Thomas Hoffmann
Part of the porn industry emerged in obscurity, with prostitution being one of the epicenters of what is now known as “adult content“. This story was described, with some fictional elements, in The Deucethe HBO series. That could be a starting point for understanding much of what is described in Bottoms up: the history of PornHub.a Netflix documentary.
The title makes its intentions clear: it’s about delving into the founding of the world’s leading adult content website. That journey calls for a contrast of eras. PornHub emerged in a context where porn was already on the Internet, after consumers migrated to computers, gradually leaving video clubs and magazines behind.
The difference of this website was that, through its positioning on the network, it managed to stand out above the rest. Bottoms up: the history of PornHub quickly describes that stage and goes on to tell the story of the different battles that the brand has endured due to its security criteria and filters. If this were a classic movie, the allegations regarding child pornography and the uploading of erotic content without the authorization of the person involved (usually women) would be the crux of this story.
Bottoms up: the story of PornHub.
Bottoms up: the story of PornHub is a documentary with a formal structure. It features different people involved in the porn industry, from actors to screenwriters, through the vision of entrepreneurs related to the business. Without abusing morbidity or being vulgar, it deals with complex issues (child pornography, for example) and has a relevant diversity of voices. Its main value lies in its narrative approach. It tells a particular case that serves to touch on other issues related to the industry, such as consent and safety.
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Score : 3.5 out of 5.
Bottoms up: the history of PornHub.,
a look at the porn industry
The growth of PornHub led to many users anonymously exposing content on the company-run platform MindGeek. Thus, it was possible that child pornography or videos recorded in an intimate context and then published without consent were uploaded. It should be remembered that, in both cases, among the various cases described in the documentary, this counts as a crime.
What happens then? Even if PornHub was not directly related to that content, it was the space where it was being disseminated and through those views the brand was generating revenue. Its place in the equation seemed passive, although in reality it was not so passive. Bottoms up: the story of PornHub. describes how the platform’s security filters were not as effective and the measures it took in the wake of that scandal.
In the middle of that dispute, which escalated in different sectors of U.S. society, were the actresses and actors. They found in the platform a way to generate income outside their work with adult content studios. Down to the bottom: the story of PornHub. offers a perspective of the industry in which different voices involved are heard.. That is essential in any documentary. It does so without being explicit or encouraging morbidity in the viewer. It is a production about porn without abusing it or being vulgar.
Unlike another key production in this regard, Rocco (2016) -focused exclusively on the story of Rocco Siffredi-, Bottoms up: the history of PornHub adds more voices to the discussion. On the other hand, the documentary by Netflix is able to look beyond the established aesthetic canon of adult content by adding actresses such as. Gwen Adora. These aspects, which could be considered ‘formal’, enhance the production.
The middle ground
Although these are not the only references that can be cited on the subject, The Deuce y Rocco are two of the most recognized. Bottoms up: the history of PornHub. could serve as a bridge between the series and the other documentary. In this, the narrative point from which it starts is differential. The first one has fictional details and goes back to a distant time (historical background). The second is a very personal vision of porn (egocentric, perhaps).
For its part, Bottoms up: the history of PornHub. has an investigative focus and a global intent. By linking that perspective to the emergence of OnlyFans, a valuable degree of topicality is provided. Porn actresses and porn actors, within United Statesare yet other employees. In an interview for Vicethe actress Antonella Alonso said, “Just as a person goes to an office because she is a lawyer, I go to a recording set. I’m an actress, it’s a legal job, I pay taxes. I get paid in checks, not cash.”
The OnlyFans paper
Those involved in Bottoms up: the history of PornHub. return to that idea. One that describes more than just a labor practice. The rise of OnlyFans, as PornHub once did, changed the business. Why? Because it granted a greater degree of independence to performers. In that detail lies the importance of having extended the documentary to that other platform, without leaving aside the allegations that are exposed.
Down to the bottom: the story of PornHub. has a classic structure, sticking to its format. The narrative decision of not to exploit the morbidity associated with pornbut to be interested in a more human and commercial phase, is a success. It may not entertain the viewer who aspires to something else, but that is a matter of the viewer and his or her expectations. Without being a memorable production, it is useful in the current context, with various platforms related to sex and the cult of image that has been going on for years.
Bottoms up: the history of PornHub is available on Netflix starting March 15.