Porn: An Oral History by Polly Barton
Polly Barton's Porn: An Oral History assembles a series of intimate interviews to trace the history and sociology of pornography
Polly Barton’s new book Porn: An Oral History, while sure to raise a few eyebrows if read in public, is a slight misnomer. Dipping in and out of historical references, the tongue-in-cheek pun of the title falls short of delivering a chronological account of pornography through the ages. Instead, the book traces conversations between Barton and nineteen friends and acquaintances on individual porn consumption, habits and the degree to which these interact with their everyday lives.
Inception came mid-pandemic in the form of a text from a would-be suitor attempting to bridge the technological, emotional and physical gap between them by mentioning he was watching porn mid-conversation. Failing to engage Barton romantically, the message succeeded in sparking curiosity as to why society struggles to discuss desire and the vacuum in dialogue surrounding pornography.
The spectrum of people selected for interview – varying in age, experience, gender, geography and sexuality – are crafted from Barton’s own address book and are limited by dint of their curator; Barton recognises her own limitations as conduit in the first twenty pages. The subjects are honest in their anonymity, measured and pensive. They act as small slices of time and conversation extracted by Barton through curiosity and carried forward onto the page with an unobtrusive delicacy. It invites reflection and will hopefully start the ball rolling at home on more than a few conversations about porn.