Jeffrey Escoffier (1942–2022)

If the late eighteenth century saw the start of the Industrial Revolution, then it can be argued that the late twentieth century kicked off the Sexual Revolution. Sexual behavior and beliefs that had long been constrained by silence suddenly were the focus of intense scrutiny, championed by Kinsey's ground-breaking reports on human sexuality. How our culture has adapted to new freedoms of expression is the subject in Escoffier's anthology, which chronicles the work of pioneering scientists show more who studied sexuality and inspiring artists who responded to it. Examining virtually every aspect of sexual behavior, from orgasms to open marriage to obscenity, Escoffier has created a definitive review of the most influential writing of the last half-century. A captivating and comprehensive investigation of an always fascinating aspect of human behaviour.

What does "sexual revolution" mean? When, how, and why did it begin? What, if anything, did it change? And what hope do we have that its ideals of equality and pleasure can be realised?

From Susan Sontag's "Pornographic Imagination" to Al Goldstein's notorious review of Deep Throat, Sexual Revolution explores the cultural, economic, political, and moral consequences of new ways of sexual thinking and behaving-reclaiming the female orgasm and challenging the double standard; celebrating open marriage and homosexuality; and defying taboo and censorship. With Anne Koedt's classic "The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm" and Norman Mailer's "The Homosexual Villain;" Helen Gurley Brown to Lenny Bruce-to name a few-this book features the voices of those who registered and provoked popular consciousness and transformed how we think about sex. Today, Dr. Phil talks about oral sex among grade-schoolers and pornstar Jenna Jameson gets a six-figure advance for her memoirs. Something has changed, but Sexual Revolution reminds us that our sexuality remains a bitterly contested battleground.

This collection includes selections by Erica Jong, Lawrence Lipton, Masters and Johnson, Betty Dodson, Audre Lorde, Gay Talese, Gayle Rubin, Timothy Leary, Henry Miller, Huey Newton, Sigmund Freud, Simone de Beauvoir, and many others. show less

This is well worth reading if you are all interested in the history of gay life since Stonewall and the causes and effects of the sexual revolution of the 1960's and 1970's. I wish the editor had done a better job (typos and repeated references and quotes abound) but it is nonetheless a comprehensive overview of the gay porrn industry, film making and a history of the times; 1960's Warhol to the present day. The impact that VCRs and VHS tape had on the industry is well presented. show more Unfortunately, there is little discussion or detail of the internet's impact. Although the final chapter acknowledges the internet, I was expecting the final chapter to be dedicated to internet access to porn but only the last few pages of the book discuss it's new predominance in the industry. Obviously, the final chapter is yet to be written.

In spite of the shortcomings this book is still worth reading. It provides a comprehensive overview of the industry with company histories, performer and director biographies and film scenarios not seen in anyone place. show less

Interesting but published in 1998 so it did not cover the key developments of the past two decades….(duh but…)

Largely a history of emerging gay identity. The conclusion was weak.