Erotica vs. pornography debate
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| In general, "erotica" refers to portrayals of sexually arousing material that hold or aspire to artistic or scientific [[merit]], whereas "pornography" often connotes the prurient depiction of sexual acts, with little or no artistic value. | In general, "erotica" refers to portrayals of sexually arousing material that hold or aspire to artistic or scientific [[merit]], whereas "pornography" often connotes the prurient depiction of sexual acts, with little or no artistic value. | ||
| - | Jan Willem Geerinck in his ''[[De geschiedenis van de erotiek: van holbewoner tot Markies de Sade]]'' has argued that detractors of pornography usually define the genre as having these four criteria: | + | [[Anti-pornography]] campaigners usually define the genre as meeting the following three criteria: |
| #The work is [[explicit]] (in literature: the use of [[dysphemism]]s, in the visual arts: [[photographic realism]], the depiction of a particular instance rather than an ideal. | #The work is [[explicit]] (in literature: the use of [[dysphemism]]s, in the visual arts: [[photographic realism]], the depiction of a particular instance rather than an ideal. | ||
| #The work addresses only the [[base instinct]]s of its audience, ofen denoting the [[masturbatory]] use of the product, see [[body genre]] | #The work addresses only the [[base instinct]]s of its audience, ofen denoting the [[masturbatory]] use of the product, see [[body genre]] | ||
| #The work is only made for [[monetary gain]], see [[authorial intentionality]] | #The work is only made for [[monetary gain]], see [[authorial intentionality]] | ||
| - | #The work is the object of [[censorship]], pointing to a presence in the [[public sphere]] usually reserved for works within [[reproducible arts]] | + | |
| + | Additionally | ||
| + | |||
| + | #The pornographic is usually reserved for works within the [[reproducible arts]] | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *[[I know it when I see it]] | *[[I know it when I see it]] | ||
Revision as of 22:15, 7 May 2011
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- Etymologies of erotica and pornography
- "One person's erotica is another person's pornography."
The distinction between erotica and pornography (as well as the lesser known genre of sexual entertainment, ribaldry) is difficult to identify, if not completely impossible. Proponents for erotic art argue that such work is intended to arouse aesthetic rather than erotic feelings, and is therefore not pornographic. Opponents see this as a pretentious stand, as they believe that erotic art shares the same purposes as pornography.
Stephen Gilbert once remarked "The difference between erotica and pornography is simple. Erotica is what I like. Pornography is what you like, you pervert!" One common joke is that "the only difference between art and pornography is a government grant." Another one by Isabel Allende is: "Erotica is when you use a feather. Pornography is when you use the whole chicken."
The issue of whether a distinction can be made between erotica and pornography raises multiple complicated questions. These questions include whether aesthetic and erotic feelings are mutually exclusive, how the level of commercialism and tastefulness in an artwork can be objectively measured, and at what point they make the work pornographic.
In general, "erotica" refers to portrayals of sexually arousing material that hold or aspire to artistic or scientific merit, whereas "pornography" often connotes the prurient depiction of sexual acts, with little or no artistic value.
Anti-pornography campaigners usually define the genre as meeting the following three criteria:
- The work is explicit (in literature: the use of dysphemisms, in the visual arts: photographic realism, the depiction of a particular instance rather than an ideal.
- The work addresses only the base instincts of its audience, ofen denoting the masturbatory use of the product, see body genre
- The work is only made for monetary gain, see authorial intentionality
Additionally
- The pornographic is usually reserved for works within the reproducible arts
See also
- I know it when I see it
- Etymologies of erotica and pornography
- Eroticism is where you use a feather and pornography is where you use the whole chicken
- Debating Pornography: Categories and Metaphors
