Pretty in Pornography

Pornography can be defined as a "representation of sexual behavior in books, pictures, statues, motion pictures, and other media that is intended to cause sexual excitement." (Jenkins, John Phillip) And today pornography is usually considered to be films located in adult shops or in the top shelf of movie rental stores.

What are the consequences in the long term if continuing to allow pornography to become racier and racier further objectifying women or men as objects of sexual desire?? And what do we consider or classify to be pornographic in nature. For example artists like Amedeo Modigliani and the infamous Picasso painted women in the nude and often in detail and that is not considered pornographic or even erotic. (Although the positions in which they were painted can be considered erotic) Yet if that portrait had been taken as a photograph would viewers consider it in a different light because the medium had changed?? Is there a true distinction between nudity in art and pornography??

What do we consider to be pornographic? Lady Gaga's music videos for numerous songs such as Alejandro, Paparazzi and Love Game are considered to be risqué but can we go so far as to call them soft-core porn? In today's society do we realize how much videos like Lady Gaga's or television programs like True blood are affecting our society?? Or are we as a society becoming desensitized to nudity and sexual behavior in general??

Pornography has in some studies been proven to lead to other sex crimes and the increase of child pornography in the past decade. Although we cannot generalize that this was the intent of pornography. Pornography does not only extend to women, men are also used as objects. For example "Playgirl," is an example of female viewed pornography. In early 17^th century Japan manuals were created in detail for medical professionals and young married couples for instruction. Japan not being the only society to have these erotic visuals present, Ancient Greece and Rome were also known for images on the walls of many building depicting sexual situations. Kama Sutra, an ancient Indian Hindu text widely considered to be a work on human sexual behavior. Is this to be considered pornographic?? Yet, none of these fulfill the psychological or social functions of today's pornography.

Functionalism: The industry of visual erotic images was meant for instruction, guidance, and even pleasure for medical professionals, married couples, and courtesans in early centuries. But today pornography is used as a release and a way to subjugate men or women into objects rather than individuals. Other issues that have arisen from the viewing and overuse of pornography are increased rates of rape, child pornography, and the inability to separate reality from fantasy. Along with these problems society has allowed for videos and movies that are made public to become even more risqué making society more desensitized. Therefore we are losing the modesty and innocence that was once so cherished.

Check out this video http://youtube.com/watch?v=o0qThv43P0w

References

"pornography." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 12 Sep. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/470645/pornography>.

Hickey, Georgina. "The Geography of Pornography." Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies; 2011. Web. 12 Sep. 2011.

<http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.westminstercollege.edu/ehost/detail?sid=7655f21b-dc09-4b64-9750-cc43c6aef00a%40sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=110&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=62607814>.

Stack , Steven, Ira Wasserman, and Roger Kern. "Adult Social Bonds and Use of Internet of Pornography." Social Science Quarterly (Blackwell Publishing Limited). 85.1 (2004): 75-84. Web. 12 Sep. 2011. <http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.westminstercollege.edu/ehost/detail?sid=36123242-b676-454a-b660-3140f932eeb8%40sessionmgr104&vid=1&hid=110&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=12205968>.

Photo and Video

"WebMuseum." Photograph. Reclining Nude from the Back. Amedeo Modigliani. 1917. Web. 12 Sep 2011. <http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/modigliani/>.

Graphic. Pretty In Pornography. Levi the Poet. 2008. Web. 12 Sep 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0qThv43P0w>.