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Maggie Mae Fish (she/her) discusses three early films as examples of radical portrayals of sex, sexuality, and gender. From the homoeroticism of Wings (1927), to the female empowerment of Ecstasy (1933), to the commentary on colorism and mixed-race relationships of Veiled Aristocrats (1932), these old movies were more subversive than you might imagine.

Maggie Mae Fish (she/her) explores the work of David Lean, who wasn’t gay himself, but who wove queer themes throughout his filmography. From his early work with the gay writer Noël Coward on Brief Encounter (1945), to the homoerotic subtext of Lawrence of Arabia (1962), to the gender-bending failed romance of Ryan’s Daughter (1970), Lean’s films offer rich subtext, and some surprisingly progressive (though not always) ideas.

Maggie Mae Fish (she/her) explores the work of Stephanie Rothman, the coolest director you’ve never heard of. The Velvet Vampire (1971), her bisexual vampire film, reflects the anxieties of the sexual revolution. Group Marriage (1973) is a sex comedy that tackles polyamory and marriage equality—both within a marriage, and from a legal standpoint. The Working Girls (1974) portrays the grounded experiences of three women trying to make a living in LA.

Maggie Mae Fish (she/her) explores the work of Paul Verhoeven, the over-the-top director who melds classical film sensibilities with the ultra-violence and provocative sexual content of exploitation films. Basic Instinct (1992) turned the erotic thriller genre on its head, but haunted Sharon Stone for the rest of her life. Showgirls (1995) asked audiences to identify with the object of the gaze, which ended up being too much to ask at the time. Benedetta (2021) explores the dark side of Catholicism, and the realities of living an authentic life in a society where queer people are erased from reality.

Maggie Mae Fish (she/her) explores the work of Steven Soderbergh, the director who revolutionized the indie film scene with his breakout erotic feature: sex, lies, and videotape in 1989. Soderbergh offers a more intimate look at sex and sexuality, with characters who search for authenticity in a world that discourages us from being our true selves. The Girlfriend Experience is a micro budget feature starring adult film icon, Sasha Grey, that looks at ultra high class sex work. And Magic Mike launched a wave of erotic films that catered to a presumably female audience

Maggie Mae Fish (she/her) explores the work of Cheryl Dunye, the first out Black lesbian to direct a feature film. In her groundbreaking debut feature, The Watermelon Woman, Dunye explores the history of Black cinema, plus the reality of living in the late 20th century. Her 2001 HBO film, Stranger Inside, is a gritty look at the prison system based on the real life experiences of female prisoners. Mommy Is Coming is a 2012 adult film about pushing sexual boundaries and queer taboos.