Gay London Life | Oct '24 Edition - Magazine - Page 46
Topher
Talks
I have two questions for you. Firstly,
showed everything from cellulite
do you prefer intimate, sensual sex
and pubic hair to stretch marks and
over hardcore banging? If so, you
erections that weren’t enormous or
might want to give this column a read.
rock-solid. It was inspiring and real,
And, have you ever gone to watch
yet it maintained that magic Erika
porn on the big screen of an Art Deco
always manages to convey. The
cinema with friends? I have, and I
production was majestic.
want to talk about it. If you haven’t
The showing lasted around
heard of Erika Lust, you really must
90 minutes and included five of
get to know her and her work. I had
Erika’s films (shortened for the
the absolute pleasure of being invited
event). Beginning with a priest’s
to CUM by Erika Lust, the UK tour of
confessional fantasy about sleeping
erotic films by this iconic film director
with a parishioner and ending with
and adult industry pioneer. I’ve always
a pansexual orgy, the event truly
been fascinated and inspired by sex,
covered all bases and was totally
particularly when seen through a
inspiring. As someone who has been
female lens—probably because I was
known to film intimate moments
raised around empowered women in
(cough cough), it’s made me rethink
South London who weren’t afraid of
my approach and consider raising
sex or discussing it.
my game. I’ve never been interested
I’ve been a fan of Erika’s for years,
in making “porno”—for me, it’s
both personally and professionally.
about documenting intimacy and
I discovered her work through my
capturing magic, including all its
career in the adult industry, where her
flaws, laughter, sounds, and so
reputation has always been stellar.
on. Erika’s vision is unmistakably
More people, especially women,
luxe and unique, and I genuinely
would know about her if sex positivity
encourage anyone reading this to
weren’t so often silenced and
give her work a chance.
shadow-banned. To give you an idea
Her library includes a vast
of Erika’s appeal, even in a culture that
selection of films, with a strong
frequently censors her work, her film
representation of queer content. In a
The Good Girl was released in 2004
world of hardcore “Baby Oil-Gape-
and achieved two million downloads
Creampie-Cumshot” pornography
within eight weeks.
(which can be fabulous, by the
Society has always overlooked
way), Erika’s content encourages
female pleasure. Even in 2024,
viewers to pause and enjoy the
female sexuality remains taboo,
magic of intimacy, the beauty of our
and social media has amplified this.
partner(s)’ bodies, and the depth
Misogyny on Twitter (no, I’m not going
of real sex. You’ll see what I mean
to call it ‘X’) and TikTok has helped
immediately, even just by previewing
launch the careers of countless cis
them. The production quality of her
male podcasters and influencers. We
films makes them feel like Hollywood
live in a world where female pleasure
productions, but the subject matter
is either silenced or objectified—
and sex make them deeply erotic
unless a man is pulling the production
and inspiring.
(or purse) strings. As someone
One of the things I loved most
captivated by sexuality, I’m drawn to
about the event was watching the
people like Erika, not only for their
audience around me react to the
productions but for their nuance and
films. As someone with a long history
context. She’s a rebel, an artist, an
in the adult industry, I’m endlessly
icon, and a visionary.
fascinated by viewing it through
I attended a screening at the
another person’s eyes. I can be a
beautiful Art Deco cinema, Rio’s,
little numb to the shock value myself
in East London, to celebrate her
and find myself looking at things
intense, sensual work. The way
like the brand of lube being used
Erika’s films are shot, scripted, and
or wondering where they sourced
produced—it didn’t feel strange to
the sex toys. I saw people smiling,
watch them in a cinema setting. No
laughing, cheering (literally), and
one, as far as I could tell, was sitting
holding their partners close. It was
around masturbating; we were simply
such a unique experience. And Erika,
appreciating the beauty of intimacy,
this column is simply my love letter to
erotica, and pleasure. The films
you for inspiring me once again.
If you need further guidance or have questions, feel free to email me:
topher@tophertaylor.co.uk
Follow my TikTok @TopherTaylor, Instagram @TopherTaylor
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or X @HelloIamTopher for more.
