Oscar winner, Susan Sarandon, said in a recent interview with The UK Times that she would like to direct porn because she believes that she, and other female directors, could make the genre more appealing (and empowering) to a female audience.
Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, Sarandon says, “Most pornography is brutal and doesn’t look pleasurable from a female point of view. So I’ve been saying that when I no longer want to act, I want to do that… A lot of people know what’s in the middle. But what makes a sex act really interesting is how that first touch happens, how that first kiss comes.”
Sarandon isn’t the only one who thinks mainstream porn could use some revamping. Erika Lust, renowned erotic film director and feminist author, recently told Her Campus that there is greater demand for both ethical and feminist porn, which aim to eliminate common power imbalances that exist behind the scenes and on screen.
Both Sarandon and Lust raise an important point: diversity in the media extends way beyond who’s on screen. It’s also about showcasing under-represented values—especially feminist ones!