PixlBit

Not having read the books, I realize I'm not going to be able to add a whole lot but I do recall when this book(s) came out (fall of '06). I remember being under the impression that what Moore was up to was erotica. A long time friend of mine from another message board (let's call him Shawn) is a big time Alan Moore fan, so of course he picked up the book and let me knew his thoughts on it. I asked him about the pornography angle (especially when Shawn give examples of what kinds of sexual acts were to be found in the books) and here's how he responded:

But you're right - he's way too smart for that; what he's created here is a deeply resonant allegory posing an argument that seems to be headed in the direction of illustrating graphically just what the ultimate price we pay for having a sexually repressed society truly is.

As w/most of his work, LOST GIRLS is incredibly deep reaching in its implications and statements. I'm actually dreading the ending. .. because I don't think it's going to be pretty.


The whole story is an extremely clever presentation of the significanse of context.

On the face of it, when considering such concepts as "pedophelia" ; "incest" ; "bestiality" ; it seems only natural to react with absolute disgust and/or total rejection (of course). None of us would dream of condoning such behaviours. Yet Alan Moore not only shows the acceptable nature of homosexuality (for instance), he probes even deeper to showcase how natural things such as masturbation and the finer points of where one draws the line for "underage" sex may lie. What he's doing is showing how repressed sexuality can lead towards violence, sex-crimes, indeed, on a greater canvas his vision is ambitious enough to show how it just may tie in to our war-like natures.

This makes for some of the most thought -provoking storylines Alan Moore has ever dared to attempt. It makes LOST GIRLS far more than the "pornography" that he himself admits it is, and takes it beyond the Victorian Erotica which it emulates.

It is nothing short of a total and devastating indictment of puritanical sexual repression.

As such, it is not just an extremely courageous and literary work; it is an important one which deserves our attention as literate and caring adults.


Too bad we're just a nation of insane puritan witch burners.

Make of that what you will.

Do you suppose that feeling creeped out by certain imagery was his intention? In the 3rd-to-last paragraph, you may be going a little too far casting aspersions on Moore. Like I said, I still haven't read it and I don't feel like going out of my way to do so in the future. I don't think you're a prude. You just didn't like the book. You can't be the only one.

 The problem isn't what's shown, but how it's shown. I agree with everything stated there, but the problem with Lost Girls isn't that young people have sex, it's that he draws young preteens fucking in the same detail as everything else. I get the point of that story, but the amount nudity in sex in that chapter almost seems worse than the others, like he's taking more pleasure in them.

 It might've been intentional to make me uncomfortable. The fact is that if he had have shown less of the character's, or if this was entirely written, it would have been fucking hilarious. It's not the content, it's how the content is shown that I take issue with.

It's early, so I can't really formulate thoughts, but I own the book, and loooove Alan Moore, and I didn't really have any problems with the book. That's just me though.

I love me some Alan Moore, and I was loving this book until that point.

Alan Moore isn't creepy Trust me i've met him in person.

Anyway, I remember reading Lost Girl's and found it disturbingly realistic, in the sense that he broke the romantisisation of all those old stories we know from designy and Public Prudishness. Afterall in context those old fairy tales are suspect in the first place so I apreciate him calling it what it is to that effect.

Alan Moore is cunning, his written interviews don't do him justice.

He doesn't sugar coat it so for me I have no real conflict beyond "I need to hide this from my Neice and Nephews"

Nice read, I think this whole debate will go on till the public is a little less PC, I mean we still have a problem with Nipples 

I still haven't finished Watchmen and I haven't read his other works either, but I did heard of Lost Girls and some of the comments it has, and like what you said, if it was considered art, porn or even art porn. Can't say much except that I hope to read the book someday (once i'm 18 atleast) and see what I can formulate. As for Alan Moore, I can see the guy in the line of Kubrick as a batshit insane, but genious of what he does.

I hadn't heard of this guy, but from what I've read from your blog, I would pretty much agree with you.  I seriously think art can be anything.  Wherever one wants to see it, they will.  Same goes for porn.  When it comes to child pornography, I define it as real children put in sexual situations.  There are things I consider child pornography, but many people wouldn't.  I don't count drawings as child pornography and like you, there are those lines I don't feel comfortable crossing even if it's a written story and/or a drawn picture.  There are some sick, twisted, disturbing, and dark things in this world and from time to time, I come across them and I just stop.  

 I usually don't either. I guess I'm more disturbed by the fact that this is erotica, as in people are supposed to be aroused by this. It's a good read, don't get me wrong, It's well written and it's definitely art porn, but something about kids being used to arouse people still rubs me the wrong way a bit. 

I have to check this out some time. Here's an interview with Moore about the book. Doesn't seem so creepy to me. The intentions are sound, imo.

http://www.avclub.com/article/alan-moore-14006

He wasn't when he wrote that. He's just an asshole now who condemns everyone who disagrees with him slightly, which I hate. He's one of my favourite figures in comics, but he's such a fucking asshole.

 His intentions are definitely sound, and for most of the work I understand that, but I just think that one section pushes things a bit too far. 

I think the fantasy aspect of this has less to do with their age and more to do with who they are. I have not read this yet but I have read a lot of his books and the idea of men and women being compfortable with sex and their own sexuality is a theme or at the least hinted at in many of them. A lot of our attitudes towards sex are often formed by religion, society, and our parents before we even know what sex is. I will have to read this and get back to you, because to me sounds like an issue of perception. Like the old saying "a picture is worth a thousands words".I need to see what you are talking about.

I love Watchmen, but after hearing about Lost Girls I feel Alan Moore should maybe start keeping his thoughts to himself. There's so few lines that should be treaded very carefully in media and this is one of them.

I'd have to read this to have an opinion, but he does look creepy. The chick on his arm looks ok, though. 

I know he also said Rorschach was meant to showcase the batshitness of Batman, or something. Only read Watchmen by him, but would like to read Killing Joke. Looks dark. 

Why is the GoT chick crying, is she being raped?

Finally, you might like how a movie called You and Me and Everyone We Know handles underage sex. Nothing is shown, but you understand what happens. 

 I'm fine with the concept of underage sex in art. I mean, it happens in real life and can be used to great effect. I just felt it was gratuitious here and downright creepy. I mean, she's underage and having sex while her even younger brothers (aged like 11-13) jerk each other off. It's not really necessary IMO.

 Killing Joke is great. It's the best Joker story IMO, and the interplay between Batman and Joker in this is fantastic. It really does a great job of showing they're two sides of the same coin. Probably my favourite comic ever tbh.

I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked this book up.  I think that I made it all the way through the first book, but got stuck in the second.  I have been far too scared to return to this story.