Nan Goldin, 1989.
This is photograph I have used in workshops before also as it’s a piece people seem to connect with instantly. It’s rare to see an image like this very often where female pleasure is the focus. I know that sounds mad but it’s true of most movies and tv also. Goldin’s photography centred around the social circles she moved in and the marginalised communities of New York in the late 70’s and 80’s. In particular she documented the real effect of the AIDS crisis on queer and junkie communities in a real and honest way. Her relationship with her subjects, as well as shooting her own life, are what separates these images from other documentary style photos. The intimacy of Goldin’s work is what makes it so fascinating and so intriguing.
The light and composition of this image highlight the intimacy of their kiss and embrace and offer us an opportunity to think about depictions of real sex. There is nothing performative about what they’re doing versus depictions of sex in porn for example. We can ask ourselves what is the value of seeing “real sex” (for example on a platform like Make Love Not Porn) and real intimacy and how can this combat the lasting negative effect of performative gonzo porn. Thinking on from the discussion with Sarah Sproule today I can now ask myself also why is it that this image could be considered a bit shocking or taboo also? Is this is a good way to re-frame porn in the collective consciousness if such a thing were possible. Goldin’s also has a series called “Heartbeat” which takes a similar idea to Make Love Not Porn in that it documents” real people” having “real sex” also.