Everyone knows someone who is really into porn. You may even be one of these people. Anyway you look at it, everyone is affected by porn. Something that is such an influence on so many lives, while also being a multi billion dollar industry, should deserve our attention.
What is pornography?
Pornography or porn is the explicit depiction of sexual subject matter with the sole intention of sexually exciting the viewer. It is to a certain extent similar to erotica, which is the use of sexually arousing imagery. Over the past few decades, an immense industry for the production and consumption of pornography has grown, due to emergence of the VCR, the DVD, and the Internet, as well as the emergence of social attitudes more tolerant of sexual portrayals. Performers in pornography are referred to as pornographic actors (or actresses), or the more commonly known title, "porn star", and are generally seen as qualitatively different from their non-pornographic counterparts.
The word derives from the Greek πορνογραφία (pornographia), which derives from the Greek words πόρνη (pornē, "prostitute"), γράφω (graphō, "to write or record"), and the suffix -ία (-ia, meaning "state of", "property of", or "place of"), thus meaning "a place to record prostitutes"
History of Pornography
The depiction of sexual acts is as old as civilization (and can be found painted on various ancient buildings), but the concept of pornography as understood today did not exist until the Victorian era. Previous to that time, though some sex acts were regulated or stipulated in laws, looking at objects or images depicting them was not.
The world's first law criminalizing pornography was enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1857 in the Obscene Publications Act. The Victorian attitude that pornography was for a select few can be seen in the wording of the Hicklin test stemming from a court case in 1868 where it asks, "whether the tendency of the matter charged as obscenity is to deprave and corrupt those whose minds are open to such immoral influences." Despite the fact of their suppression, depictions of erotic imagery were common throughout history.
Anti-pornography movement
Opponents to pornography claim:
pornography is essentially dehumanizing women and is likely to encourage violence against them
most pornography eroticizes the domination, humiliation, and coercion of women, reinforces sexual and cultural attitudes that are complicit in rape and sexual harassment, and contributes to the male-centered objectification of women.
sex is reserved for heterosexual married couples, to be used only in accordance with God's will, and assert that use of pornography involves indulgence in lust (which in Christianity is a sin) and leads to an overall increase in sexually immoral behavior.
Pro-pornography movement
Opponents to pornography claim:
It gives a panoramic view of the world's sexual possibilities. This is true even of basic sexual information such as masturbation.
It allows people to "safely" experience sexual alternatives and satisfy a healthy sexual curiosity. The world is a dangerous place. By contrast, pornography can be a source of solitary enlightenment.
It offers the emotional information that comes only from experiencing something either directly or vicariously. It provides us with a sense how it would "feel" to do something
Pornography breaks cultural and political stereotypes, so that each person can interpret sex for themselves. Authorities tell people to be ashamed of their appetites and urges. Pornography tells them to accept and enjoy them. Pornography can be good therapy. Pornography provides a sexual outlet for those who - for whatever reason - have no sexual partner.
Pornography is free speech applied to the sexual realm. Freedom of speech is the ally of those who seek change: it is the enemy of those who seek to maintain control. Pornography, along with all other forms of sexual heresy, such as homosexuality, should have the same legal protection as political heresy.
On the matter I take a basically Libertarian approach. I think if someone wants to watch porn, then they should be able to. If someone does not want to watch porn, then they shouldn’t have to. The individual should be free to choose. If we are to live in a free society then we are going to have to grow up and accept that people may or may not do things that we may disagree with. This just comes with the territory.
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2 comments:
My reason for 'tuning-in' to you was your name (not your subject matter; at 78 I couldn't really care less and in my earlier life I didn't need it). My 'maiden' name was Brenda Gillbert so your name shot off the page! (Yes, my Gillbert had two ells; obviously an ancestor couldn't spell!)
I read on and found your 'Roses are Red' discussion interesting. I'll be back.
Hey Brenda! Thank you for stopping by. Where is your family from originally?
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