Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On

Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On is an edgy, stimulating, and provocative docu-series released in 2017 and produced by Netflix. The program is an offshoot of the 2015 documentary film Hot Girls Wanted, which aimed to offer a non-judgmental, inspired, and inside look at the novice pornography industry, focusing on the experiences of several 18- and 19-year-old women. The series, like the movie, is bold and candid, aiming to throw light into the lesser discussed areas of the human sexual psychology, the porn industry, and the impacts of the digitization era in these arenas.

Spanning six hour-long episodes, the searing exploration starts not under the bright lights in Hollywood but through traversing the intersection of sex and technology. It intends to disrupt the conventional, bringing forth thought-provoking commentaries on our society's often-muted conversations on pornography, sex work, and intimate relationships in the Internet age. Each episode in this hard-hitting anthology handles distinct though interwoven themes relating to sex and technology, showcasing a collection of explicit and honest narratives from a diverse range of individuals.

The series challenges the stigmatization around the subject matter, bluntly exploring the potential sociotechnological consequences. It dissects complex and controversial issues, including the blurred lines between sex work and pornography, the evolving norms around sex and intimacy, and the darker side of online dating and the potential perils of the booming online adult entertainment industry. Each installment is comprehensive standalone, bridging essential gaps between internet-facilitated sex work and mainstream society.

Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On blends personal narratives with incisive social commentary. It features people from all walks of life, from young women making their foray into the adult entertainment world, lurking misogyny in the digital space to a female pornography director fighting to maintain her ethical standards. There are webcam performers attempting to balance their online personalities with their off-screen lives, professionals establishing their careers in the evolving erotic virtual reality industry, and already retired performers reminiscing about their days in the industry.

Producer, Rashida Jones, narrated the stories with curiosity, empathy, and a deep understanding of the complexities involved in the topic, creating a show that encourages dialogue and raises challenging questions about technology's role in the modern adult industry. She doesn't pass judgement, rather laying the reality bare, and allowing the audience to form their own opinion. The series is incredibly candid, without resorting to sensationally lurid or exploitative presentations, striving to maintain the dignity of these often vulnerable individuals and their stories.

The expansion of technology and the swift move of the adult industry into the digital space are meticulously dissected. The series delivers on its promise to turn on those not initiated to this world, through its insightful exploration of the industry intricacies, shocking reveals, and candid depiction of the realities faced by performers. It also highlights the opaque distinction between professional and amateur pornography and the implications of this blurring boundary.

Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On masterfully manages the sensitivity of its subject matter, collating individual experiences to illustrate a broader societal conundrum around pornography, feminism, empowerment, and exploitation. Simultaneously, it doesn't shy away from the problematic aspects and provides unsuspecting revelations about the risks posed by the intersection of technology and adult entertainment to the performers and the consumers.

The visual style of the series is realistic and unvarnished, matching the raw tone of the stories being told. It switches between interviews, on-location filming, and perfectly timed cutaway shots to not just tell a story but to make us live it. The directors keep the pacing slow, allowing the audience to assimilate and digest the intense snippets of lives unfolding on screen.

Time and again, Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On reiterates that pornography is not merely an issue of morality or censorship, but also an industry presenting both empowering and exploiting facets. It considers not just these aspects but also how these elements shift along with the advent of cutting-edge technology. The show is a must-watch for its audacious yet empathetic exploration of human behavior, society's taboos, and the shocking but undeniable role technology plays in reshaping our understanding and experiences within the domain of sex and intimacy in the 21st century.