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XXX: 30 Porn-Star Portraits
Now in paperback, a provocative look at today+s leading porn stars combined with insightful, offbeat and amusing texts by an all-star literary lineup. XXX, by renowned photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, features cleverly paired portraits (one clothed and one nude) of the top stars in pornographic film. A cross section of straight and gay men and women is represented, from porn legends to rising stars. Performers in the book include celebrities like Jenna Jameson (the leading porn star of our time), Ron Jeremy and Nina Hartley, as well as fast-rising names like Sunrise Adams, Belladonna and Chad Hunt. The book also features short essays on the intersection of pornography and culture by a wide range of distinguished writers, including Salman Rushdie, Francine du Plessix Gray, John Malkovich, Nancy Friday, and John Waters. XXX is a landmark artistic work that will contribute to the ongoing debate about the pornification of the culture at large.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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1,979 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 29, 2012
Awesome! So great to see these iconic porn stars as they naturally are, then with all the clothing, hair and makeup.
October 25, 2010
A snapshot of a moment in the history of adult entertainment. The world has certainly changed as even in the not far distant past, this book would not have been found on a regular bookstore shelf. It would have been with the adult magazines and other such publications.
It is not a sexually explicit book. More of meat market voyeurism, a catalog of those who work in the industry and what they bring. Not unlike a catalog from any talent agency showing potential clients the raw assets of the models and actors represented.
Graphic without purpose other than as illustration. 30 clothed and unclothed famous (mostly famous) workers in the the Adult oriented industry as of moment in time that this book was published with a few 'classic' stars.
Much of the accompanying prose written by some very gifted and lauded authors of our time is as worthwhile as anything written on the topic of the porn industry.
The two star rating is close to a three, but the book is just to stagnant to fully express the basic grit and normalcy of the topic as seemingly desired.
Interesting photographic juxtaposition of the stars but not, and admittedly intentionally, very creative.
Needs something more to fulfill the potential of an otherwise good concept.
It is not a sexually explicit book. More of meat market voyeurism, a catalog of those who work in the industry and what they bring. Not unlike a catalog from any talent agency showing potential clients the raw assets of the models and actors represented.
Graphic without purpose other than as illustration. 30 clothed and unclothed famous (mostly famous) workers in the the Adult oriented industry as of moment in time that this book was published with a few 'classic' stars.
Much of the accompanying prose written by some very gifted and lauded authors of our time is as worthwhile as anything written on the topic of the porn industry.
The two star rating is close to a three, but the book is just to stagnant to fully express the basic grit and normalcy of the topic as seemingly desired.
Interesting photographic juxtaposition of the stars but not, and admittedly intentionally, very creative.
Needs something more to fulfill the potential of an otherwise good concept.
August 10, 2019
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, already well-known for his photographic portraits of politicians, movie stars and athletes. His subjects for this publication are thirty one of the worlds best known porn stars. In XXX 30 Porn Star Portraits, Greenfield-Sanders takes the before and after approach, only in this book he does it with clothes. Each star is featured twice, the first portrait is casual and clothed, the next is taken in virtually the same position, only without apparel, and I am talking butt nekkid save some stilettos, jewelry and sunglasses.
Don't let the title fool ya though, there is little or nothing XXX rated in this collection. If anything this is an intellectual collection; superb nude photographs, seasoned here and there with thought provoking and, in a few rare cases, hilarious if not horrific essays and commentaries. This collection of portraits, combined with the star bios toward the back of the book, together shows many of us another side to porn stars. A side with words and clothes, glasses, pony tails, clunky boots and neuroses.
The book begins with an introduction by . An opinion of human sexuality, history and why we have porn, the tone of which reminds me of some of my best friends' stoned rants. The essay was entertaining at least and read a bit like this; young girls with farm animals, big titted cocksuckers, she loved anal, Geritol hotties getting facials. No, that is not a quote, but I'll be damed if it's not accurate just the same. Lou went on like that for an entire page in a 12 point font. If it weren't a copyright infringement I'd photo copy that page and make a papier mache vase out of it. tells the world about his first experience with porn. Beautifully bizarre is all I can say about his contribution. There were just heaping gobs of readable extras. An essay by , an article by and the Nina Hartley/Nancy Friday interview. Even weighed in on porn with faboo Ms. .
The only thing disappointing between XXX's hard covers were the handful of star bios so obviously written by a agent or publicist. I was hoping for something a little more real from some of Americas biggest names in porn. Yes, I did just use "real" and "porn" in the same sentence and no I am not delusional. I don't want to name names, so I'll just give you their initials, Jenna Jamison and could have had less pressed bios. Those bits seem few and far between if not virtually non-existent though when one considers stars like Nina Hartley, Janine (every body has to have a favorite porn star and she is mine), Sharon Mitchell and Seymore Butts naked and talking about why they love making porn. This large hard back book makes a great coffee table triumph and that is where mine would be if my friend had not demanded it back for his very own damn table. I guess I'll have to go out and buy this one, which is exactly what I suggest that you do.
Don't let the title fool ya though, there is little or nothing XXX rated in this collection. If anything this is an intellectual collection; superb nude photographs, seasoned here and there with thought provoking and, in a few rare cases, hilarious if not horrific essays and commentaries. This collection of portraits, combined with the star bios toward the back of the book, together shows many of us another side to porn stars. A side with words and clothes, glasses, pony tails, clunky boots and neuroses.
The book begins with an introduction by . An opinion of human sexuality, history and why we have porn, the tone of which reminds me of some of my best friends' stoned rants. The essay was entertaining at least and read a bit like this; young girls with farm animals, big titted cocksuckers, she loved anal, Geritol hotties getting facials. No, that is not a quote, but I'll be damed if it's not accurate just the same. Lou went on like that for an entire page in a 12 point font. If it weren't a copyright infringement I'd photo copy that page and make a papier mache vase out of it. tells the world about his first experience with porn. Beautifully bizarre is all I can say about his contribution. There were just heaping gobs of readable extras. An essay by , an article by and the Nina Hartley/Nancy Friday interview. Even weighed in on porn with faboo Ms. .
The only thing disappointing between XXX's hard covers were the handful of star bios so obviously written by a agent or publicist. I was hoping for something a little more real from some of Americas biggest names in porn. Yes, I did just use "real" and "porn" in the same sentence and no I am not delusional. I don't want to name names, so I'll just give you their initials, Jenna Jamison and could have had less pressed bios. Those bits seem few and far between if not virtually non-existent though when one considers stars like Nina Hartley, Janine (every body has to have a favorite porn star and she is mine), Sharon Mitchell and Seymore Butts naked and talking about why they love making porn. This large hard back book makes a great coffee table triumph and that is where mine would be if my friend had not demanded it back for his very own damn table. I guess I'll have to go out and buy this one, which is exactly what I suggest that you do.
November 3, 2022
Hii
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2008
I've been dying to own a copy of this book ever since I watched the HBO special on its creation. I finally bought it yesterday and I'm happy to say it did not disappoint. The photos are fascinating, beautiful and provocative - really it's just amazing the impact they make on the viewer. And the articles are thoughtful, clever and highly amusing in some places. The perfect coffee table book for someone like me.
March 30, 2008
I'm a little embarrassed that this is the only thing I've read that's related to Gore Vidal.
Not such a bad book on the photography front.
Not such a bad book on the photography front.
November 16, 2016
best book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2008
Timothy Greenfield Sanders is as good a portrait photographer as they come. His subjects have ranged from world leaders and politicians to pornstars. This collection of photographs is his take on the humanity of adult film start. Often juxtaposing clothed images with naked images of his subjects the personalities of the stars shine through. I once heard a good portrait photographer doesn't just capture an indexical relationship of his subjects, but articulates a definition of the subject through an image. TGS is successful in this endeavor.
this really changed the way I viewed adult film stars and the lives they pursue.
this really changed the way I viewed adult film stars and the lives they pursue.
March 31, 2008
Believe it or not, this is a challenging read. While I was first drawn to this book based on the concept of the portraits (clothed vs nudes, same poses), I quickly became interested in the essays. There are deep, disturbing and interesting short pieces that made me read and reread. The essays are thought provoking and I have become a fan of some of the contributors.
August 2, 2007
so far...soo good.
contrasts are really great.
contrasts are really great.
January 17, 2008
If you like drawing the human form, this is a nice study.
November 29, 2009
I could have done without the Ron Jeremy pic...
January 11, 2013
its good
June 29, 2014
nice book
Want to read
January 1, 2016good
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March 29, 2016Greatest novel ever
Read
July 19, 2017good
November 23, 2018
great book, awesome
December 28, 2018
Kevin
Mac
L
Mac
L
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2019
Features portraits of adult film stars (male and female) in and out of...uniform inter-cut with interviews.
July 25, 2020
HuuuuuiiVhhhgffghhhhhuh
October 5, 2020
Xxx
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June 6, 2021Usu
Read
June 28, 2021Just
And
Waa
And
Waa
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August 1, 2021Jefe
Este
2345
Saber
Este
2345
Saber
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Read
September 15, 2021J'aime sa moi
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April 19, 2022
Some really cool photos and some really neat essays.
June 6, 2022
😍😍😍😘鷡!!ϱ!
ѲϱÑ.°!?ϱ!
WOUSMQPUOS!S
ѲϱÑ.°!?ϱ!
WOUSMQPUOS!S
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August 23, 2022
5782578248
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