Abstract
This paper examines the unique form of authenticity in the works of adult video (AV) director Toru Muranishi. According to previous research, the adult video genre—which explores the boundary between artificiality and reality—employs various filming techniques and depictions of unconventional sexual acts in the pursuit of authenticity. However, Muranishi’s works frequently contain representations that expose the arbitrariness of direction while portraying authenticity through a value system known as “Private Eros”. This paper defines the method of revealing artificiality as “show-ism” and argues that it enhances the authenticity of both the events depicted and the portrayal of women by reflecting contemporary cultural and social conditions such as the popularity of SM pornographic films and the increasing social visibility of women.
To this end, Chapters 1 and 2 review previous discussions on the concept of authenticity. Chapter 3 traces the development of Muranishi’s techniques and values in his early works. Chapter 4 analyzes his representative film I Love SM Like (1986), discussing the relationship between “Private Eros” and the contemporary image of women. Chapter 5 examines the Sobbing Woman series (1990–1992), exploring how Muranishi’s methods culminated in creative stagnation.
