In the last decade, stacks of new erotic independent magazines have been finding their way to bedside tables, with the aim to inspire exploration and orientation, as well as titillation.
A title like Math has a feminist and progressive focus, Extra Extra from Amsterdam blends erotica with contemporary art, and Fluffer Everyday from Greece wants to excite readers through the ordinary. Other titles of note are Baroness, which brands itself as erotica for women, and the queer feminist zine Salacious from the U.S., which presents and explores desire and sexuality through comics, with an emphasis on inclusivity.
Today, we’re celebrating the newest magazines setting out to subvert sexual stereotypes, whether by negating the narratives and standards of online pornography; creating space for queer, non-conforming, and female expression; or simply providing readers with an honest and relatable depiction of sex. And it’s through design, the editorial layout, art direction, and illustration commissioning, that these title’s are making a difference.
An extended version of this piece ran in the pilot issue #00 of Eye on Design magazine, now sold out. Lucky for you, issue #01, themed “Invisible,” is ready for pre-order.