The definition of pornography is a complex and multifaceted issue that has been debated for centuries. While there is no single, universally accepted definition of pornography, it is generally understood to be material that is intended to arouse sexual excitement. This can include explicit depictions of sexual acts, nudity, or written descriptions of sexual activity.
The definition of pornography can be approached from a number of different perspectives. One common approach is to focus on the intent of the material. From this perspective, pornography is defined as material that is created with the primary purpose of stimulating sexual arousal. This definition is often used in legal contexts, where it is important to determine whether or not a particular piece of material meets the legal definition of obscenity.
Another approach to defining pornography is to focus on its content. From this perspective, pornography is defined as material that depicts or describes sexual activity in a way that is intended to arouse sexual excitement. This definition is often used in social and cultural contexts, where it is important to understand the ways in which pornography is produced, consumed, and interpreted.
It can also vary depending on the cultural context. For example, what is considered pornographic in one culture might not be in another culture. In some cultures, explicit depictions of sexual activity are seen as being perfectly normal and acceptable, whereas some they are seen as being taboo and offensive.
The debate about the definition of pornography is likely to continue for many years to come. As society changes, so too will our understanding of what constitutes pornography. However, it is important to remember that the definition of pornography is not simply a matter of personal opinion. It is also a matter of law and social norms.
Sexuality in Film
The earliest examples of sexuality in film can be traced back to the early days of cinema. In 1896, the Edison Manufacturing Company released a short film called The Kiss, which depicted a couple kissing for a prolonged period of time. The film was considered to be quite scandalous at the time, and it was even banned in some countries.
As the film industry developed, so too did the way that sexuality was portrayed on screen. In the early 20th century, films such as Salome (1922) and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) began to explore themes of sexuality and desire. These films were often controversial, but they also helped to push the boundaries of what was acceptable on screen.
In the 1930s and 1940s, the Hays Code was in effect in Hollywood. The Hays Code was a set of moral guidelines that were designed to censor films for content that was deemed to be objectionable. As a result of the Hays Code, sexuality was often portrayed in a more indirect way in films during this era. However, there were still a number of films that managed to pass the Hays Code, such as The Outlaw (1943) and Double Indemnity (1944).
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Hays Code began to be relaxed, and filmmakers were given more freedom to explore themes of sexuality. This led to a number of films that were more explicit in their portrayal of sexuality, such as Lolita (1962) and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966).
In the decades since, sexuality has continued to be a major theme in film. Films such as Thelma and Louise (1991), Brokeback Mountain (2005), and Moonlight (2016) have all explored different aspects of sexuality in a variety of ways.
The portrayal of sexuality in film has come a long way since the early days of cinema. Today, filmmakers are able to explore themes of sexuality in a more open and honest way than ever before. This has led to a more diverse and nuanced representation of sexuality on screen.
The Evolution of Pornography
The evolution of pornography.
Prehistory to the 1860s: Early pornography was limited to cave art, artistic drawings, decorative pottery, and sculpture. Published pornography was invented in 1524 in Rome, when Marcantonio Raimondi published 16 sexually explicit engravings by Guilio Romano, collectively titled I Modi. Shortly thereafter, Pietro Aretino wrote his early pornographic works, Sonetti Iussuriosi (1527) and Ragionamenti (1534-36). For the most part, only the wealthy and educated were able to purchase and enjoy these printed pornographic works.
1860s to 1977: Photography was invented in 1826 but was not commercially viable until the 1860s. That development, unsurprisingly, led to erotic photos. Pornography was further revolutionized by the development of motion pictures. By the 1920s, “stag films” were commercially available for private viewing. And by the 1970s, feature-length pornographic films had supplanted the silent, single-reel stag films. Peepshow booths also evolved in the 1970s, generating millions of dollars in a constant stream of small change. That said, porn was still expensive, relatively hard to find, and embarrassing to access.
1977 to 1991: Numerous publications printed advertisements for pornographic pictures and movies, and people began to have pornography shipped to their homes (or, more likely, a P.O. box rented with a fake name). An even bigger change occurred when VCRs (video cassette recorders) hit the market. Suddenly, people could purchase or rent pornographic videos and view them in the privacy of their own homes. Almost simultaneously, cable television arrived, presenting soft-core porn late at night.
1991 to 2004: In this time period, home internet became a thing, and, with that, our ability to affordably and anonymously access pornography changed forever. Photos and videos catering to every imaginable sexual taste and fetish were readily available for anonymous viewing. This porn proliferation was so ubiquitous that it crossed over into pop culture.
2004 to the present: Somewhere around 2004, the delivery model for online pornography morphed from pay-per-view porn sites to user-generated tube sites where the revenue came not from subscribers but from advertisers. At the same time, webcam technology improved enough that people could become porn stars themselves, stripping and masturbating for an online audience. Plus, faster internet speeds enabled the streaming of video pornography. Until this time, still imagery had ruled the roost, but suddenly video was king. More importantly, porn became almost universally accessible—affordably and anonymously accessed by any interested person.
What's Next
The old joke is whatever technology is created, porn will be there. As new technologies emerge, it is a good bet the porn industry will be one of the early adopters.
We are already seeing developers working with bringing porn into the virtual reality world. This is in keeping with the advancement of technology over the last half century.