Erotic / mainstream - the funny difference in standards

[snar]

Another thread here got me thinking. We have incest and bestiality stories here, but not snuff, right? But if you go into Barns & Noble, there is a whole section for thrillers and yet another for murder mysteries. Where are the incest and bestiality sections?

So, my question is, why in erotica are incest and bestiality more "acceptable" than murder, but in mainstream fiction, violence (both murder and rape) are more acceptable topics than, say bestiality (try to name any mainstream book in the last few years with this theme). And yes, I am well aware of Middlesex and other books with incest themes, but they are far outnumbered by the number of mysteries released every year.

I've been cheeky in how I've asked this, but think about it seriously for a minute.... strange, no?

 

[cloudy]

Nope, no bestiality on Lit.

Kinda throws part of your premise off the rails.

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

Interesting question. I'm not sure about why the themes you mentioned aren't acceptable in mainstream bookstores and elsewhere, but I have always wondered why murder, rape, violence of all kinds is sooooooo popular in books and also on television. I mean, every single time you turn on the telly, you see a billion shows about serial killers, crime scene investigation, autopsies, famous murder mysteries and all the gory details you want. Yet, if you are a writer who frequently describes erotic matters and who uses words like "pussy," "cunt" and "orgasmic bliss" you're pushed to the margins and seen as a "wank writer." Go figure....

 

[Selena_Kitt]

It's the combination of sex AND violence that's the problem.

Sex by itself - fine.

Violence by itself - fine.

Put them together, and people recoil. And it hasn't always been so... right now, it's a cultural thing, brought on by the growing equality between the genders. It's a good thing, and quite necessary, but it makes people in the middle of the fray quite sensitive about things like rape as they're finally coming to light in the social construct.

When we've maintained an equilibrium for 100 years or so, it won't be so anathema. That's my prediction, anyway.

 

[snar]

Nope, no bestiality on Lit.

Kinda throws part of your premise off the rails.

Oh really? (here's my embarrassed face!!) Guess we'll have to keep the topic to incest.

BTW - please do not read this as a criticism of Literotica at all --really just thinking about erotica in general.

 

[snar]

Interesting question. I'm not sure about why the themes you mentioned aren't acceptable in mainstream bookstores and elsewhere, but I have always wondered why murder, rape, violence of all kinds is sooooooo popular in books and also on television. I mean, every single time you turn on the telly, you see a billion shows about serial killers, crime scene investigation, autopsies, famous murder mysteries and all the gory details you want. Yet, if you are a writer who frequently describes erotic matters and who uses words like "pussy," "cunt" and "orgasmic bliss" you're pushed to the margins and seen as a "wank writer." Go figure....

Exactly.

 

[wife2hotblk]

I think a great deal does have to do with the words we use. I have long ago accepted that I could have a decent career as a romance writer, if I could manage to type the word...manhood or sword/sheath or feminine softness or turgid. Unfortunately I almost barf when even most normal adults (and even some prudish ones) call it like it is; as you said...cock, dick, cunt, pussy; hell even penis and vagina. I hope one day that will all change, but until then, we have here.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

SNAR

Romeo & Juliet violate the standards here, too. Underage, you know.

The world is so whacked nuthin makes sense anymore.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Another thread here got me thinking. We have incest and bestiality stories here, but not snuff, right? But if you go into Barns & Noble, there is a whole section for thrillers and yet another for murder mysteries. Where are the incest and bestiality sections?

So, my question is, why in erotica are incest and bestiality more "acceptable" than murder, but in mainstream fiction, violence (both murder and rape) are more acceptable topics than, say bestiality (try to name any mainstream book in the last few years with this theme). And yes, I am well aware of Middlesex and other books with incest themes, but they are far outnumbered by the number of mysteries released every year.

I've been cheeky in how I've asked this, but think about it seriously for a minute.... strange, no?

Nope, no bestiality on Lit.

Kinda throws part of your premise off the rails.

Besides the lack of bestiality, the incest can only involve adults, 18 or older. Daddy is not allowed to sneak into his young daughter's room at night.

 

[Weird Harold]

...But if you go into Barns & Noble, there is a whole section for thrillers and yet another for murder mysteries. Where are the incest and bestiality sections?

Incest and bestiality can be found in the Romance and Literature aisles.

So, my question is, why in erotica are incest and bestiality more "acceptable" than murder, but in mainstream fiction, violence (both murder and rape) are more acceptable topics ...

Literotica specifically and "adult themed" writing in general is about erotic writing -- writing intended to cause sexual arousal. "Mainstream" writing is more about conflict.

Erotic is derived from Eros, the god of Love, and violence is pretty much the opposite of "love." "Snuff," or "sexual gratification from killing" is especially contrary to the root meaning of "Erotic."

"Mainstream" writing also needs stronger villians than erotic writing does. It's difficult to build a good villian around erotic themes, although abusive incest is a sub-category of Incest that is more suited to mainstream writing (and found in mainstream writing more often than in erotic writing.)

None of the above considers the effects of prudish and puritanical cultural influences that discourage graphic sexual themes in mainstream fiction.