X Marks The Spot: SQIFF, Porn, and Tabloid Outrage

Some kinds of porn are pretty disgusting. There’s the type of porn that’s filled with petrified people and underage, unconsenting women. There’s porn that ignores all sexualities apart from aggressive straightness and hypersexual lesbians, excluding the majority of the world from the chance to investigate their own desires. There’s porn that supports racist stereotypes, and porn that started out as a private moment and was broadcast to millions in spite and revenge. Yeah, I think unless you’re a horrible person, we’re in agreement that all the above are a skidmark on the fabric of humanity.

But, on reading a recent diatribe from everyone’s favourite moral touchstone the Daily Record, it seems we’re being rallied to hate a new type of porn. Haven't you heard? You see, as part of the Scottish Queer International Film Festival, independent porn producer and performer Vex Ashley is to host a free workshop in indie, decentralised and creative porn at CCA. Sounds like a wonderful change to a macho landscape of spunk-laden silicone and stereotypes, doesn’t it? Well, the Record doesn’t think so. Clever porn which remedies our manipulated sexualities? Thoughtful porn which critiques a culture of fixed sexuality and gender norms? Perish the fucking thought.

Taking the opportunity to publish a titillating article referring repeatedly to the ‘porn star's X-rated movie workshop’ and picture Ashley in a latex bodysuit (twice), the paper tried (and failed) to throw a big old cloud of shame and shade on the occasion. Spinning broken record after broken record, the article traverses through all the usual. The quotes with the misguided campaigner (apparently all types of pornography constitutes violence against women!); the concerned MP who’s excited to be treated as an authority on the matter. The distinct absence of logic and reason. You’ve gotta hand it to ‘em – they dug deep.

Now, the beef I have here isn’t with the author (Sally Hind), whose ill-judgement can probably be put down to pressures to churn out an extensive quota of stories. The fury comes from the fact we’re still having this conversation, and that those interviewed didn’t roll their eyes like an exasperated student on the phone to their Tory great-grandmother.

To share just one example of the redundant complaints shared in the article, The Scottish Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation said they have concerns about the normalisation of pornography. Bad news folks: pornography is already normalised. Pornhub’s wormed its way into the public consciousness so effectively that it’s now offering a gift card, for christ’s sake. A gift card with TELEVISED ADVERTS.

Bizarrely, the complaints seem to be more about the money than the morals. The article’s studded with woes about the ‘public purse’; indeed Rhoda Grant MSP put it explicitly: “If this was something being done commercially there would still be something wrong about it. But there is something very wrong about the public purse funding something like this.” Which sort of begs the question – are filmmakers only allowed to foray into sex and sexualities if it’s a blockbuster or easily marketable? 

But d’you know what’s most outrageous in all of this? And no, it’s not the fact that midway through the faux-concern and piousness, readers are directed to a related article entitled ‘Pamela Anderson bends over naked as she bares all in new trailer for The People Garden’, suggesting the publication might have an entirely coherent stance on gender politics and sexuality. There’s something even more enraging than that; the fact that a for-profit newspaper feel it’s their place to, on behalf of an unconsulted nation, decide that this project is unsafe, unwelcome, and undeserving of the public’s money.

Newspaper folk – you forgot to ask the arts community how they feel about this. You forgot to ask queer people how they feel about this. You forgot to ask anyone besides Rhoda fucking Grant how they feel about this. Porn is in desperate need of discussion, and unfortunately, at the moment it’s only likely to be discussed fairly and analytically in underground festivals like SQIFF.

It’s a testament to Scotland that these events are publically funded, and it’s even more wonderful that Creative Scotland (the financial body funding SQIFF) don’t have a hand in deciding how projects they’re funding are programmed. What place do the government and creative awards bodies have in deciding how a queer arts festival is programmed once they've committed to handing over the cash? Creative Scotland are keenly aware of this (they said so, quite proudly in the original article) – it’s sections of the press who’re failing to keep up.

Anyway, not to worry, the article concludes with a modicum of common sense in the form of a quote from CCA director Francis McKee, who said: “This workshop shows an alternative feminist approach to mainstream porn, presenting a critique of the industry and looking at alternative views of sexuality on film.” Bafflingly, the Record’s tirade didn’t quite stretch to responding to this quote.

McKee also pointed out SQIFF's inclusive ethos in a statement sent to The Skinny. He said: "SQIFF bring a wide range of screenings and events to CCA and have an excellent access policy which makes it easy for people from all backgrounds to attend. The festival has a very ethical and inclusive approach overall, including addressing mental health issues for the LGBTQ+ community."

SQIFF themselves have also shared their thoughts, saying: "The Scottish Queer International Film Festival is an annual celebration of cinema and media made for and by the LGBTQ+ community. As part of the Festival, we offer a range of free workshops run by leading film industry professionals, including a session led by Vex... Vex is part of the new wave of young women who are making fun, empowering and accessible erotic films for female audiences that are far removed from the potentially exploitative practices of the mainstream pornography industry."

Regardless of the tabloid reaction, I, The Skinny and probably the majority of the artistic and porn-watching community are entirely behind SQIFF and CCA’s decision to host this workshop. Who knows, maybe I’ll even be there...