There was a time when being caught watching porn was considered something you should be ashamed of, and must be kept hidden. But thanks largely to the media’s open recognition of the adult film industry, those days are no longer the norm. Now, smut is an everyday blase thing.
There are many factors that contributed to porn no longer belonging in the dark corners of video stores. Perhaps the biggest factor is the pervasive and added level of voyeurism in celebrity sex tapes. Ever since Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee made their bedroom antics public, celebrity sex tapes have become somewhat of a norm. The very notion of watching celebrities having sex suddenly make them attainable individuals. They have become like regular folks who get frisky and express their lust.
Paris Hilton’s now legendary sex tape “One Night in Paris” officially broke the barrier between pop culture and the adult film industry, to the point that celebrity sex tapes are now as common as independent movies. It is a testament to the popularity of porn that Paris has then embarked on a very successful career as an actress in both film and television after the sex tape came out.
Now, celebrity hopefuls use this same technique, leaking out supposedly private sex videos, in an attempt to achieve the same celebrity status. Case in point, Kim Kardashian, whose sex tape just reeked of PR and marketing ploys.
With the public clamoring for celebrities to undress and display themselves in front of the camera, a lot of the attention have spilled over to the hardcore adult film industry. Many highly regarded adult film stars have made a transition from being in porn, to being household names. Stars like Ron Jeremy, Jenna, Jameson, Tera Patrick, and Jesse Jane have all established their own cult following to the point that they are easily recognizable even when plunged into the mainstream media.
Movies, television, and print, have all been domains that have once been uncharted by personalities of the porn industry, but now they are but extensions of their own media playground.
With the technological advancements in both the production and distribution of porn material, it’s hard to derail the medium from its path of complete integration with pop culture. Indeed it has become slightly chic to be a self appointed connoisseur of all things porn.
With the public eye veering towards a more liberal point of view, one would not be surprised if the medium of adult film finally and firmly establishes itself as a legitimate form of entertainment. Somehow, porn has become as commonplace as say, the sitcom. The medium, after all, caters to some of people’s basic needs and desires. And like films, it provides a sense of escapism.
