XXX by renowned photographer Timothy Greenfield- Sanders, features cleverly paired portraits (one clothed and one nude) of the top stars in pornographic film. A cross-section of straight and gay men and women is represented, from porn legends to rising stars. Performers in the book include celebrities like Jenna Jameson (the leading porn star of our time), Ron Jeremy, and Nina Hartley, as well as fast-rising names like Sunrise Adams, Bella Donna and Chad Hunt. The book will also feature short essays on the intersection of pornography and culture by a wide range of distinguished writers, including Salman Rushdie, Francine du Plessix Gray, John Malkovich, Nancy Friday, and John Waters. XXX is a landmark artistic work that will contribute to the ongoing debate about the 'pornification' of the culture at large.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders has achieved critical acclaim photographing world leaders and major cultural figures, including presidents, writers, artists, actors, and musicians. He is a contributing photographer at GQ, Index, and Vanity Fair, and his photographs appear regularly in publications worldwide.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
146 of 151 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders' new book may surprise you. We would expect someone with the talents of this photographer to produce beautiful portraits, and that he did. Mr. Greenfield-Sanders, using a large format camera, shot each model clothed and nude, against a neutral background, in practical identical poses. What you probably would not have thought, however-- and Simon Dumenco is quite right when he says so in his foreward-- that after you get over your initial viewing of the full-frontals, you are drawn to the faces of the photographer's subjects. Additionally, you might be surprised that such diverse people as Gore Vidal-- who wrote the introduction-- Salman Rushsdie, John Waters, A. M. Homes, JT Leroy, John Malkovich, Lou Reed, Faye Wattleton et al. have provided thoughtful essays on the subject of pornography.
We are not told how the photographer came up with these 30 individuals-- there are both women and men here, straight and gay, or at least the stars of gay movies-- although one would assume, given the nature of these folks' professions, that no one in the business would be camera shy. Both Ron Jeremy--according to his bio he is listed in GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS for having appeared in the most porno movies, over 1,750 adult films-- and Jenna Jameson, who graces the front cover of this volume and whose memoir recently made the NEW YORK TIMES best seller list, are included.
The essays cover a wide range of topics from AIDS to the availability of porn on the internet. Mr. Vidal attempts to tell us why pornorgaphy exists-- getting into both religion and the ruling class-- while Rushdie discusses the rise of pornography in the East, opining that "If Western pornography is a symptom of Western decadence, [as the Eastern establishment would say] then Eastern pornography is a side effect of Eastern repressions." He also reminds the reader that in today's Iran, distribution of pornography is a crime that carries the death penalty.
This is a quite serious book with beautiful photographs beautifully reproduced and one of the most unusual you'll likely to see.
We are not told how the photographer came up with these 30 individuals-- there are both women and men here, straight and gay, or at least the stars of gay movies-- although one would assume, given the nature of these folks' professions, that no one in the business would be camera shy. Both Ron Jeremy--according to his bio he is listed in GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS for having appeared in the most porno movies, over 1,750 adult films-- and Jenna Jameson, who graces the front cover of this volume and whose memoir recently made the NEW YORK TIMES best seller list, are included.
The essays cover a wide range of topics from AIDS to the availability of porn on the internet. Mr. Vidal attempts to tell us why pornorgaphy exists-- getting into both religion and the ruling class-- while Rushdie discusses the rise of pornography in the East, opining that "If Western pornography is a symptom of Western decadence, [as the Eastern establishment would say] then Eastern pornography is a side effect of Eastern repressions." He also reminds the reader that in today's Iran, distribution of pornography is a crime that carries the death penalty.
This is a quite serious book with beautiful photographs beautifully reproduced and one of the most unusual you'll likely to see.
70 of 85 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Full disclosure obliges me to mention that I know Timothy and that I'm listed in the acknowledgements for this book. But even if I were a stranger and had just picked this up in a store -- instead of ordering it months in advance from Amazon -- I still would have been quite blown away. There have been (a few) serious treatments of the porn world before, but none that combine such a dazzling array of essayists with such an informed view of the industry and, as importantly, such an aesthetic presentation. The portraits, especially -- with the same poses clothed and unclothed, a la Goya's Maja -- are sympathetic, unpatronizing, and, I'd be willing to bet, definitive. A wow.
27 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By S. Bakr
Format:Hardcover
the most striking thing about this book is comparing and contrasting the clothed people versus their nude versions. it's interesting becuase so much personality can be seen in the clothes they wear, where as the nudes are left up to your imagination to mold them into anything you'd like.
the photography is wonderful and some of the articles were more interesting than others. it was nice to read some of the personal essays the porn stars wrote about themselves and their experiences and how they got into the industry.
if you're a fan of photography you'll appreciate the work in this book, if you just want to get to know a bit more about the industry from insiders then you'll also enjoy this book.
the photography is wonderful and some of the articles were more interesting than others. it was nice to read some of the personal essays the porn stars wrote about themselves and their experiences and how they got into the industry.
if you're a fan of photography you'll appreciate the work in this book, if you just want to get to know a bit more about the industry from insiders then you'll also enjoy this book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Bad
XXX: 30 Porn-Star Portraits . This book is hard rate is't part pictoral part document it.s hard to get into it. Read more
Published 8 months ago by toad93
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must for anyone interested in the human body
A fabulously produced book...stunning images and great text. I am drawn to look at it many times over. Revolutionary.
Published on February 1, 2010 by Andy Carr
5.0 out of 5 stars
honesty this rare deserves credit
Buying this book was something I had to do after viewing the documentary. The honesty of both the words and the portraits is so unabashedly real it is easy to regard this book as... Read more
Published on June 1, 2009 by Richard A. Tucker
5.0 out of 5 stars
taking off clothes or putting on a costume?
This book has wonderful photography and stories. The text is large clear and easy to read, the photos are also large, stunning and in full color. Read more
Published on June 29, 2008 by Don Kangol
3.0 out of 5 stars
sounds more interesting than it is
the title says it all.
It's definitely interesting to see side by side the dressed/undressed photographs, but I was expecting more insight into their life and jobs...
It's definitely interesting to see side by side the dressed/undressed photographs, but I was expecting more insight into their life and jobs...
Published on May 29, 2008 by trandi
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great eye opening book.
I think this collection of photos is just great. You get to see the two sides of the adult stars. Their real selves and they stage persona. It's a wonderful contrast. Read more
Published on April 10, 2008 by Paulo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not for everyone, but engaging.
This project was interesting, and the photography is good but not moving or exceptional. The essays are very diverse and I can honestly say I read it for the articles. Read more
Published on February 25, 2008 by T. S. Little
4.0 out of 5 stars
Buy the book for the portraits....certainly NOT the articles.
The photographs reminicent of Richard Avedon are excellent -- infact all photos are often framed like those of Avedon -- with the negative holders shown (albeit, they are digitally... Read more
Published on May 26, 2007 by Anton Karidian
5.0 out of 5 stars
original idea
Pornstars as people thats a first. Instead of erotic shots Timothy Greenfield Sanders chooses to show the inner beauty of both male and female straight and gay adult performers. Read more
Published on March 18, 2007 by J. Mclemore
4.0 out of 5 stars
The clothed and the bare....
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders' book is more an art than a true 'Bare all' book. I say that due to the quality lighting and camera work -which is impeccable. Read more
Published on March 18, 2007 by Steve Bradford
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Listmania!
|
|
