Hardcore from the Heart: The Pleasures, Profits and Politics of Sex in Performance

by Annie Sprinkle

Pornography, on or off the stage, is an inflammatory issue, and one which is deeply linked to theatrical representation throughout history. But what happens to the notions of the pornographic when a female performer subverts the conventional models of pornographic representation by reclaiming the agency of her own body? This is exactly what sex industry worker and performance artist Annie Sprinkle attempts through her courageous and challenging work. By locating her discourse on her own body, she renders exploitation impossible and refers to herself as a "post-porn modernist." However, Sprinkle's complication of the power relations inherent in representational acts raises important theoretical issues. When is identity not created by an outside source? When is the female body not in a prostituted relationship to representational structures? Is the spectator always a voyeur? Why is "post-porn" modernism still not endorsed by many brands of feminism? In order to structure a conversation about these issues, Hardcore from the Heart presents a number of Annie Sprinkle's key performance texts and essays, and interviews with artists who have worked closely with her over the years, together with a critical introduction and commentaries.

Genres: Feminism, Sexuality, Sex Work

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

About the author

I was a NYC prostitute and porn star for twenty years; then I morphed into an artist and sexologist. I have passionately explored sexuality for over forty years, sharing my experiences through making my own unique brand of feminist sex films, writing books and articles, visual art making, creating theater performances, and teaching. I have consistently championed sex worker rights and health care and was one of the pivotal players of the Sex Positive Movement of the 1980s. I got my BFA at the School of Visual Arts in NYC and was the first porn star to earn a Ph.D.. I’m a popular lecturer whose work is studied in many colleges and Universities. For the past 12 years I have been collaborating on art projects with her partner, an artist and UCSC professor, Beth Stephens. We are movers and shakers in the new “ecosex movement,” committed to making environmentalism more sexy, fun, and diverse. In 2013, I proudly received the Artist/Activist/Scholar Award from Performance Studies International at Stanford, and was awarded the Acker Award for Excellence in the Avant Garde.

Reviews

[BeeQuiet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone who had been within the industry confronting the stigma against it. Annie playfully gives more light to another way of viewing sexuality, though I think there is a blind spot around the area of actual abuse of many sex workers. To be taken seriously on such issues, they must not be ignored. I must say though, in a conversation between Annie and an anti-porn feminist, Annie certainly comes through as more educated on the issues as seen by the people on the inside of the industry. It's time to stop talking about people, and start talking to them.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fucking awesome.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Annie Sprinkle. This documents her work, plus interviews with her and her collaborators. She's a force of good.