Explicit Visual Sexual Imagery as Regulated Representations during the Roman Empire, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment

Abstract

In June 1987, Italian porn star Ilona Staller, whose professional name was La Cicciolina (Cuddles), was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies (the Italian Parliament) under the banner of the Radical Party. The 35-year-old Staller celebrated her election victory by exposing her breasts to a pack of jostling photographers, excited young male fans, and teenagers who had gathered around her in front of the Italian Parliament shouting, “Nuda!” “Nuda!”—the Italian word for nude (Lilla, 1987). This scene of “nudity on demand” performed by a political representative of the people at the steps of Parliament was characteristic of Staller, who had made a name for herself by acting in pornographic movies, appearing in pornographic magazines, and performing sexual exhibitions open to the public. Needless to say, campaigning topless had made her political rallies “must see” events. Her political platform was simple: she would ban the Italian Modesty Act that criminalized public nudity, fight to conquer AIDS, start sex education in public schools, and provide incarcerated prisoners with sexual services. Her foreign policy platform included an offer to have sex with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (while closing her eyes and holding her nose) if he would cooperate with the United States to end the Iran-Iraq war (1980–88).