Feminism. Caught Looking: Feminism, Pornography & Censorship.

Real Comet Press, 1986, Second edition, 1988. Edited by Kate Ellis, Beth Jaker, Nan D. Hunter, and Barbara O’Dair.  Wraps, very good. 96 pages.  Feminist academic texts celebrate female sexuality, illustrated with explicit photographs of men and women engaged in a variety of sexual acts.  Adults only.  Summary:

Caught Looking: Feminism, Pornography & Censorship (Second Edition, 1988) is a seminal "pro-sex" feminist anthology created by the FACT (Feminist Anti-Censorship Taskforce) book committee. Originally published in 1986 and updated in 1988, it was a direct rebuttal to the anti-pornography movement led by Andrea Dworkin and Catharine MacKinnon.

Core Philosophy

The book argues that censorship, rather than pornography itself, poses the greatest threat to women’s rights. The contributors sought to reclaim the conversation around desire, arguing that women should have the agency to explore sexual imagery without state or legislative interference.

Key Arguments

• Opposition to Legislation: The text heavily critiques the "Dworkin-MacKinnon" ordinances, which sought to classify pornography as a civil rights violation. The authors argued these laws would be weaponized against LGBTQ+ content and feminist education.

• The "Pro-Sex" Stance: It shifted the focus from pornography as a tool of male violence to the idea that women can be consumers and creators of erotica. It advocates for sexual self-determination.

• Distinction Between Sex and Violence: The authors argued that the "anti-porn" camp conflated sexual imagery with physical harm, ignoring the nuances of fantasy and consensual representation.

Structure and Visual Strategy

The book is unique for its juxtaposition of text and image. It includes historical and contemporary pornographic images alongside feminist essays.

• Subverting the Gaze: By placing "illicit" images in a scholarly, feminist context, the book forces the reader to confront their own reactions and challenges the notion that looking at such images is inherently patriarchal.

• Contributors: It features essays and editing by prominent feminist thinkers and activists, including Kate Ellis, Nan D. Hunter, Beth Jaker, Barbara O'Dair, and Abby Tallmer.

Historical Significance

• The "Sex Wars": Caught Looking is a primary document of the "Feminist Sex Wars" of the 1980s, a period of deep ideological division within the movement regarding sexuality and representation.

• Legal Impact: It provided a theoretical foundation for those defending the First Amendment against moralist and radical-feminist alliances.

"We want to encourage women to look, and to say what they see. We want to challenge the idea that there is only one 'correct' feminist way to respond to sexual imagery." — From the Introduction