Porn versus Erotica

[KillerMuffin]

First, definition.

What is Porn?
What is Erotica?
How do they differ?

Second, question.

When you read stories on this site, which ones do you find yourself homing in on? The ones that are pornography or the ones that are erotica? When you write a story, do you tend to write something that is more pornography or more erotica?

Third, preference.

Do you prefer to write pornography to erotica? Or do you prefer to cater to what you think the audience prefers? What do you think the audience at lit prefers?

 

[chatbug]

Originally posted by KillerMuffin

First, definition.

What is Porn?
What is Erotica?
How do they differ?

I suppose the difference is in the eye of the beholder, but porn is more sex than story, erotica is more story than sex.

Second, question.

When you read stories on this site, which ones do you find yourself homing in on? The ones that are pornography or the ones that are erotica?

Erotica. I want to read a story with sex.

When you write a story, do you tend to write something that is more pornography or more erotica?

My first stories were pornography. As I got better at writing, and bored with describing sex acts over and over again, my stories tended more toward erotica (I hope!). Somebody read my stories and tell me whether they're pornography or erotica.

Third, preference.

Do you prefer to write pornography to erotica? Or do you prefer to cater to what you think the audience prefers? What do you think the audience at lit prefers?

I prefer to write erotica. I don't write contract stories, so I write what I want. I'm stuck on a story now because there's almost no sex in it at all.

I think the Literotica audience is varied, with most wanting porn just because sex stories are a new experience. I think that most people gravitate towards erotica as they read more sex stories and get accustomed to them.

 

[cactiphile]

I'm not so sure, to start with I was going to agree with Chatbug, with a simplier definition,
'Erotica engages the brain as well as the lower organs.'

But thinking of pictures as well as stories now I'm not sure it isn't just down to a question of quality, and that really those no difference. Porn is generally classed as such because it is of dubious quality while erotica usually is better, arty or clever.

Personally in stories, I like like some plot with the sex, perhaps a neat hook or angle to it I havent seen before and for it to be well written ---> erotica
With pictures, I like the people to be looking as if they are enjoying what they are doing, unforced and natural.


I prefer to write stories that arent just fuckfests, that have a point or some humour behind them.

Cactiphile

PS Pornography as a word is derived from the greek for
harlots writing. And according to the times crossword the other day is a similey for obscene! hmmmm.

 

[nitengale]

In my opinion, porn and erotica are closely related. Although I feel porn is something that stimulates someone without much effort or thought, like a film or short stroke story. Erotica allows one to use their mind, the primary sex organ.

Truthfully, I read stories here through suggestions of others as a good read. If I am searching for something to read, it might be the stories title that “grabs me” or the brief description of the story. I never really hone in on anything.

When I began writing, I thought the sex was the most important. I have discovered that I am more comfortable with the foreplay of the story and developing the characters. I think my writing has gotten because of this thinking. I think people read both, but I write what I enjoy doing. I think there is enough here on Lit that I do not have to cater to one group or the other.

 

[cymbidia]

As the others have explained, porn and erotica are intimately interrelated. Perhaps they are to each other as are oranges and grapefruit. It's a matter of taste and desire, and something each of us knows for our self. Sometimes we want an orange and sometimes only a big honking grapefruit sprinkled over with sugar and boasting a cherry in its center will do. One has to be in the right headspace for grapefruit but most of us love oranges almost any time.

I read the BDSM stories first, always. After that, i go to non-consent. After that i look at the list and check for people i know will offer a good story. I tend to avoid the sweet categories, like Romance, just because that's not why i come here, not what makes my libido sit up and beg. Is that more toward pornography or erotica? I get out of what i think are boring stories before i finish reading them, no matter the category. Bad punctuation and/or grammar won't make me leave a story as surely or quickly as does boring story-telling.

My stories are more pornographic, perhaps, than erotic. Maybe. I don't know really; that's a pretty subjective call. Mine are all lifestyle-oriented anyway, and definitely not aimed at those who like Romance stories. I don't cater.

I'm sure that the audience at Lit likes what i don't write: clearly plotted, well-written, very polished love stories with a hot wet sexual twist.

 

[Ulyssa]

Perhaps they are to each other as are oranges and grapefruit...I'm sure that the audience at Lit likes what I don't write: clearly plotted, well-written, very polished love stories with a hot wet sexual twist.

I shall never order a drink with a citrus twist quite the same way ever again!

Cym those of us who aren't real Bidi es-Sehm fans have discovered that we can enjoy a well written story like yours in spite of ourselves. This is where we respect the work of the author in spite of our personal tastes---like how you turn a BDSM into something almost "Sweet!" I floors me when you do that.

And if you think your stuff isn't clearly plotted, you're much too critical of yourself and your abilities.

 

[story_time]

Pornography speaks to the act, with very little interest in the emotions or motivations involved. Pornography assumes that everyone involved enjoys multi-orifice, sloppy sex romps and seems purely bent on capturing the moment so to speak.

Erotica, on the other hand, seeks to explain the moment and create a rich texture to accompany the visual created by the author’s words. While it is an enjoyable reading that the protagonist is doing this and that, how much better it is put “this” and “that” into context.

It would be fair to say then that my thoughts on the subject are extremely biased. All of my stories spend pages building up to the act (or acts) and very little time on that acts themselves. I want to know why the housewife sleeps around. I want to see what is going on in the mind of the women freeing letting the man urinate on her. It is not so much the acts themselves as the complex thought processes behind them that interest me.

Of course, when you have only one hand free reading a story, you really don’t want to spend time reading about motivations.

 

[GdBro$u]

porn .v.s.

killer muffin,

As always you throw out some great questions to get all of our juices flowing.............................................porn is more visual or "is" visual
erotica is in the mind................imagination


i tend to enjoy the incest stories about brothers and sisters getting together because its so taboo...and im sure so" not ever gonna happen in real life .....so its a fantasy..........................feedback welcomed

 

[peterpan]

porn vs erotica

I don't know if this adds anything, but I thought about this a while ago and decided that a key feature of pornography is objectification. For example if personality is irrelevant or an implausible cliche just to get A into B.

Another tack is that pornography is erotica that is in some sense bad. Whatever sense that is, is almost certainly applicable to non erotic concepts. So what is a non-erotic equivalent of pornography?

 

[Ulyssa]

Re: porn vs erotica

I don't know if this adds anything, but I thought about this a while ago and decided that a key feature of pornography is objectification. Another tack is that pornography is erotica that is in some sense bad. So what is a non-erotic equivalent of pornography?

Don't you think the answer is obvious? Slasher flicks and their "literary" equivalent cyber-punk. Where the plotline is two sentences long, but the author spends eight pages describing one dagger and its multiple uses.

Here the characters are mostly just walking corpses who are waiting to be hacked to pieces by the main pro-antagonist. Slip Blade A into Victim B.

 

[peterpan]

I would agree with slasher stuff being porn, but what I really meant is that finding a non erotic concept that feels to you like porn is a way of analysing your own definition of porn.

I haven't read cyber-punk stuff on the web. I always took the word to mean things like unafraid of being changed by technology, sort of a rebellion against fuzzy 'natual is good' reasoning.

 

[DarlingBri]

I would agree with slasher stuff being porn, but what I really meant is that finding a non erotic concept that feels to you like porn is a way of analysing your own definition of porn.

Trailers and previews vs. feature films
commercials vs. television shows
comics vs. novels
snacks vs. meals

 

[Ulyssa]

I haven't read cyber-punk stuff on the web. I always took the word to mean things like unafraid of being changed by technology, sort of a rebellion against fuzzy 'natual is good' reasoning.

My apologies. The term I was looking for is "Splatter punk!"

 

[Ally C]

I won't reply to the 'porn versus erotica' question directly, as I don't think there is a direct and meaningful answer that will suit everyone's tastes. Aware that I'm not exactly an 'author' but am posting in the 'Author's Hangout', I offer the following resource anyway:

The Writer's Handbook, ed. Barry Turner (London: Macmillan).

This is a reference book filled for the most part with addresses of all manner of organisations (e.g. publishing houses, agents etc) for the would be writer. My edition has the added 1998 in the title, and I believe it's republished every year. I would imagine that this work, or similar, is available in the States. I haven't made much use of my copy, but there are useful introductory guides to each section, one of which deals with genres such as erotic/porn writing. Just thought that such a book might prove useful; not that I'd say go out and buy it, but a quick read through at a bookstore or library (if it's available) might be of some help.

Failing that, there are plenty of tips and the like to be found at Literotica, but every little helps.

 

[Weird Harold]

First, definition.

What is Porn?
What is Erotica?
How do they differ?

Porn: from the latin Pornae -- The lowest 'caste' and cheapest of prostitutes in ancient Rome.

Erotica: From the God Eros -- God of Love.

Based on the derivation of the words, "porn" could be classed as those stories that cater to the lowest common denominator or focus on the physical aspects. Erotica would be those stories that cater to more than the physical, focusing on the feelings and emotions more than the physical.

I prefer to write erotica but have delved into "male fantasy" on the pornographic level.

 

[Guest]

Harold's definition

I kind of like Harold's definition, but I think that many would find fault with it. For example: the story of a brutal rape can focus very much on the emotional/psychological aspect of things. While a story about a loving couple engaging in marital bliss often does not. Such stories often simply recount a lovely afternoon quickie between two people whose relationship is long established.

Personally, I prefer reading stories in which emotional/psychological themes receive the primary emphasis. These stories CAN tell of a very emotional moment of love and wonder. But often these stories are VERY dark. Many people feel uncomfortable with them because they contain violence or misogyny. While many works which are more "warm and fuzzy" just deal with wonderful sex (a great thing, mind you, but just not as enjoyable for me to read.) By basing the definition of erotica versus porn on the degree of emotional content, a well-written rape story could be erotica and a sweet but shallow sex story could be pornography.

That is fine with me, but I think that the people who are really concerned with the labels "porn" and "erotica" would find it antithetical to their definitions.

---darkness_d---

 

[Ally C]

I think the bottom line, certainly at Literotica, is as long as all stories meet the criteria set here then any discussions about what is pornography and what is erotica need not focus on whether or not we agree on what these terms mean. I'll admit I find pornography to be a 'dirtier' sounding word, but I'm aware that that's something which has been ingrained into most of our psyches [open to debate I know]. Someone might find a 'tom-ah-to' 'pornographic', while others see the same 'tom-ay-to' and think it is 'erotic'. That has to be the poorest example ever, but I hope you get my meaning!

 

[Guest]

taking up gardening

Ally, what exactly do you do with the tomato? It sounds like more fun than anything I've ever done with one.
---darkness_d---

PS--yes, we know exactly what you mean.

 

[Ally C]

Re: taking up gardening

Ally, what exactly do you do with the tomato?

LOL, and you even felt obliged to let me know you understood! But I can't answer your question as I don't know how to read 'tomato'. The best stories take me on a journey, others just point vaguely in this direction or that. I'm just continuing the metaphor with reference to the potential power of the author. Go ahead author, make my day.

 

[Ulyssa]

Julia Child's Erotica

Tomatoes must be quickly blanched in boiling water for no longer than ten or twenty seconds, and then immediately chilled to allow the outer peeling to be removed.

Afterwards the creative chef may drape the lukewarm (not HOT) peeling carefully around the standing male erection until the overall effect looks something like a red-orange fudge bar.

No matter what Miss Manners says, this is not the time to use your salad fork and table knife. I suggest the more primal long licking motions and open mouth tasting for best culinary effects.

A warm natural cream sauce frequently tops off this dish. It is notedly high in protein.

 

[cymbidia]

As usual, you've managed to take a perfectly respectable "G" rated cooking technique and turn it into a flamingly "X" rated kink. Blast you, woman! Does that creative mind of yours hold nothing sacrosanct?
http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/cwm/cwm/b.gif

 

[Ulyssa]

Complaint Department

This from a lady whose post can make me think of nothing but bouncing balls?

Seriously darlin' I'll buy the tomatoes if you want to test out the recipe some time.

[Edited by Ulyssa on 04-27-2001 at 12:04 PM]