Politics in erotica
- Thread starter frankness
- Start date
Sean Renaud
The West Coast Pop
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2004
- Posts
- 59,425
As an author this is our venue. Preach on brother. It makes the charachters more real and likeable/unlikeable as well. I wouldn't include it in a porn story, or a stroke story. But then I wouldn't include anything unneccesary in a stroke story. I pretty much tell you the girls bra size, hair color and location. The guy's cock size and then move onto the fucking. But if it is a real story then adding in politics is good in my opinion.
jakelyon
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2002
- Posts
- 956
The only reason to "lambast" a story is if it is badly written, or has undeveloped one dimensional characters. The politics of the character just help flesh it out. There is no reason to like or not like a story. I could see if they just could not get into the character because they could not identify with their politics, but it does not make it a good or bad story.
Fantasies-only
Really Experienced
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2006
- Posts
- 237
I can't really agree with this, unless it's something like an AIDS based story.Sean Renaud said:
Putting in light references to the President (South Park takeoff on Clinton and Monica) or a villain like Bin Laden and his ultra super tiny penis in the show, might be ok, but hard hitting issues aren't great for erotica, unless you're Cartman's slut mom sleeping your way through congress and then with the president for 36th trimester abortion rights.
"Oh no not abortion. What's that other 'a' word you can do?"
"You mean adoption?"
"Yes adoption, that's it."
I think Tray and Matt's original concept was better, getting taboo subjects out in the open, from religion in Santa Clause VS Jesus, to homosexuality and gay pride, although they haven't done much (storywise) with lesbianism, exhibitionists, and voyeurs.
I think a good idea, is to come up with a good fan fiction you could submit through The Comedy Channel.
It would have to be worthy of an FCC rating, but you can send the uncensored version as well, and see what gets picked up.
Last edited:
Sean Renaud
The West Coast Pop
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2004
- Posts
- 59,425
I still stand by my opinion. This our Venue use it. Its like making V for Vendetta that had so many political ideas in it.
Nothing wrong with having politics in the story - if it is relevant.
For example, if this is an extreme right-winger who believes in keeping women barefoot and pregnant, then it is part of describing him.
On the other hand it makes little or no difference which party a character is if (s)he is a would-be politician fucking her/his way to the top.
For example, if this is an extreme right-winger who believes in keeping women barefoot and pregnant, then it is part of describing him.
On the other hand it makes little or no difference which party a character is if (s)he is a would-be politician fucking her/his way to the top.
SEVERUSMAX
Benevolent Master
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- Posts
- 28,995
I have a few political sex stories, mostly with the theme of hidden, taboo relationships and lifestyles that politicians keep under wraps. And one that involves pols from opposing parties, so the parties had to be mentioned for proper detail.
SEVERUSMAX
Benevolent Master
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- Posts
- 28,995
Texguy84 said:You could make it a Romeo and Juliet-ish story about the forbidden love between a Republican and a Democrat, and put it in the Romance category.
Well, it's not quite like that, at least not in the form that I have posted. "House Perks" Chapters 1 and 2 are already. It's more of a wild romance, one involving kinky , rough sex that many constituents might not understand.
Texguy84
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2003
- Posts
- 4,277
SEVERUSMAX said:
Well hold on, I'm having fun with this idea:
"Hillary, Hillary, where for art thou Hillary?" (What? YOU think of a male politician with a trisyllabic first name!
)Wow... just imagine if someone wrote this entire story in Shakespeare style prose... wow... that hurts my head just to think about how amusing that would be
Moxon4
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2001
- Posts
- 2,030
Politics
It's easier to put that in as a backdrop, kind of setting the scene. I wouldn't put something like that in because it could distract the reader, and that's not a good idea in stories.
If you want to write about politics there is the "non-erotic" category.
It's easier to put that in as a backdrop, kind of setting the scene. I wouldn't put something like that in because it could distract the reader, and that's not a good idea in stories.
If you want to write about politics there is the "non-erotic" category.
J
J.Q. Hack
Guest
I don't see anything wrong with making a political belief a part of a character -- after all it adds depth and texture to what might be an otherwise flat and boring character. Of course adding that it needs to be some how related to the plot or theme of the story. I wouldn't mention in a story that a janitor voted Democratic while he's trying to bag the secretary unless it was germane to the story's progress. However, if I wanted to portray a character as a hypocrite I would make him an outspoken head of a family values group that cheats on his wife and does things he publicly decries.
What goes into the story is up to the author but the only thing that should be kept in mind is what does it do for the story? If it adds nothing to the story take it out.
J.Q.
What goes into the story is up to the author but the only thing that should be kept in mind is what does it do for the story? If it adds nothing to the story take it out.
J.Q.
"Don Rumsfeld, Don Rumsfeld, wherefore art thou Don Rumsfeld?"Texguy84 said:... "Hillary, Hillary, where for art thou Hillary?" (What? YOU think of a male politician with a trisyllabic first name!
"Kissinger, Kissinger, wherefore art thou Kissinger?"
"Abraham, Abraham, wherefore art thou Abraham?"
"Benjamin, Benjamin, wherefore art thou Benjamin?"
How far back do you want to go?
YANKEE DAN
Cum Guzzling Slut
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2003
- Posts
- 247
For me personally, I keep my peas away from my corn. I don't like it when stuff mixes, the porns over here, the politics are over there. When I write I try to keep it fun and sexy. I don't try to bring up anything that may offend a reader (unless of course they are offended by porn, in which case, WHAT R U DOIN HERE?)
For me, you have to remember your target audiance: people who are masterbating, or some people who are killing time reading erotica. I say, leave the serious issues to the message boards.
For me, you have to remember your target audiance: people who are masterbating, or some people who are killing time reading erotica. I say, leave the serious issues to the message boards.
Anachron
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2006
- Posts
- 483
It Depends...
An old literary saying goes, "If you want to send a message, use Western Union." The best satires are so subtle that readers do not even realize they are reading a satire until they're done, and they scratch their heads and think, "That was a jab at Republicans/Democrats/Tories/Socialists, wasn't it?"
For me, blatant politicking in a story would be a turn-off. A subtle message, or characters having their own viewpoints in character would be okay as long as it contributes to the story and does not distract from it.
An old literary saying goes, "If you want to send a message, use Western Union." The best satires are so subtle that readers do not even realize they are reading a satire until they're done, and they scratch their heads and think, "That was a jab at Republicans/Democrats/Tories/Socialists, wasn't it?"
For me, blatant politicking in a story would be a turn-off. A subtle message, or characters having their own viewpoints in character would be okay as long as it contributes to the story and does not distract from it.
M
MzDeviancy
Guest
There's many things that fit in erotica when they're subtle and part of the story and not jumping out and clamoring for attention. Racist characters, left/right wing characters, etc.; many things can all be innoccuous if they just blend in and become part of the story. However, when including anything controversial in a story, you're going to be running a risk.
There's also degrees; it's one thing for a character to dislike black people, it's another thing for him to go around dragging black people to death by chains hooked to his truck. And even there, to some people those examples might seem worlds away from each other, to others, one might be just as bad as the other.
You're certainly free to put whatever you want in your story, but you should make sure it's essential or at least beneficial to the story, and that you're not simply sticking it in there to wave a gigantic middle finger at some other party. You should also think about what erotica's really supposed to be about. My personal opinion is that the two subjects don't mix. While I don't mind someone having one character say to another, conversationally, that the liberals had a shitty health plan, I do dislike people bringing up really controversial subjects in erotica. I don't mean it to sound like an admonishment, because for all I know, you might've just had a character say something very mild that fit with the story, and then some ignorant prick spazzed on you. But seriously, we don't mix sex with children's stories, you generally don't try and write an essay on socio-economics by writing it out like a mystery novel - some things just don't mix. Sex and mystery blend quite well. Erotica and partisanism are your proverbial oil and water.
There's also degrees; it's one thing for a character to dislike black people, it's another thing for him to go around dragging black people to death by chains hooked to his truck. And even there, to some people those examples might seem worlds away from each other, to others, one might be just as bad as the other.
You're certainly free to put whatever you want in your story, but you should make sure it's essential or at least beneficial to the story, and that you're not simply sticking it in there to wave a gigantic middle finger at some other party. You should also think about what erotica's really supposed to be about. My personal opinion is that the two subjects don't mix. While I don't mind someone having one character say to another, conversationally, that the liberals had a shitty health plan, I do dislike people bringing up really controversial subjects in erotica. I don't mean it to sound like an admonishment, because for all I know, you might've just had a character say something very mild that fit with the story, and then some ignorant prick spazzed on you. But seriously, we don't mix sex with children's stories, you generally don't try and write an essay on socio-economics by writing it out like a mystery novel - some things just don't mix. Sex and mystery blend quite well. Erotica and partisanism are your proverbial oil and water.
RisiaSkye
Artistic
- Joined
- May 1, 2000
- Posts
- 4,387
Porn is almost inherently political. As an act of writing, as an act of consumption, as a statement about the free expression of ideas--and, at an extreme, the free expression of sexuality.
Beyond that level, though, it really depends upon how well you integrate your ideas into your storylines. Is it about politics, overtly? Are you trying to convert the reader? Many won't like that, especially if they came to you looking for an orgasm, not a seminar. Or, is it just part of a mix of ideas? Because the best erotica is like the best sex--largely in the mind.
IMHO.
Beyond that level, though, it really depends upon how well you integrate your ideas into your storylines. Is it about politics, overtly? Are you trying to convert the reader? Many won't like that, especially if they came to you looking for an orgasm, not a seminar. Or, is it just part of a mix of ideas? Because the best erotica is like the best sex--largely in the mind.
IMHO.
3113
Hello Summer!
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2005
- Posts
- 13,823
Characters not author!
I agree with the "Western Union" sentiment.
IMHO, ideally, a reader should finish a story knowing the politics of the characters, but not that of the author. This does not, however, always guarantee that the reader won't make assumptions--connecting character to author. Nor does it mean that the writer can always erase political leanings completely from their writing--though I think one should try, unless, as pointed out, they're really, really relevant to the story. I hate stories that prostilitize to me in any way, shape or form, and that includes showing me how "right" one poltical party is while the other is wrong and evil.
Politics is never that simple, and few parties outside of some real neo-Nazi extremes could be categorized as evil. People are people, and political groups all have their pros, cons, rights, wrongs, weird extremists, obnoxious blowhearts, and intelligent rationalists. If politics must be in a story, make such politics as real as your characters.
The way one does this is to make sure that whenever there is a politically vocal character have another character to disagree or offer viable counter-arguments; or just make sure that the character's background is so clear that it's a no-brainer why he/she would have such politics. Home-schooled by Evangelicals in the midwest is not, usually, going to get you the most liberal-minded fellow.
I have two stories with political characters. In The Southern Gent, a Gay-BDSM story, one of my characters is a complete bleeding-heart liberal. He's an Afrocentric white guy who will argue that reparations ought to be made to black folk. That's who he is and why he holds such politics becomes very clear. I have a black character in the story who counter-balances this guy by being more pragmatic.
In Exchange Value, I was asked to do a Romeo & Juliet story and I decided to make it between Capitalist and Socialist. I did my best to make the characters equal in the validity of their economic arguments. The point was never for one to win out over or change the mind of the other, but for them to keep to their principles while falling in love.
That said, there are certain stories where merely what is that you're writing is going to lend itself to a political standpoint. In my first gay story Bittersweet, I do bring up the problem of homophobia. And it's pretty ridiculous to think that the subject is going to be avoided in all gay stories as if it doesn't exist. If you write a gay tale, you probably favor gay rights. But then, so are you readers. If you write erotica, you're probaby against censoring sexually explicit stories. But then, so are your readers.
The important thing is not to preach. Preaching doesn't make for good story telling. It either bores or pisses off your reader...or, if they agree, you're preaching to the choir...so what's the point? Characters can have their politics if necessary...but whenever possible, keep the story free of it.
I agree with the "Western Union" sentiment.
IMHO, ideally, a reader should finish a story knowing the politics of the characters, but not that of the author. This does not, however, always guarantee that the reader won't make assumptions--connecting character to author. Nor does it mean that the writer can always erase political leanings completely from their writing--though I think one should try, unless, as pointed out, they're really, really relevant to the story. I hate stories that prostilitize to me in any way, shape or form, and that includes showing me how "right" one poltical party is while the other is wrong and evil.
Politics is never that simple, and few parties outside of some real neo-Nazi extremes could be categorized as evil. People are people, and political groups all have their pros, cons, rights, wrongs, weird extremists, obnoxious blowhearts, and intelligent rationalists. If politics must be in a story, make such politics as real as your characters.
The way one does this is to make sure that whenever there is a politically vocal character have another character to disagree or offer viable counter-arguments; or just make sure that the character's background is so clear that it's a no-brainer why he/she would have such politics. Home-schooled by Evangelicals in the midwest is not, usually, going to get you the most liberal-minded fellow.
I have two stories with political characters. In The Southern Gent, a Gay-BDSM story, one of my characters is a complete bleeding-heart liberal. He's an Afrocentric white guy who will argue that reparations ought to be made to black folk. That's who he is and why he holds such politics becomes very clear. I have a black character in the story who counter-balances this guy by being more pragmatic.
In Exchange Value, I was asked to do a Romeo & Juliet story and I decided to make it between Capitalist and Socialist. I did my best to make the characters equal in the validity of their economic arguments. The point was never for one to win out over or change the mind of the other, but for them to keep to their principles while falling in love.
That said, there are certain stories where merely what is that you're writing is going to lend itself to a political standpoint. In my first gay story Bittersweet, I do bring up the problem of homophobia. And it's pretty ridiculous to think that the subject is going to be avoided in all gay stories as if it doesn't exist. If you write a gay tale, you probably favor gay rights. But then, so are you readers. If you write erotica, you're probaby against censoring sexually explicit stories. But then, so are your readers.
The important thing is not to preach. Preaching doesn't make for good story telling. It either bores or pisses off your reader...or, if they agree, you're preaching to the choir...so what's the point? Characters can have their politics if necessary...but whenever possible, keep the story free of it.
Last edited:
Itzkat
Virgin
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2005
- Posts
- 8
First, I think that anyone can write in any way they wish and to be "lambasted" for including political view is silly. isn't that one of the points of this forum? That said, I have no idea what the story is or in what way the views were used so I can only speak in broad strokes here. But we are the little gods of our created universes; we can write stories that includes politics if we so desire. If it helps the reader understand one or more of the players, use political views.
Sean Renaud
The West Coast Pop
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2004
- Posts
- 59,425
I think it really is a matter of what kind of erotica you are writing. As I mentioned earlier in this post if you are writing a novel/novella (what exactly is a novella I'd never heard that term before coming to this site) then your political views can be part of the tale. First because as several other posters have mentioned its kind of part of the charachter and how they think. Second it can be a major point. Read Ayn Rand. Hell read Jurrasic Park, even the movie managed to maintain the morality of what you should and shouldn't do. Addam's Family Values (I mention this because its on right now) takes a dig at how the Indians were treated in America. I think that in every real story who you are is revealed.
I can respect the poster who suggested having an equal opposite point of view represented in your story but I disagree. To me that is like respecting the other point of view. I don't respect socialist views. I believe they are at the least mistaken and probably evil. I would have a hard time making somebody with heavily socialist views look good. Same exact phrasing goes for religion.
Now if you are writing a stroke story like most of what is on this site you simply don't have the time to work in a moral or politic because you've got 5 pages to introduce the charachters, the situation and get to fuckin. (I've found that on this site if your story is more than 3 Lit pages your readership plummets.
I can respect the poster who suggested having an equal opposite point of view represented in your story but I disagree. To me that is like respecting the other point of view. I don't respect socialist views. I believe they are at the least mistaken and probably evil. I would have a hard time making somebody with heavily socialist views look good. Same exact phrasing goes for religion.
Now if you are writing a stroke story like most of what is on this site you simply don't have the time to work in a moral or politic because you've got 5 pages to introduce the charachters, the situation and get to fuckin. (I've found that on this site if your story is more than 3 Lit pages your readership plummets.
TheCaptain
Aussie Thunder
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2003
- Posts
- 3,149
I personally rather wouldn't... but if it advances the story some way, great!
I think it depends entirely on the context of the story, the characters portrayed therein, and the medium you're trying to write for.
I do a variety of work around the place, most of which is online but some that isn't, and find that it depends for the most part on the category of story that you're working on as an author, and what you feel comfortable with revealing to your reading audience. Not all writers, myself included, would want to get muddled down in politics unless it has some key impact in the development of plot/character.
I think politics CAN be successfully integrated into an erotic story, through some form of clue into the inner workings of a character or to advance the plot in some dynamic way, but it definitely should reflect the views of someone WITHIN the story, not of the author themselves. Erotic stories should remain nothing more than that. I don't honestly think that it's the medium for lectures or argumentative tirades/discussions, then things get too heated and the sensuality gets lost.
Keeping things simply about the smut and the story is where I like things here on Lit, but there are probably exceptions to the rule. Just because I as an author aren't brave enough to tackle the issue, doesn't mean other emboldened writers shouldn't. I just rather wouldn't, myself, and that's a personal choice.
Capt
I think it depends entirely on the context of the story, the characters portrayed therein, and the medium you're trying to write for.
I do a variety of work around the place, most of which is online but some that isn't, and find that it depends for the most part on the category of story that you're working on as an author, and what you feel comfortable with revealing to your reading audience. Not all writers, myself included, would want to get muddled down in politics unless it has some key impact in the development of plot/character.
I think politics CAN be successfully integrated into an erotic story, through some form of clue into the inner workings of a character or to advance the plot in some dynamic way, but it definitely should reflect the views of someone WITHIN the story, not of the author themselves. Erotic stories should remain nothing more than that. I don't honestly think that it's the medium for lectures or argumentative tirades/discussions, then things get too heated and the sensuality gets lost.
Keeping things simply about the smut and the story is where I like things here on Lit, but there are probably exceptions to the rule. Just because I as an author aren't brave enough to tackle the issue, doesn't mean other emboldened writers shouldn't. I just rather wouldn't, myself, and that's a personal choice.
Capt
Last edited:
