Content Warning: Please note that this abstract and presentation addresses sexual assault and its portrayal in pornography. As such there will be extensive, and at times detailed, discussion of these topics and portrayals.  

Abstract: In this presentation I consider how positive assault portrayals in pornography, those in which a woman is shown to initially resist but then later participate in and/or enjoy some sexual contact, should be interpreted. Rae Langton, building upon the work of Catherine MacKinnon and the American legal ruling that pornography was a form of expression and thus protected speech, has argued that Austin’s speech act theory can be used to explain how pornography subordinates and silences women.

I begin by arguing against Langton’s interpretation of positive assault portrayals arguing that (i) it addresses only one possible interpretation and subset of the category, and (ii) these portrayals cannot provide the requisite content for Langton’s silencing argument. I then present my own proposal: we ought to recognise positive assault portrayals as metasemantic speech about the meaning of ‘rape’. These portrayals promote a regressive conception of rape on which refusal is necessary but not sufficient, contrary to the contemporary feminist conception which classifies the absence of consent as sufficient. I end by noting some interesting potential theoretical upshots of my proposal, to be explored in future.

The seminar will happen in Zoom. If you want to join, email si24@.