I discovered Robert Jensen three years ago via his review of Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11. I then read many of his articles on race, gender, and US imperialism and admired his courage, honesty, and sense of justice. He has written a new book that sheds light on the US porn industry, Getting Off:  Pornography and the End of Masculinity. Here is an excerpt:

There is a surprising amount of discussion and debate about pornography that remains abstract, as if we could talk meaningfully about the products of an industry without ever acknowledging what they are. It is important, though not always pleasant, to grapple not just with the idea of the pornographic but the actual content of contemporary mass-marketed heterosexual pornography.

The pornography industry produces two major styles of films, “features” (the two most well known feature productions companies are Vivid and Wicked) and “gonzo” (produced by many companies, including Evil Angel, Anabolic, and Red Light District). Pornographic features mimic, however badly, the conventions of a Hollywood movie. There is some minimal plot, character development, and dialogue, all in the service of presenting the explicit sex. Gonzo films have no such pretensions; they are simply recorded sex, often in a private home or on some minimal set. These films often start with an interview with the woman or women about their sexual desires before the man or men enter the scene.

More here. (Note: graphic language ahead.)