Any publicity is good publicity?

The kink company has been in the news recently. They’re a very high profile producer of BDSM porn, so anything that happens to them tends to reflect on the wider community.

On the plus side there’s a James Franco documentary coming out about the company that apparently paints them and BDSM in a very positive light. It’s getting some good mainstream coverage, although the Hollywood Reporter writer appears to be unable to review it on its merits without lapsing into offensive speculation about who might watch such material. I haven’t noticed similar speculation being attached to reviews of thrillers or horror movies where people are shot, knifed and strangled for the enjoyment of the audience.

On the negative side there has been a lot of coverage of founder Peter Acworth’s recent arrest for possession of cocaine. The drugs issue isn’t one that bothers me, but some of the follow-up stories have presented a more complex and troubling picture of the company. The SF Weekly had a lengthy article on the company that was less than positive, and Maggie Mayhem put up a long post that detailed some significant issues she has with the kink workplace culture.

I’ve zero personal experience of the company, so I can only provide links to others with better information. I think it’s undoubtedly true that the company has improved the overall quality of BDSM porn. However, I think as an ethical porn consumer it’s always important to know more about exactly who is producing the images and videos we’re watching.

Two Smiles

This image is from the kink site Divine Bitches. I found it on the Girls Rule, Subs Drool tumblr.

Author: paltego

See the 'about' page if you really want to know about me.

4 thoughts on “Any publicity is good publicity?”

  1. Good to see the varied points of view on the company. Makes the positive coverage in the New York Times even more valuable. Thanks for the “balanced” take!

    1. No problem. Glad I could provide some interesting links. I suspect any large and high profile company like this one is going to create a lot of strong feelings. Of course that fact doesn’t make the negative ones necessarily wrong or inaccurate.

      -paltego

  2. Hi Paltego:

    Yes I also found some of the comments in the Hollywood Reporter article offensive. I have come to expect that sort of thing from papers like The New York Post. The contrast between the typical media presentation of BDSM and the recent N.Y. Times article was striking.

    I agree that kink.com has produced some very high quality BDSM porn over the years. I was a huge fan of “men in pain” and also quite enjoy “divine bitches”. Sad to hear that hard drug use is so prevalent in the business though I am not particularly surprised.

    1. I think one of the comments on the Hollywood reporter piece nailed it best. It pointed out the article was more a review of BDSM than the film itself and finished by saying ‘I’m much more interested in his opinion of the quality of the film, and not very interested in his opinion of BDSM.’

      I’m not sure how prevalent drug use is in the industry, although it doesn’t surprise me at all that some people do it (as they do in a lot of industries).

      The thing I’d judge kink on is their considered reaction to problems.
      i.e. Not the immediate reaction of individuals to a particular moment, but the general culture and approach to resolving problems.
      It seems like the story there is a mixed one.

      -paltego

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