Sticky: A (Self) Love Story

Last updated
Sticky: A (Self) Love Story
Directed byNicholas Tana
Written byNicholas Tana
Produced byNicholas Tana
Eric Wolfson
Denise Acosta
Starring Janeane Garofalo
Larry Flynt
Nina Hartley
Joycelyn Elders
Keith Morris
Joe Matt
Chris Gore
Betty Dodson
Edited byJohann Martinez
Eric Wolfson
Music by Richard Albert
Nicholas Tana
Billy Steinberg
Release date
  • February 14, 2016 (2016-02-14)
Running time
72 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Sticky: A (Self) Love Story is a 2016 documentary and comedy film by Nicholas Tana that attempts to explain why most people are afraid to discuss masturbation. The movie is one of the first documentaries to address the myths and social taboos around masturbation. [1] The trailer for Sticky: A (Self) Love Story [2] was selected as top trailers of the week by IndieWire. [3] [4]

Contents

Impact on sex education

The feature-length documentary has received positive reviews in national media for its controversial stance in favor of masturbation as part of sex education. The filmmaker Nicholas Tana was paid to speak during a screening of his film at the 47th. annual American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (A.A.S.E.C.T.) conference in Minneapolis in 2015 [5] during which time an early educational cut of the film was screened in front of over a hundred certified sex educators.

The A.A.S.E.C.T. screening resulted in invitations to conduct educational screenings at Arizona State University sponsored by VOX Voices For Planned Parenthood, [6] University of Wisconsin sponsored by Sex Outloud, [7] and Eastern Michigan University spearheaded by Pam Landau of the Psychology department [8] in April 2016 and ending in May 2016 in honor of international Masturbation Month. [9]

The film addresses the need for sex education that discusses masturbation in a healthy manner to students; it includes interviews with sex educators who express concerns about not properly educating children around sex and masturbation. Harvard University screened Sticky: A (Self) Love Story on campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on April 4, 2017, as part of Harvard's Sex Weekend. [10]

Contrasting viewpoints on health

Full of interviews from sex educators, religious figures, and psychologists, the documentary offers often contrasting opinions about the health benefits both physically and psychologically of masturbation. Among those interviewed who believe masturbation could be harmful is Alexander Rhodes, the founder of a popular Reddit masturbation abstinence group called NoFap. The movie also includes health findings associated with a Cambridge Study that link masturbation to prostate cancer. [11]

These perspectives are contrasted with sex-positive statements from notable sex educators who speak in favor of the health benefits of masturbation. The film also references a medical study written in JAMA indicating that masturbation might help to prevent prostate cancer. [12]

Sex-positive feminism

The film contains interviews with some of the founding members of the sex-positive feminism movement. These interviewees include Nina Hartley, Betty Dodson, Joani Blank, and Carol Queen. [13] Judy Norsidian and Wendy Sanford who worked for many years on the publication of the historical sex education book Our Bodies, Ourselves both appear in the film. [14]

Issues

Among the issues discussed in the film is the Anti-Obscenity Act that bans the sale of sex toys in the state of Alabama, and the contradictory stances of four major religions surrounding masturbation, which include Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism. [13]

Other topics include the controversial firing of the first African American Surgeon General by former U.S. President Bill Clinton; the career damaging fall-out after Paul Reubens's (Pee-Wee Herman) arrest for being caught in a pornographic theatre; current debates concerning sex education; the billion dollar sex toy industry; contradictory prostate cancer studies linked to male masturbation; the news media's obsession with sex addiction and sexual compulsion; the F.B.I. study that links compulsive masturbation to serial killers; the impact of pornography on relationships; opinions as to the future of masturbation. [15] [13]

Masturbation in politics

The film contains an interview with the first African American appointed as Surgeon General, Joycelyn Elders, about why she was fired by former president Bill Clinton for her controversial statement on world's A.I.D.S. day in favor of sex education on masturbation, [16] an interview with comedian Janeane Garofalo about her embarrassment on doing the phone sex masturbation scene in The Truth About Cats & Dogs , and an interview with Hustler creator Larry Flynt about how he came to discover masturbation. [17]

Masturbation in film, TV, and music

The impact of masturbation on the media is explored through a series of movie clips and music. Film Threat founder and film critic Chris Gore states in the documentary that most instances of masturbation depicted in movies or television are seen as either grotesque or as something one wouldn't want to be caught doing. This comment is substantiated by clips from movies like The Exorcist and American Pie shown in the film.

Television clips from the Seinfeld episode called "The Contest" and a clip from Sex in the City are also discussed, along with songs that make reference to masturbation in some way. A section in the film on Masturbation and Media includes interviews with comedian ANT, and Keith Morris, singer/songwriter formerly of Black Flag and The Circle Jerks. The movie features an acoustic performance of "I Touch Myself" played by its songwriter, Billy Steinberg, who is also interviewed. [18]

V.O.D. distribution

First distributed in time for Valentine's Day in February 2016 by Vision Films Inc., a partner of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment [19] in February 2016, Sticky: A (Self) Love Story has been selected as an Amazon Video Direct Stars (A.V.D.) winner in July 2016 after being one of Amazon's top-selling films online. At the time of this article, the documentary is being distributed in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Italy, Israel, Brazil, and Germany.

Theatrical screenings

There have been numerous theatrical screenings of Sticky: A (Self) Love Story around the world. These include screenings in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego and sold out screenings at MoSex in New York, Syndicated in Brooklyn, and the historic Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. Sticky: A (Self) Love Story opened at the first annual Lov Doc Film Festival in Moscow, Russia, in 2016. [20] [21] [22] [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joycelyn Elders</span> Former Surgeon General of the United States

Minnie Joycelyn Elders is an American pediatrician and public health administrator who served as Surgeon General of the United States from 1993 to 1994. A vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, she was the second woman, second person of color, and first African American to serve as Surgeon General.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nina Hartley</span> American pornographic actress (born 1959)

Marie Louise Hartman, known professionally as Nina Hartley, is an American pornographic film actress and sex educator. By 2017 she had appeared in more than one thousand adult films. She has been described by Las Vegas Weekly as an "outspoken feminist" and "advocate for sexual freedom", and by CNBC as "a legend in the adult world".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Broomfield</span> British documentary film director

Nicholas Broomfield is an English documentary film director. His self-reflective style has been regarded as influential to many later filmmakers. In the early 21st century, he began to use non-actors in scripted works, which he calls "Direct Cinema". His output ranges from studies of entertainers to political works such as examinations of South Africa before and after the end of apartheid and the rise of the black-majority government of Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress party.

<i>W.R.: Mysteries of the Organism</i> 1971 film by Dušan Makavejev

W.R.: Mysteries of the Organism is a 1971 film by Serbian director Dušan Makavejev that explores the relationship between communist politics and sexuality, as well as presenting the controversial life and work of Austrian-American psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich (1897–1957). The film's narrative structure is unconventional, intermixing fictional and documentary elements.

Sallie Foley is a social worker and social work academic specialising in sex therapy, sexual health and the consequences of genital surgery on children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Wiseau</span> American director, actor, producer and screenwriter

Thomas Pierre Wiseau is a Polish-American actor and filmmaker. He is known for writing, producing, directing, and starring in the 2003 film The Room, which has been described by many critics as one of the worst films ever made and has gained cult status. He also co-directed the 2004 documentary Homeless in America and created the 2015 sitcom The Neighbors.

Joani Blank was an American sex educator, entrepreneur, author, videographer, cohousing enthusiast, philanthropist, and inventor in the field of sexuality. She used publishing, her sex store, and other endeavors to promote sex-positive feminism. Her papers are part of the Human Sexuality Collection at Cornell University Library.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masturbation</span> Sexual stimulation of ones own genitals

Masturbation is a form of autoeroticism in which a person sexually stimulates their own genitals for sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm. Stimulation may involve use of hands, everyday objects, sex toys, or more rarely, the mouth. Masturbation may also be performed with a sex partner, either masturbating together or watching the other partner masturbate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Mays</span> American film director (born 1955)

Brad Mays is a multi award-winning independent filmmaker and stage director, living and working in Los Angeles, California.

Peggy Joy Kleinplatz is a Canadian clinical psychologist and sexologist whose work often concerns optimal sexuality, opposition to the medicalization of human sexuality, and outreach to marginalized groups. She is a full professor of medicine and clinical professor of psychology at the University of Ottawa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandra Katehakis</span> American psychotherapist

Alexandra Katehakis is the clinical director of the Center for Healthy Sex in Los Angeles and an author. Katehakis is a clinical supervisor at American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and clinical supervisor and member of the teaching faculty for the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP) a national certifying body for sex addiction therapists. She has been a contributor to Psychology Today, Los Angeles Times and The Huffington Post, as well as a panelist at sexuality conferences and public events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debby Herbenick</span> Human sexuality expert

Debby Herbenick is an American author, research scientist, sex educator, sex advice columnist, children's book author, blogger, television personality, professor, and human sexuality expert in the media. Herbenick is a Provost Professor at the Indiana University School of Public Health (IUSPH) and lead investigator of the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), which Time called "the most comprehensive survey of its kind in nearly two decades."

The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) is a professional organization for sexuality educators, sexuality counselors and sex therapists.

<i>Amy</i> (2015 film) 2015 film

Amy is a 2015 British documentary film directed by Asif Kapadia and produced by James Gay-Rees. The film covers British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse's life and her struggle with substance abuse, both before and after her career blossomed, and which eventually caused her death. In February 2015, a teaser trailer based on the life of Winehouse debuted at a pre-Grammys event. David Joseph, CEO of Universal Music UK, announced that the documentary titled Amy would be released later that year. He further stated: "About two years ago we decided to make a movie about her—her career and her life. It's a very complicated and tender movie. It tackles lots of things about family and media, fame, addiction, but most importantly, it captures the very heart of what she was about, which is an amazing person and a true musical genius."

NoFap is a website and community forum that serves as a support group for those who wish to give up pornography and masturbation. Its name comes from the slang term fap, referring to male masturbation. While reasons for this abstinence vary by individual, the main motivation cited is attempting to overcome addiction to pornography, or other compulsive sexual behaviours. Other reasons for abstinence include religious and moral reasons, self-improvement, and physical beliefs that are not supported by medical science.

<i>For the Love of Spock</i> 2016 film by Adam Nimoy

For the Love of Spock is a 2016 American documentary film about actor Leonard Nimoy produced by 455 Films and directed by his son Adam Nimoy, who started it before his father's death, at the age of 83, on February 27, 2015.

<i>Hot Flash Havoc</i> 2012 American film

Hot Flash Havoc is a feature-length documentary film focused on the female medical condition menopause.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassie Jaye</span> American film director

Cassie Jaye is an American film director, best known for directing the 2016 documentary film The Red Pill about the men's rights movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas Tana</span> American film director

Nicholas Tana is a writer director, actor, and musician best known for the Hell's Kitty movie and web-series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara Nasserzadeh</span> Iranian-American social psychologist

Sara Nasserzadeh is an Iranian-American social psychologist, public speaker and author. She is known mostly for her educational programs on BBC World Service and Persian TV on human sexuality and relationships. She received the BBC’s Innovation of the Year Award in 2007 and was among the BBC Persian 100 Influential Women. Nasserzadeh received the People of Distinction Humanitarian Award in New York City in 2014. She is also a winner of AASECT Book Award and AASECT Professional Standard of Excellence Award.

References

  1. ↑ Radakovich, Anka. "Sticky, A (Self) Love Story; The First Documentary on Masturbation - Sexpert.com". Sexpert.com. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  2. ↑ Lown, Mike (7 January 2016). "Watch: Things Get 'Sticky' in Exclusive Trailer for NSFW Masturbation Doc". IndieWire . Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  3. ↑ Zach Sharf (8 January 2016). "The Best Trailers of The Week..." IndieWire. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Director Nicholas Tana Breaks Down The Taboos Of Masturbation In 'Sticky: A Self Love Story'". Uproxx.com. February 3, 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  5. ↑ "47TH AASECT ANNUAL CONFERENCE" (PDF). Aasect.org. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  6. ↑ Lauren Cusimano. "This ASU Grad Made a Masturbation Doc Called Sticky, Because of Course". The Phoenix New Times.
  7. ↑ "Sticky (2016)". Wisc.edu. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Eastern Michigan University: Psychology Department". Emich.edu. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  9. ↑ Zombeck, Richard (May 20, 2013). "Get to Know Yourself -- It's Masturbation Month". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  10. ↑ "'Sex Weekend' Seeks to Stimulate Discussion - News". Thecrimson.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Frequent Sex And Masturbation In 20s And 30s Linked To Higher Prostate Cancer, But Risks Diminish With Age". Sciencedaily.com. January 2009.
  12. ↑ "Best Evidence Yet!: Ejaculation Reduces Prostate Cancer Risk". Medscape. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
  13. 1 2 3 "It's a "touchy" subject: "Sticky: A (Self) Love Story" wants to get us talking about solo sex". Salon. 2016-02-08. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  14. ↑ "This Documentary Tackles Stigma Around Self-Love". Bustle. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  15. ↑ Vronsky, Peter (5 October 2004). Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters. Penguin. ISBN   9781101204627 – via Google Books.
  16. ↑ Zach Schonfeld (5 February 2016). "Remember that Time Bill Clinton Fired His Surgeon General For Encouraging Masturbation Education?". Newsweek.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  17. ↑ Samantha Allen (January 22, 2016). "'Sticky' Documentary Dispels Myths About Self-Love". The Daily Beast .
  18. ↑ Citybeat Staff. "Keith Morris, Sticky: A (Self) Love Story and The Radvocate". San Diego City Beat. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  19. ↑ Dave McNary (26 July 2016). "Vision Films Allies With Sony Pictures Home Entertainment". Variety.
  20. ↑ Denis Kataev (7 October 2016). "Six best about sex and love movies". Tvrain.ru. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  21. ↑ Philip Eil (8 February 2016). "It's a "touchy" subject: "Sticky: A (Self) Love Story"wants to get us talking about solo sex". Salon.
  22. ↑ Rachel Sanoff (2 February 2016). "Sticky A (Self) Love Story Tackles The Stigma Around Masturbation". Bustle.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  23. ↑ Matty Silver (February 21, 2016). "Religious or cultural beliefs making you feel guilty about sex?". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.