ABSTRACT
In an informative and probing chapter, Nicholas de Villiers surveys and critiques recent documentaries about various forms of sex work, including work in adult films, male strip clubs, and massage parlors, as well as hustling and escorting. He raises important questions about the objectivity of these documentaries, explaining how rhetorical framing, interview techniques, settings, and editing all shape the films’ messages. As de Villiers points out, “While it is crucial to listen to the actual voices of male sex workers talking about their experiences, it is equally important to be mindful of the ways in which their stories have been framed and edited, and to question the techniques and motives of the filmmakers and curious audiences consuming media about male sex work.” Many of the documentaries have a sociological or epidemiological focus and use male sex workers to comment on social problems, often portraying them as victims of forces beyond their control. Some of the “confessional” documentaries reinforce rather than alleviate stigma by emphasizing risk, disease, drug addiction, and feelings of shame. Those that are framed as exposés often examine “open secrets” of gay urban subcultures, including the issue of intergenerational sex. Others are motivated by ideological agendas rather than concern for sex workers’ lives and welfare. The best documentaries place male sex workers in social contexts and provide space for the voices and critiques of the sex workers themselves. The chapter concludes with an annotated list of recent documentaries that explore male sex work and workers.
