International Exposure: Perspectives on Modern European Pornography, 1800-2000

Book Description
"This sophisticated, even witty collection goes beyond tired old debates to provide compelling and surprising insights into national cultures of pornography."—Anna Clark, author of Scandal: The Sexual Politics of the British Constitution "This collection makes an important and pioneering contribution toward demonstrating the historically and culturally specific nature of pornography and erotica."—Lesley Hall, founding editor of H-Histsex Discussion Network for the History of Sexuality "In this courageous, timely, and genuinely groundbreaking work, Lisa Z. Sigel and her coauthors examine the history of pornography in its national and international dimensions. Highly recommended."—Kevin White, author of Sexual Liberation or Sexual License?: The American Revolt against Victorianism International Exposure demonstrates the wealth of desires woven into the fabric of European history: desires about empire and nation, about self and other, about plenty and dearth. By documenting the diverse meanings of pornography, senior scholars from across the disciplines show the ways in which sexuality became central to the individual, to the nation, and to the transnational character of modern society. The ten essays in the volume engage a rich array of topics, including obscenity in the German states, censorship in France’s Third Republic, "she-male" internet porn, the rise of incestuous longings in England, the place of the Hungarian video revolution in the global market, and the politics of pornography in Russia. Taken together, the essays illustrate the latest approaches to content, readership, form, and delivery in modern European pornography. A substantial discussion of the broad history and state of the field complements the in-depth case studies that examine a wide range of sources from literature to magazines, video to the Internet. By tackling the highbrow and lowdown of the pornographic form, this volume lays the groundwork for the next surge of studies in the field.


About the Author
Lisa Z. Sigel is a visiting assistant professor of history at DePaul University and the author of Governing Pleasures: Pornography and Social Change in England, 1815–1914.


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