Focusing on the ‘hot button’ issues in the censorship debate today—from the implications of the internet revolution to arguments about ‘raunch culture’ and its effects—this examination explores the politics of the adult industry in Australia. The book suggests that both pornography and censorship need to be understood alongside 30 years of neoliberalism, a doctrine that has transformed how Australians see both the state and themselves. Providing an inside look at the pornography industry with interviews of key players in the debate, this discussion argues that many of the issues raised by censorship and pornography manifest themselves in other contemporary political controversies, from the war on terror to the Northern Territory Intervention.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Jeff Sparrow has a keen eye for our culture's flash points, so, if you think you know where you stand on censorship, think again. The labyrinthine politics behind this country's censorship laws, and, more tellingly, those laws failure to make an impact in any meaningful way is just part of Sparrow's entertaining, perplexing, and telling guided tour through the world of censorship." —Sophie Cunningham, author, Bird, Geography, and Melbourne
About the Author
Jeff Sparrow is the editor of the most radical of Australia’s long-standing literary and cultural magazines, Overland, and a professor at Victoria University in Melbourne. He is the author of a number of books, including Communism: a Love Story and Killing: Misadventures in Violence, and the coeditor of Left Turn.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Cheryl
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an entertaining and easy-to-read examination of contemporary Australian censorship law and it's application to pornography in particular. Mr Sparrow has done an excellent job of portraying both sides of the ideological debate, exploring how censorship both reflects and shapes social attitudes, the deficiencies of the current system, and how it allows the abuse of minorities. Like the author, many of my beliefs and opinions were called into question as his journey of discovery progressed. Although this book only investigates the Australian situation the issues raised have implications relevant to any society.
If you have any interest in censorship this book is a must read.
If you have any interest in censorship this book is a must read.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By AW
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an intelligent and rigorous exploration of the history of porn and censorship in Australia. Particularly important in the Australian context is Sparrow's discussion of discriminatory censorship of porn in aboriginal communities. While much of the content relates specifically to Australia, the political analysis is general enough to be relevant to censorship discussions internationally. Sparrow writes really well, and it's an engaging and entertaining read.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A well-written, expletive-laden and entertaining romp through the Australian pornography and censorship scene is a roller coaster ride from the first line. Curious about how books, films and video games are classified, Sparrow travels to the OFLC headquarters in Sydney.
After a brief introduction and practical hands-on experimentation, Jeff learns that the classification criteria are actually quite objective, despite the attempt and propaganda blurb on the OFLC's webpage - the claim that they represent the community as far as possible. Legislation further tightens the strait-jacket that the classifiers are required to don in their role. Among the most inane, facile and plainly silly restrictions on pornography is the categorical and all-encompassing ban on fetishes (wax, spanking, bondage, piercings etc). One former censor revealed that the regulations forbade ALL violence in erotic films (that contain actual sex), no matter how mild, and whether the violence occurred in the sex scene itself. Australia is the embodiment of totalitarian ideals (but felicitously, not of totalitarian results). Don't believe me? Read V for Vendetta and see if you can spot the similarities. There certainly aren't many differences, save the lack of a nuclear war.
In a nutshell, acts that are perfectly legal to engage in, provided all parties consent, are utterly illegal to film or photograph. Only Islamic theocracies have similar rules in today's modern, net savvy society. Fortunately, prosecutions are almost non-existent (even for sex shops, which are not even allowed to exist, legally). A more modern, liberal and rational stance to adopt would be this: "If you don't like it, don't watch or read it. Don't make it illegal for mature adults to purchase, so long as they are not hurting anyone." Sadly, some feminists like the ultra-communist Gail Dines and Dawn Hawkins, believe that all heterosexual sex is rape and consensual bondage fits under the United Nations' definition of torture. Anyone who cannot see the prima facie callous disregard and staunch absurdity in such a position simply isn't thinking hard enough.
One of the initial theses that Sparrow addresses is the nature of left/right politics and censorship. He invites us to consider whether progressivists are in favour of pornography by default (and by corollary, that conservatives are against pornography and in favour of censorship). It's an excellent question, and a brief glance below the surface reveals a vocal group of feminists who oppose pornography on the grounds that it degrades women and children. Foremost on their list are barely eighteen-esque erotic magazines. As such, they have made an unlikely alliance with Jim Wallace and Salt Shakers, a radically right-wing religious group (Wallace also denies seeking a theocracy even as his policies describe it to a T). The young women in those magazines wear school uniforms on occasion, which are seem by feminists as "pandering to near-pedophillic interests."
The same could be said about sex education textbooks, but very few people wish to make those illegal.
Most people today would recognise it as a sign of a moral panic. While the anti-porn, self-loathing feminist segment (a minuscule minority) may see the OFLC's decision as a vindication of their outrage, it should be noted that Australia is the ONLY modern nation with such off-the-wall regulations. Twice as many video games have been banned than in country #2 on the list (Brazil).
Read this book, contact your local politician and demand consistency between community consensus and censorship laws. Dead letter laws are a bad influence on society and only foment a further disrespect for the law (since they are so easily violated).
After a brief introduction and practical hands-on experimentation, Jeff learns that the classification criteria are actually quite objective, despite the attempt and propaganda blurb on the OFLC's webpage - the claim that they represent the community as far as possible. Legislation further tightens the strait-jacket that the classifiers are required to don in their role. Among the most inane, facile and plainly silly restrictions on pornography is the categorical and all-encompassing ban on fetishes (wax, spanking, bondage, piercings etc). One former censor revealed that the regulations forbade ALL violence in erotic films (that contain actual sex), no matter how mild, and whether the violence occurred in the sex scene itself. Australia is the embodiment of totalitarian ideals (but felicitously, not of totalitarian results). Don't believe me? Read V for Vendetta and see if you can spot the similarities. There certainly aren't many differences, save the lack of a nuclear war.
In a nutshell, acts that are perfectly legal to engage in, provided all parties consent, are utterly illegal to film or photograph. Only Islamic theocracies have similar rules in today's modern, net savvy society. Fortunately, prosecutions are almost non-existent (even for sex shops, which are not even allowed to exist, legally). A more modern, liberal and rational stance to adopt would be this: "If you don't like it, don't watch or read it. Don't make it illegal for mature adults to purchase, so long as they are not hurting anyone." Sadly, some feminists like the ultra-communist Gail Dines and Dawn Hawkins, believe that all heterosexual sex is rape and consensual bondage fits under the United Nations' definition of torture. Anyone who cannot see the prima facie callous disregard and staunch absurdity in such a position simply isn't thinking hard enough.
One of the initial theses that Sparrow addresses is the nature of left/right politics and censorship. He invites us to consider whether progressivists are in favour of pornography by default (and by corollary, that conservatives are against pornography and in favour of censorship). It's an excellent question, and a brief glance below the surface reveals a vocal group of feminists who oppose pornography on the grounds that it degrades women and children. Foremost on their list are barely eighteen-esque erotic magazines. As such, they have made an unlikely alliance with Jim Wallace and Salt Shakers, a radically right-wing religious group (Wallace also denies seeking a theocracy even as his policies describe it to a T). The young women in those magazines wear school uniforms on occasion, which are seem by feminists as "pandering to near-pedophillic interests."
The same could be said about sex education textbooks, but very few people wish to make those illegal.
Most people today would recognise it as a sign of a moral panic. While the anti-porn, self-loathing feminist segment (a minuscule minority) may see the OFLC's decision as a vindication of their outrage, it should be noted that Australia is the ONLY modern nation with such off-the-wall regulations. Twice as many video games have been banned than in country #2 on the list (Brazil).
Read this book, contact your local politician and demand consistency between community consensus and censorship laws. Dead letter laws are a bad influence on society and only foment a further disrespect for the law (since they are so easily violated).
