Lesbian erotica

Le Sommeil (Sleep) by Gustave Courbet (1866).

For discussion of women's views on gay pornography, see Gay pornography: Audience.

Depictions of lesbianism have been relatively common in erotic art and pornography throughout history.

Lesbianism in visual arts

Depictions of lesbianism are included among the erotic frescoes of Pompeii. Later, a number of European painters, particularly modernists, would include themes of eroticism between women among their work; these artists include François Boucher [1], JMW Turner, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres [2], Gustave Courbet [3], Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Gustav Klimt [4], Egon Schiele [5], Christian Schad, Albert Marquet [6] Balthus [7], and Leonor Fini [8]. More explicit depictions were an important part of the work of erotic illustrators such as Édouard-Henri Avril [9] [10], Franz von Bayros [11], Martin van Maële [12], Rojan, Gerda Wegener [13], Vala Moro [14], and Tom Poulton [15]. Explicit depictions of lovemaking between women were also an important theme in Japanese erotic shunga, including the work of such masters as Utamaro [16], Hokusai [17] [18], Katsukawa Shunchō [19], Utagawa Kunisada [20], Utagawa Kuniyoshi [21], Yanagawa Shigenobu [22], Keisai Eisen [23], Kawanabe Kyōsai, and Ikeda Terukata [24]. Audrey Kawasaki is a contemporary painter for whom erotic depictions of lesbianism form an important segment of her work.[25] [26] [27]

Lesbian couple in bed

The rise of photography was instrumental in the genesis of modern visual pornography, but erotic themes, including erotic lesbian themes, have been an important genre in art photography. Erotic and fetish photographers, such as Heinz von Perckhammer [28], David Hamilton [29], Steve Diet Goedde [30], and Bob Carlos Clarke frequently have included themes of eros between women in their work. More recently, lesbian and bisexual photographers such as Nan Goldin, Tee Corinne [31], Judy Francesconi [32], and Della Grace have focused on erotic themes, reclaiming a subject that has traditionally been mainly treated through the eye of male artists.

Lesbian erotic themes in cinema

Although both lesbian and erotic themes were restrained in early cinema, suggestive scenes of dancing between women were presented in the films Pandora's Box (1928) and The Sign of the Cross (1932). Although lesbian themes were sometimes found in European movies such as Mädchen in Uniform (1931), lesbianism was not treated openly in US cinema until the 1962 release of Walk on the Wild Side. Depictions of lovemaking between women were first shown in several movies of the late 1960s — The Fox (1967), The Killing of Sister George (1968), and Therese and Isabelle (1968).

During the 1970s, depictions of sex between women were largely restricted to semi-pornographic softcore and sexploitation films, such as Cherry, Harry & Raquel! (1970), Score (1973), Emmanuelle (1974), and Bilitis (1977). Although semi-explicit heterosexual sex scenes had been part of mainstream cinema since the late 1960s, equivalent depictions of women having sex only began making their appearance in mainstream film during the 1980s. These were typically in the context of a film that was specifically lesbian-themed, such as Personal Best (1982), Lianna (1983), and Desert Hearts (1985). The vampire film The Hunger (1983) also contained a seduction and sex scene between Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon.

Henry and June (1990) had several lesbian scenes, including one that was considered explicit enough to give the film an NC-17 rating. (There was some controversy as to whether the MPAA had given the film a more restrictive rating than it normally would have because of the lesbian nature of the scene in question.) Basic Instinct (1992) contained mild lesbian content, but established lesbianism as a central theme in the erotic thriller genre. Later in the 1990s, erotic thrillers such as Wild Side (1995) and Bound (1996) featured more explicit lesbian scenes.

From the 1990s onward, depictions of sex between women became fairly common in mainstream cinema, in no small part based on its ability to titillate heterosexual male audience members. Lesbian kissing also was increasingly shown in films (as well as television), often as a way to include a sexually arousing element in a movie without actually having the film gain a more restrictive rating by depicting sex or nudity.

Lesbianism in contemporary pornography

"Cream", lesbian show in Granada (Spain)

Contemporary lesbian (or girl-girl) pornography, is a prominent genre in mainstream hardcore and softcore pornography, with many adult video titles and websites devoted entirely to depictions of women engaging in lesbian sex. Many heterosexual adult videos include at least one lesbian scene. In Japanese adult video, however, lesbianism is considered a fetish and is only occasionally included in mainstream heterosexual videos. Rezu (lesbian) video is a specialized genre, though a large number of such videos are produced, nevertheless.

Most porn actresses perform in lesbian sex scenes at least occasionally. A number of porn actresses, such as Felecia, Justine Joli and Charlie Laine, even specialize in this genre and only have sex with other women on camera. Though porn industry publicity tends to portray porn actresses as being bisexual, such on-screen activity does not necessarily reflect real-life sexual orientation. While many actresses who perform in these scenes are bisexual or lesbian in real life, many others are "gay for pay" and are exclusively heterosexual off-camera.

Mainstream pornography depicting sex between women (in both Western countries and Japan) is typically aimed at male consumers (though it also has a large female audience), which is why it is usually grouped with "straight" porn (in contrast to gay male pornography, which is largely segregated from mainstream heterosexual pornography). There is small genre of pornography made by lesbians, such as the magazine On Our Backs and videos by Fatale Media, SIR Video, Pink and White Productions, and BLEU Productions.

Views about lesbianism in erotica

Historically, the majority of erotica and pornography has been produced by men for a male audience. Lesbian themes have nevertheless been extremely popular because, for many heterosexual men, the depiction of sexual activity between two women is more arousing than sexual activity between a man and a woman. A study has shown that on average heterosexual men are more aroused by pornography showing lesbian activity than they are by depictions of heterosexual activity. This finding corresponds with several earlier studies (summarized in Whitley et al. (1999); see also anecdotal reports in Loftus (2002).)

Enjoyment of "girl on girl" pornography can have little connection to feelings towards homosexuals in real life. A heterosexual man may be aroused by pornographic depictions of lesbianism yet hold homophobic views. However, several studies suggest that men who perceive lesbianism as erotic may have less negative attitudes toward lesbians than they do towards gay men.

Lesbian views on sex between women in erotica are complex. Historically, women have been less involved in the production and consumption of erotica in general and visual pornography in particular than have men. Since the late 1960s, radical feminist viewpoints on pornography and the sexual objectification of women have influenced the lesbian community. Some lesbians and bisexual women object to all pornography on feminist grounds. Since the end of the 1980s "Lesbian Sex Wars", however, lesbians and bisexual women are less likely to identify with radical feminist opinions on sexuality and are more likely to have positive views about erotica and pornography. Some lesbians are even consumers of mainstream pornography, but many dislike what they perceive as inaccurate and stereotypical depictions of women and lesbianism in mainstream pornography. Some are also uncomfortable with male interest in lesbians. As of the early 2000s, there is a very strong lesbian erotic literature movement, as well as a small genre of pornography made by lesbians for a lesbian audience (see "Lesbianism in contemporary pornography" above).

Some heterosexual women also enjoy lesbian erotica or pornography, although they may have little interest in actual sexual activity with other women.

Further reading

Lesbianism in visual arts

• Bonnet, Marie-Jo. (2000). Les Deux Amies: Essai sur le couple de femmes dans l'art. Paris: Editions Blanche. ISBN 2-911621-94-8

Views about lesbianism in erotica

• Bunch, Charlotte. (1982) Lesbianism and erotica in pornographic America. In: L Lederer (ed). Take back the night. New York: Bantam Books. ISBN 0-553-14907-5.
• Conway, Mary T. (1997). Spectatorship in lesbian porn: The woman's woman's film. Wide Angle 19(3):91–113. (abstract)
• Duncker, Patricia. (1995). "Bonne excitation, orgasme assuré": The representation of lesbianism in contemporary French pornography. Journal Of Gender Studies 4(1):5–15.
• Dunn, Sara. (1990). Voyages of the Valkyries: Recent lesbian pornographic writing. Feminist Review 34:161–170. doi:10.2307/1395316.
• Henderson, Lisa. (1991). Lesbian pornography: Cultural transgression and sexual demystification. Women and Language 14(1): 3–12. (Reprinted: S. Munt (ed). (1992). New lesbian criticism: Literary and cultural perspectives. London: Harvester Wheatsheaf. p 173–191. ISBN 0231080190; and L. Gross and J. Woods (eds). (2000). Columbia Reader in Lesbian and Gay Studies. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231104472.)
• Jenefsky, Cindy and Diane Helene Miller.(1998). Phallic intrusion: Girl–girl sex in Penthouse. Women’s Studies International Forum 21(4):375–385. doi:10.1016/S0277-5395(98)00042-9.
• Kitzinger, Jenny and Celia Kitzinger. (1993). "Doing it": Representations of lesbian sex. In: Griffin G (ed). Outwrite: Lesbianism and popular culture. London: Pluto Press. ISBN 0745306888.
• Matrix, Sidney. (1996). Desire and deviate nymphos: Performing inversion(s) as a lesbian consumer. Journal of Homosexuality 31(1-2):71–81. doi:10.1300/J082v31n01_05.
• McDowell, Kelly. (2001). The politics of lesbian pornography: Towards a chaotic proliferation of female sexual imagery. Xchanges 1.1 (online journal).
• Morrison, Todd G and Dani Tallack. (2005). Lesbian and bisexual women’s interpretations of lesbian and ersatz lesbian pornography. Sexuality & Culture 9(2):3–30. doi:10.1007/s12119-005-1005-x.
• Packard, Tamara and Melissa Schraibman. (1993). Lesbian pornography: Escaping the bonds of sexual stereotypes and strengthening our ties to one another. UCLA Women's Law Journal 4:299–328.
• Penelope, Julia. (1980). The lesbian in heterosexual fantasies. Sinister Wisdom 15:76–91.
• Rodgerson, Gillian. (1993). Lesbian erotic explorations. In: L Segal and M McIntosh (eds). Sex exposed: Sexuality and the pornography debate. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press. p 275–279. ISBN 0813519381.
• Russo, Anne and Lourdes Torres. (2001). Lesbian porn stories: Rebellion and/or resistance? In: A Russo (ed). Taking back our lives: A call to action for the feminist movement. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-203-90330-7.
• Sheldon, Caroline. (1984). Lesbians and film: Some thoughts. In: R Dyer (ed). Gays and film. New York: Zoetrope. p 5–26. ISBN 0918432588.
• Smyth, Cherry. (1990). The pleasure threshold: Looking at lesbian pornography on film. Feminist Review 34:152–159. doi:10.2307/1395314.
• Swedberg, Deborah. (1989). What do we see when we see woman/woman sex in pornographic movies? NWSA Journal 1(4):602–616.

See also

• History of erotic depictions
• Femslash
• Media portrayal of lesbianism
• Yuri (term)

External links

• Erotic and Pornographic Art: Lesbian by Tasmin Wilton, glbtq, 2002.
• Pornographic Film and Video: Lesbian by Teresa Theophano, glbtq, 2002.
• "Kira Cochrane wishes Keira and Scarlett would stop it" by Kira Cochrane, New Statesman, February 27, 2006
• It's February; Pucker Up, TV Actresses by Virginia Heffernan, New York Times, February 10, 2005. (requires login)
• "Boogie Dykes: How two San Francisco independent filmmakers are changing the world of mainstream porn" by Michelle Tea, San Francisco Bay Guardian, January 31, 2001.
• "Celebrating Lesbian Sexuality: An Interview with Inoue Meimy, Editor of Japanese Lesbian Erotic Lifestyle Magazine Carmilla" interview by Katsuhiko Suganuma and James Welker, Intersections: Gender, History and Culture in the Asian Context 12, January 2006.
• Shoujo-ai Canada
• Yuricon
• Isle of Lesbos – historical poetry, classical art, and vintage images for lesbians.
• Le Musee Lesbien, Saphisme.com.
• The Encyclopedia of Lesbian Movie Scenes - Lesbian scenes in mainstream film.
• Lezlove Video Group – discussion group for lesbian erotica.
• Shoujo-Ai Archive