Brad Warner: Nina Hartley

BRAD WARNER: Nina Hartley

If you came of age during the video porn boom of the '80s, I don't need to explain who Nina Hartley is… and not just if you're a guy, either. Since she was openly bisexual and not just performing her girl-on-girl scenes for the cash, she had a far greater female following than most porn stars. But for those of you who weren't pleasuring yourselves to her work, Nina Hartley was one of the biggest actresses in X-rated film throughout the 1980s, appearing in over 400 porno pictures, beginning with "Educating...

A very interesting read. Nice work.

Nina is so fantastic. I took a class in college where she taught a portion of it. It was (obviously) the best class I took. I've also met her and talked to her a couple of times in smaller settings. She's just so friendly and so intelligent that it's impossible not to be impressed by her. And, you know, she's so fucking hot. Ugh.

I feel like she (in this interview and before) does get a little gender-binary at times in her analysis of what men like and what women like and whatnot, but that's nitpicking. I love her.

Great interview as well! Thanks for asking questions that allowed the subject to get to this depth of analysis.

I am of a certain age & I do in fact love Nina Hartley . This interview just solidifies my love of her . If only we could all be as open & upfront about our sexuality as she is . I hate that people feel shame over something as trivial as their own body .
And let me add , she was also in Boogie Nights playing William Macy's wife who surprisingly is a exhibitionist who likes to fuck all the guys . I do love me some Nina

Yaaay... Nina gets it!!!
Very rarely do I find such a mutifaceted and in-depth insight into human sexuality.

However, I would like to add a perspective on what you consider the "legitimate" reasons, for any society's orientation to sexual expression.

As potty training is the first act of self-discipline, so sexuality is the first act of will.. the first act of independence from all forms of "authority." If a society can successfully regulate people's sexual behavior, they literally have them by the short-hairs... and can make them complient to various forms of authoritarianism: be it societal, political or religious.

But...
Sexual energy is an expression of the fundamental conciousness and energy of the lifeforce, which produces and sustains life and indeed the universe. Being a fundamental spiritual force, it cannot be denied without severe consequences. When repressed it comes back ugly... and the results are things like war, sexual violence and on the most basic level, discord and misunderstandings among the genders.

And in my opinion, sexual repression makes people stupid... as sexual energy also feeds intelligence and the urge to explore. It is also this energy that drives us to seek enlightenment (which may surprise some of you).

Sexuality repressed, becomes merely instinctual and impulsive. Sexuality embraced becomes artistry. This sense of artistry opens for us experiences into the vast wonderland of the universe... and the need to experience and understand it to the very core. And it awakens us to the heart's natural love and it's natural compassion.


Back to Ms Hartley...
It should come to no surprise that such wisdom should come from a porn star. Many of the long-standing performers in this industry are well versed in Zen, Tantra and Taoist Sexual Yoga... and some even in Sexual Mysticism. And as inane as it might sound to many of you... sex is the one true religion! It is both the first act and object of worship of our distant ancesters.

In this regard... Ms Hartley and her kind, may be considered priestesses.

Good job.

Great interview! The subject of cultural suppression of sex is a synchronicity for me because I was reading about the very subject yesterday. I think that it's really bizarre to consider that nearly every western religion in its early days boasted some of the most licentious people in history, just look at the early papacy. I also find the idea of men being every bit as much of victims of patriarchy as women very true. I've always been a really sensitive man and have always been appalled by the treatment of sons by their fathers in their upbringing here in america. Sure, a man needs a certain degree of strength, but he finds that in his very own inner nature, as it was said above, all that stuff is in the body and comes out in time. If one practices mindfullness or is comtemplative then they will understand their true nature and not become a victim of cultural programming. A nonconformist is usually a person who sees through the fallacy of cultural programming and not the other way around. Bravo to you, Nina Hartley and Brad Warner. Thanks for this interview.

Excellent interview!

That really was a great interview.

Thank you.

Excellent. Thanks.

Love her.

If you ignore all the Buddhist stuff, this is a great interview--one of the best on SG ever.

Great interview! She is absolutely fascinating.

Good read! I like her views on feminism

Agreed.

I love love love Nina Hartley - I'm so very glad you did an interview and posted it on here! Hooray for being a sex educator with wonderful resources like Nina!

♥ her

fascinating discussion.... and it's equally interesting to read the comments.

If there ever was a reigning queen over all that is brainy and MILFtastic, it is Nina Hartley. What a Goddess.

Best
Article
Ever

Seriously, absolutely excellent....

You beat me to it.

I concur.

two genders, crazy and stupid! i love it

Never heard of her but that was interesting.