What Does "Erotic" Mean to You?

[Guest]

Can you define, in one short paragraph, what you find to be erotic? What words and images does that one word conjur up in your mind? Is it the gentle touch of a lover's hand on your knee? Is it the slightest glimpse of cleavage, inadvertantly shown between the buttons of a blouse? Is it the talk of things to come - a promise made by a lover, of tender kisses all over your body?

I set the two words "erotic" and "pornographic" very far apart. To me, one word means the sensual, provocative, alluring and almost teasing side of human nature. The other is the overtly sexy display of our sexuallity - leaving nothing to the imagination.

If you had to choose one over the other, which would you go for? An erotic image or story, or a pornographic one?

For me, I love erotica and I love porn. Porn is more readily available, and easier to acheive. Erotica is rarer, and done well, quite literally blows me away.

I find the subtleties of erotica to be a greater turn on than the all out in-your-face sex of porn. If I'm in a certain mood, though, only porn will do.

How do ya'll feel about this?

Lou

Edited, because I'm fussy.

 

[shereads]

Once in a lifetime, you might meet a man who makes sex with him seem not just appealing, but inevitable - and who communicates that with no more than a heated look, a sly smile, or the near-awe with which he speaks to and about women. A man like that is a weapon of mass destruction. Erotic? Yep.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I think for me the word erotic conjures up images of sensuality and sexuality that are treats for the mind. Pornography conjures images that offer a more graphic depiction and are geared for an immideate reaction on a physical level.

Two women on a bed in a sixty nine position can be rendered well graphically and produce a physical reaction that is pretty closely tied to how well you describe what they are doing to one another.

If one is black, wearing white lingerie and the other is white, wearing black lingerie, the comforter is red satin and the bed is an old fashioned four poster; the scene can be rendered in a highly erotic fashion, concentrating on the contrasts in color, textures, and nuances of the scene, especilly if there is a deeper bond between the participants than just wanting to get off. The mind can be stimulated thus, without even going into graphic detail about the activity involved.

I think an appropropo analogy would be a stunning woman standing before you.

If she is completely naked then the reaction is going to be a mostly physical one, that is not neccissarily geared towards your head. In a sense pornographic.

If the same woman stands before you in a corset with demi cups, thong and stockings there is probably still going to be a physical reaction, but there is also a mental stimulation as you wonder what lies just beneath the corset or thong and more importantly, you wonder what it woud take for you to find out. That's erotic.

-Colly

 

[OldnotDead]

Well, Lou, I think you answered your own question.

I CANNOT define in one short paragraph what I find to be erotic. There are just too many ways in life that it enters the mind. For example, there is a certain lighthouse on a cliff, where we honeymooned. When I see pictures of that, my mind quickly turns to some very pesonal memories that were made on the sand below the cliffs on which it sits.

I think I could, however, define porn in one short paragraph. And I agree with you, the two are different. Like you, I like both and given the choice, usually prefer erotic.

 

[Guest]

What's Erotic?

 

[lucky-E-leven]

I'd have to agree with all of the above, but in my mind erotic has quite a bit more potential than porn. There is, as you mentioned, a good place for porn: The effects of which can be quite gratifying in that moment. But in my experience, it's the erotic imagery and tone of a story that stays with me and causes me to get wet at the super market later that day. I can be sitting at a stop light and see a woman toss her hair over her shoulder and instantly be assailed with that tingly sensation...you know the one...as I'm reminded of an erotic character.

The only drawback I can think of, to erotic image/tone, is that every individual is inspired by different things. I saw a photograph yesterday of two hands, one semi-grasping the wrist and palm of another hand...both were obviously female and they were lain just so that there was little doubt as to the nature of their contact. The image is still quite vivid to me and intensely erotic for some reason. Some might not view it as anything more than a simple photo but to me it was so much more. This might not even have to be a drawback, as the more of this that there is, the more potential you have of touching a larger number of readers.

We have the advantage of audiences that are looking to use their imaginations and if we give them the opportunity, can find their own special touches of erotic imagery within our stories. If they were lazier or less imaginitive, they'd simply watch the movie. And the ones who fall in the middle and are just looking for porn can also enjoy a story full of erotic touches but might only focus on the down and dirty of it all.

~lucky

 

[destinie21]

To me eroticism is all about preception and simplicity.
I find the act of a woman releasing her hair from a ponytail erotic, not just any woman but a woman I've been sexually involved with only because that simple act can carry heavy connotations with it. I personally prefer erotica to porn because erotica is all about emotions and preception where as porn is straight forward no nonesense sex.

 

[Just_John1]

Erotic

I struggle with the difference between sensuous and erotic. Pornographic to me is blatant, pumping screaming sex without mental stimulation. It has its place and is certainly enjoyed but is something I find is typically enjoyed alone as opposed to erotic which is always shared.

Ok, Erotic:

A subtle look that tells you that she's thinking the same thing you are. A move or a gesture that makes you wonder what she looks like during orgasm, followed by a move or gesture that makes you think she wants to find out too. A kiss that lasts a little too long, goes a little too deep, A touch on the arm with that "come hither" look, head down eyes looking through bangs, the unmistakable smile. The rubbing of a breast against your arm as you walk into a fancy restaurant that gives promise of things to come.

This is alot harder to do than I expected.

JJ1

 

[rgraham666]

Erotica and pornography are going to be matters of perception. One person will say a thing is erotic. And another will think it's pornographic. A third will be upset by it and yet another will be bored to tears by it.

For myself, erotica is the long slow buildup (and come down).

Pornography is 'let's get buck naked and fuck' as The Beastie Boys put it.

I might also use a meal metaphor. Erotica is a long meal, where every taste is savoured and the time afterwards is spent revelling in it. Pornography is 'Gimme fries with that', shovel it in and go on your way.

A few random thoughts on a subject we'll never get everybody to agree on.

 

[McKenna]

.

 

[Guest]

 

[Linbido]

I can't find the post where this was said anymore, so I can't credit the right genius behind it, but here's a quote from - someone - that just about says it all for me.

"Erotica is appriciation. Pornography is masturbation."

Visual erotica is to me the aestethic appriciation of sexual imagery. Written erotica is simply intellectual stimulance based on the titillating subject at hand. I don't watch or read erotica to get off. That's what porn is for.

And both can be found on this site, as well as grey zone stories.

 

[rainyguy]

This is such an interesting question and I can only hope that my own view of "erotic" does not fall woefully short of others.

Erotic and or eroticism is anticipation.
It is the very hint of salt air near the ocean,
It is a faint whispering of wind and tree.
It to me is a suggestion of thought.

but then again, what the heck do I know.

 

[Octavian]

“Encase your majestic tree of manhood in the sublimely soft
wondrous wet hallowed depths of my body,” she implored.

Risible, yet could be construed as erotic.


“Oh,” he replied, “you mean you wanna fuck!”


Could only ever be regarded as pornographic.


Octavian.

 

[Guest]

This is such an interesting question and I can only hope that my own view of "erotic" does not fall woefully short of others.

Erotic and or eroticism is anticipation.
It is the very hint of salt air near the ocean,
It is a faint whispering of wind and tree.
It to me is a suggestion of thought.

but then again, what the heck do I know.

I like that! Seems like you know quite a lot, Rainyguy.

There have been some great answers here, and it has achieved what I had hoped: some very erotic scenes and imagery.

It wasn't meant as a device to arouse, but to make us all think what makes up an erotic scene, when writing our own stories, and our individual take on it.

It seems as if, from those who have answered here, that the vast majority of us prefer the sensuality of erotica, over the directness of porn.
Rhino - I loved your definition and distinction between the two. That rings true for us women, too.

Thanks, everyone!

Lou

 

[Carl East]

For me it's something that doesn't even have to be seen. I mean let's say I'm out on a date with my girl-friend/wife and she suddenly leans forward to say she hasn't got any panties on, now that would be very erotic for me.

Or we're dancing and she whispers what she's going to do with me when we get home. Erotism is mainly of the mind in my humble opinion.

Hi ya gorgeous



Carl

 

[Guest]

Hiya

Yeah, that's exactly it for me, too. It's all about suggestion and what that sparks in my mind.

That then triggers a reaction in my body.

Lou

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

Lou, thanks for the thread, and to the posters so far. I think many of us are in agreement, I’ll just have my personal say.

I think of erotica as having to do with emotions and passions—of the mind—vs. my body and its biologically embedded libidinal elements. Getting turned on by a stroke piece or any bit of porn, whether written or visual, is very different to becoming imaginatively and mindfully aroused. Erotica has style and finesse. Porn is up front and in-your-face (so to speak, or literally). I appreciate both, and each serves it purpose depending on circumstances.

I love Roland Barthe’s phrase, “the pleasure of the text”, and apply it to more than the written word. A man’s face—his eyes, smile, placement of a finger on lips—might be read by me as erotic, no differently than I might read a piece of erotica. Speaking can be erotic when a couple is engaged in a verbal intercourse that rises above mundane communication. The art of flirting is based on the erotic.

Music can be erotic, an art form not based on the visual or written. I recall when rock-and-roll first came on the popular scene it was deemed lewd—even pornographic—I think due mainly to its seemingly simple rhythmic intensity that seemed aimed at one’s pelvis, vs. cerebrum. R&R used to make me want to fuck. The love duet from Tristan und Isolde makes me feel a deeper yearning; it could easily lead to fucking but it would be a more intelligent fuck than otherwise.

Lewdness and the erotic are easily combined, especially between two persons—that is my preference in a sexual relationship. I’ve been fortunate to have experienced it, not quite often enough, but I know I’m nowhere near finished with the eroticism life holds.

Perdita

 

[minsue]

my body and its biologically embedded libidinal elements.

I love it when you talk dirty like that!


Sorry, 'Dita, just couldn't help myself. It's a sickness.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

I’m nowhere near finished with the eroticism life holds.

Perdita

This is dying for a story or a sig line at the very least...

~lucky (you're looking quite fetching this evening, mi Diosa)

 

[Guest]

For the Aphrodisiaddict and the Gosling:

Perdita

(Min, that's my fave goosey still.)

 

[minsue]

For the Aphrodisiaddict and the Gosling:

Perdita

(Min, that's my fave goosey still.)

Still grateful for the brightening you gave her.

 

[McKenna]

.

 

[Guest]

enjoyed your thoughts.

Mack, what a lovely compliment. Did we just, you know...

Your AV portrait is breathtakingly beautiful. I am seduced by its beauty, truly. Such eyes...

Perdita