Erotica vs.. Pornography
Question A: Do you think there is a difference between erotica and pornography? Question B: What is that difference? In my mind, erotica is less detail oriented when it comes to sex, it leaves something to your imagination. I think erotica fills in background with ambiance and personality. While pornography is more about the sex. Its give in detailed descriptions or whatever act is being performed and doesn't really tell a story with a lot of background. In other words. In erotica you meet Johnny and Susie and you know who they are, how they met, what drew them to each other, the decor of the room and so forth. You know they undressed each other and caressed each other and that it led to sex...you know they had sex and if it was good or bad and what happens after, but you don't know every move they made. That is left to your imagination. In pornography, you know Johnny is a stud and Susie is a horney co-ed. You know how big his penis is and how big her breasts are, you know how often he put that there and uses this to do that to her and where. You know what she did to him and how often and you know how he snorts and she squeals and when its over so is the story. Thats just my opinion, so in your opinion is there a difference?

I think there is a difference. Like you said, Fabu, erotica doesn't put it all out there like porn does. It suggests but isn't as graphic. I also think erotica implies some kind of relationship between the people involved. They have feelings and desires, whereas porn is basically just raw depictions of people as sexual objects. Erotica is meant to inspire, whereas porn is ...um, something else. Hard to explain that one. Sort of like erotica is the means to the end and porn is the end, THE act.

I think you ladies pretty much summed it up for us. :cute:

You mean no one thinks differently? How odd. :redblank: Men?

Alright, alright. It's tough being the only male that comes here on a regular basis. It's hard keeping all you women satisfied. Of course there's a difference, and like anything else, it's in the eye of the beholder. What's shocking to one person may be only mildly interesting to someone else. I agree that erotica is more about relationships, and I'd even add "respect" to that. But erotica is supposed to be erotic, and without a little graphic description, all you have is a love story (not that there's anything wrong with that). Again, it depends on the individual's comfort level. I don't think depictions of sex that sound like they were copied from a medical textbook or a copy of "Mommy, Where Do I Come From?" would stimulate most people. The same thing can be said about the various body parts involved - and face it, you can't have sex without body parts, though they don't necessarily have to be "huge" or "throbbing" or whatever. I doubt "his manhood" or "her womanhood" have been thought of as particularly erotic since the 18th century. But again, some people think "pussy" is disgusting, while others don't think twice about it. It's all about what titillates (pun intended). And, in a nutshell, the biggest difference between erotica and porn is, you'll never see the word "fuck" in erotica.

Oh Darth, you dont seem to be having any trouble at all keeping the ladies happy. :wink: Of course theres going to be some description in erotica, but I wouldn't call it graphic....more suggestive. Thats what I was trying to say by saying erotica leaves something to the imagination. An erotic scene my have them kissing, touching, even some nudity and the first touching of said nude body parts, then the scene may fade out and next time you see them they lying in bed looking very happy. You know they had sex and it was probably good, but you didn't actually see it. To use your word....erotica is more about titalation or stimulation, while porn is geared more toward horniness. Erotica will point you in the direction of the bedroom (or where ever), while porn drops you to the floor in a frenzy of heavy breathing and knotted up limbs :dirty: :razz:

I have to disagree with some of the sentiment of this discussion. It isn't the amount of description, suggestiveness or even relationships involved. There has been really colorful, well-thought out porn...not alot as most porn is cheap and crude as y'all point out...just as there is cheap and crude and mindless erotica. However, porn can be well written (or filmed or whatever) and still be porn. And I have read some truly graphic erotica. :mrgreen: The best desciption I can see so far is this - I also think erotica implies some kind of relationship between the people involved. They have feelings and desires, whereas porn is basically just raw depictions of people as sexual objects. Erotica can be raw and even nasty...but there is some emotional context in it...whether it is fear, horror, humor, love, romance, or whatever. It isn't the relationship...its the emotion. Erotica needs the emotional envolvment of the reader/viewer. Porn just goes for the gonads...even thoughtful porn. The difference is almost the same as the difference between a night of passion and a "I need it now" quickie. One is full of give and take and real enjoyment...and the other is only good for taking the edge off. And that is my opinion...make of it what you will. :mrgreen:

Uh...if I could tell you, I wouldnt have posed the question now would I? :tongue: