Hotbeds of Licentiousness: The British Glamour Film and the Permissive Society

Hotbeds of Licentiousness is the first critical engagement with British pornography on film across the 1970s, focusing on colorful filmmakers and their work, which remains critically ignored. It approaches pornography as a crucial optic to consider recent cultural and social history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2022
Publisher: Berghahn Books

Hotbeds of Licentiousness is a groundbreaking critical exploration of British pornography on film across the 1970s, encompassing the "Summer of Love," the rise and fall of the Permissive Society, the arrival of Margaret Thatcher, and beyond. Author Benjamin Halligan delves into the realm of pornography by examining it through the lens of lifestyle aspirations and opportunities, shedding light on profound shifts in British society. By focusing on a series of vibrant filmmakers whose work, despite being omnipresent during the 1970s, remains critically overlooked, Halligan offers a fresh perspective on pornography, treating it as a vital optic for understanding recent cultural and social history.

The 1970s were a transformative decade in British culture, marked by the emergence of new sexual freedoms and the proliferation of pornography. Hotbeds of Licentiousness explores this era through the lens of a series of colorful filmmakers who emerged during this time. These filmmakers, whose work remains critically ignored today, played a significant role in shaping the sexual landscape of the 1970s.

One of the key themes of the book is the way in which pornography was used to challenge traditional notions of sexuality and gender. During the 1970s, there was a growing sense of dissatisfaction with the dominant sexual mores of the time. Pornography provided a platform for exploring alternative sexual practices and desires, challenging the notion that there was only one "normal" way to engage in sex.

Another theme of the book is the way in which pornography was used to subvert the power structures of society. Pornography was often produced and distributed by small independent studios, which were able to challenge the dominance of the mainstream media and the film industry. This led to a greater diversity of sexual representation in pornography, as well as a more open and honest discussion of sexual topics.

Hotbeds of Licentiousness also explores the impact of pornography on British society as a whole. Pornography was widely available in the UK, and it had a significant influence on the attitudes and behaviors of young people. Many teenagers began to explore their sexuality through pornography, and it was often used as a form of sexual education. However, there were also concerns about the potential negative effects of pornography, such as the promotion of sexual violence and the normalization of risky sexual behavior.

The book also discusses the rise and fall of the Permissive Society, which was a period of social and cultural change in the UK in the 1960s and 1970s. The Permissive Society was characterized by a greater acceptance of sexual freedom and a more open attitude towards sexuality. However, it was also marked by a sense of moral decay and a decline in traditional values. Pornography played a significant role in the Permissive Society, as it was used to challenge the moral boundaries of society and to promote a more permissive sexual culture.

In conclusion, Hotbeds of Licentiousness is a groundbreaking critical exploration of British pornography on film across the 1970s. By focusing on a series of colorful filmmakers whose work remains critically ignored, author Benjamin Halligan offers a fresh perspective on pornography, treating it as a vital optic for understanding recent cultural and social history. The book explores the way in which pornography was used to challenge traditional notions of sexuality and gender, subvert the power structures of society, and influence the attitudes and behaviors of young people. It also discusses the rise.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800734869