The Illicit Origins of Pornographic Film

From the early 1900s until the late 1960s, pornographic films were predominantly short, black-and-white, and anonymously shot - known as 'stags'. The technology used in the creation of these was intentionally retrograde - almost all stag productions were silent and black-and-white, even as sound and color film became the norm of the rest of the industry. This stylistic device contributed to the films' explicit allure, suggesting the reality of the sex acts being performed, as well as the underground and illicit nature of the pornographic film industry itself. Pornhub has proudly partnered with the Museum of Sex in the presentation of Stag: The Illicit Origins of Pornographic Film, an interactive exhibit celebrating the earliest depictions of sex on film, opening to the public on June 21 2019 in New York City.