad

Music:

The music used in this episode, with the exception of the intro, was sourced from royalty-free music libraries and licensed music collections. The intro includes a clip from the film Casablanca.  

Excerpts from the following songs were used throughout the episode: 

The Killjoy Brothers - Kittyhawk
Cicle Vascule - Cicle Kadde
Upbeat Hot Hip Hop - Royalty Free Dum Track
Kamilah - Sunflower
Single Still - Vermouth
Waltz for Zakaria - Chocolate
Chai Belltini - Vermouth
Le Marais - The Sweet Hots
Mill Wyrm - Potions
Metropolis Calling - Kittyhawk
Launch Code - Kittyhawk
Junca - Orange Cat
Neon Drip - RadioPink
Will be war soon? - Kosta T
Daymaze - Orange Cat
JoDon - Orange Cat

Credits:

This episode was written, narrated, and produced by Karina Longworth.

Our editor this season is Evan Viola. 

Research and production assistant: Lindsey D. Schoenholtz.

Social media assistant: Brendan Whalen.

Logo design: Teddy Blanks.