Lesbian Sex & Sexuality (Documentary TV Mini-Series)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Episodes: B-
Can six
half hours of a documentary communicate a female sexuality absent of and
undefined by men? Katherine Linton’s Lesbian Sex & Sexuality (2006) is
an ambitious attempt to do so and even if it does not totally work, it is an
alternate history of the culture like one rarely sees. It does touch upon The Civil Rights movement,
but is more concerned with various forms of all-female liberation in this way.
As a male
with no clue about these things and one who obviously will therefore never be a
lesbian, it is one of the few exposures to this world outside of though-police
lesbianism in XXX and mainstream material I have seen and there are some surprises. The stereotype is that these women want to be
men (often with certain erotic toys sited) and that they hate men, who they are
angry at. That is not quite the case in
either example, though can have validity depending on the individual.
One could
say the shows overlap somewhat, with some other ideas and concepts that may
shock unprepared viewers. The ultimate
point is as to whether an all-female space and discourse to this point (erotic,
ideological and otherwise) is possible and to some extent, it is yes, but never
100% since some kind of maleness (even if it not defining) sets in somewhere
along the line. But these women should
have their space and this series successfully shows some of the ways that has
worked, while also exposing a few that failed.
The
letterboxed 1.78 X 1 image has the usual detail and depth limits, along with
color issues, but this is a documentary and there is plenty of vintage video
and film footage. The Dolby Digital 2.0
Stereo is adequate and varies down to mono from the oldest material, not to
mention some echo in newer recordings.
The only extras are previews for this and other Here! programs.
- Nicholas Sheffo
