“Gonzo” is a sub-genre of hardcore pornography that features significantly less story, acting, costuming and sets than in “feature” pornography. The term is derived form gonzo journalism, wherein reporters place themselves directly into the event.
In gonzo pornography, females (and occasionally men) are made subject to intentionally degrading and dehumanizing sexual acts, including gagging, choking, slapping, humiliation, double penetration, anal penetration, double anal penetration, and various other forms of physical & verbal violence.
Pornographer John Stagliano, the originator of gonzo with his “Buttman” pornography series, manufactured gonzo to an oversaturated pornography market with the intention of delivering unpredictable material so as to keep customers engaged. It was very successful.
A brief look at select quotes from Stagliano offers insight into his perspective on sexual violence and pornography.
“I was the first to shoot Rocco [pornography performer]. Together we evolved toward rougher stuff. He started to spit on girls. A strong male-dominant thing, with women being pushed to their limit. It looks like violence but it’s not. I mean, pleasure and pain are the same right, right? Rocco is driven by the market. What makes it in today’s market is reality.”
“The psychology is that some people like to abuse other people, in real life, in real situations. And I worry that we’re creating art that feeds on that, that kind of references that and says it’s a good thing, and makes people a little more comfortable with certain psychological things that I think they should be uncomfortable with because they’re bad.”
(as Buttman) “You call yourself one of my biggest fans, and you still think I’d use THAT hole?”
(as Buttman) “Did that hurt? Good.”