All Mode
Is virtual reality filmmaking a natural extension of creating animation? It can be, or at least, it was for me. I have always enjoyed bringing tiny rule filled universes to life and vr allows you to move inside the world in a new, profound way. Now, because I have an erotic mind, it was also a no-brainer that my artwork, both in the VR and CGI animation fields, would veer off into a naughtier space.
One of the solo erotic stars of the Lust Candy series
Being a weird anomaly of philosophical romantic and cynic my work often reflects this. Sadly, with more traditional filmmaking there are limits to what you can show. As I began to explore dah smexi via vr reality porn, I tried to break the boundaries of conformity and really delve into lip biting forays of smut.
Needless to say, there were mixed reactions, which surprisingly came from the younger set: 18-20 somethings.
New Era Sexuality
Not to age myself, but before virtual reality left the pages of a William Gibson novel, I explored creating hand-drawn erotic work in the 90s. My first public works were tentatively entitled La Petite Morte, a BDSM aside to the little death, aka, a French euphemism for orgasm.
My first erotic comic, published in 1998.
It was liberating, particularly because I could find places that accepted my work in spite of its more sexual imagery and concepts. Black Egg Theater for example, still houses my first and only version of La Petite Morte. From the owner, whom we’ll simply call Darren, I received no judgment, in fact, an artist himself, he offered to colorize my black and white erotica comic for free.
Flash Forward to 2018
In the millennial era, we find new rules of courtship and engagement, which I don’t mind. I have been around long enough to know that Zeitgeist is an ever-restless beast.
Hence the paradox: 2018 brings with us the ability to explore art, erotica, pornography and the literary in ways once only imagined in sci-fi. Kindle gives us 100s of books on a flat, handheld device, and virtual reality allows us to explore sex in interactive and fun ways.
So, why are sexual attitudes regressing a bit?
Roaring 20s to Now
Humanity has often struggled on where to put sex. Is it naughty? A Release? A moral trap? All of the above? In the middle of this tug of war stands Woman. The coveted thing. The beautiful thing. She has to be both pure and naughty, chaste and wanton. The Madonna-whore, or the mother who fucks. Incidentally, it is she who has to be freed, before we all can be.
History has always tried to find a balance between this aspect of the human drive and the rules of engagement. The 20s was the dawn of a more permissive society, as people leaving World War 1 behind, sought ways to unwind and feel alive. Of course, as the memories of wartime horror subsided, folks were told to get back to business and stop foolin’ around. This meant being able to play with sexy themes without being sexual, hence how Marilyn Monroe would be a sexpot but had to straddle the line between simmering tart and disposable harlot.
My Alanna character from VR Lust candy
This mixed signal suppression often stymied me as I fought to find my own sexual voice in my late teens, in life and through art. Via animation, I found an outlet to really express myself and with VR porn came a new level of exploration beyond my wildest imaginings.
Yet, as new erotica doors open, I find the attitude of the 90s diminished and being replaced with a mindset that freaks out at the diversity once celebrated and that recoils at seeing an abundance of firm, young titties in a Game of Thrones sex scene.
How can too much boobage be a bad thing?
The “You Musn’t Do That” Crowd
I don’t know why I naively believed the 2000s would herald the most open-minded sexual era know to man. Truly, I thought it would rival the 60s, whose free love movement again came on the heels of war and strife. I felt it would be a more grown-up version of it though, with amazing tech marrying alongside evolved attitudes.
Boy was I wrong!
I recall taking a break from animating a new vr sex scene and doing some web surfing (this sometimes breaks the mental tension that occurs when creating) and I came across an article about famous actresses who have regretted their sex scenes in films, think Monster’s Ball, Basic Instinct and the like. My first eye roll was over the fact that the men in such movies are never asked if they regret such scenes, just the chicks.
The next was how awful the attitudes towards sex were in the comment section. It would appear that the worse thing to see in a film is the natural expression of human sexuality which is offhandedly thought of as gratuitous. Some said they’d rather see toilet humor than sex. Let that sink in. Folks would rather see someone take a shit in a movie than make love.
The modern CGI interpretation of Persephone and Death-Thanatos.
When I objected I was, of course, considered a deviant who probably wanks to dead puppies. Most surprisingly, however, was the fact that many of the people expressing such views were liberal minded and young.
Came across the opposite end extreme same in Deviant Art, where my more tame erotica was banned from sex friendly groups as too extreme if a penis was shown in it. Many of these same hubs didn’t mind showcasing dildo penetration if the sex partners were two females.
Double stand much bitches?
A Push Back Against Sex and Candy
With this turnabout, one has to wonder if it is not just war that changes sex and art attitudes. Do we, as a collective, tend to run away from the ideals we grew up with? For every sexual revolution, there almost always seems to be a kind of push back. The 60s and 70s would give way to the less inhibited but cotton candy 80s to later evolve towards the alt lifestyle seeking 90s.
Fave couple Aaron and Issa from Luv and Magick series.
Millennials are perhaps trying to figure out how to date, how to love and how to fuck as human social mores change one more. Amongst this confusion rests anger and angst. I create virtual reality porn, i.e., lust candy under the proviso that it may not find a mainstream voice in this current space, but maybe give it a decade or two, folks may come back around to freedom. — ARN
CGI are turning to be really intuitive and engaging these days
It really is, which is why I love playing with it so much. The sky is the limit and one artist can have a lot of creative control.
“Is virtual reality filmmaking a natural extension of creating animation?” I for one say YES!
Indeed, it is sooo liberating I LOVE it. I mean, static animation has it’s allure, but I have been spoiled by VR. In my next blog I am toying with doing a snippet animation along with a few stills with a storyline regarding some muses on the subject.