Pornography is the kind of word that typically evokes a unique reaction from every individual. Most folks have a specific image that comes to mind when they hear the word pornography, whether it’s Playboy or Hustler, strip clubs or escort services, or something else entirely. There are, of course, legal mores that surround the use of pornography, obscenity, and indecency, but illegal and reprehensible activities such as child pornography and Internet predators are not what we’re talking about here.

United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once defined pornography simply as “You know it when you see it.” Beyond the court’s definitions of pornography, they decided that the social mores and laws surrounding pornography are to be determined by the standards of each community, which does make sense – you have to admit that what is deemed socially acceptable in Los Angeles may not go over so well in the deep south.

The most common definition of pornography refers to sexually explicit or erotic materials that are intended to cause sexual arousal. The dictionary says pornography includes “obscene writings, drawings, photographs, or the like, especially those having little or no artistic merit.” But art is subjective, as is the definition of pornography, and a person’s tastes, beliefs, likes, and dislikes for pornography can fluctuate over time.

E Is for Entertainment

With cable channels broadcasting shows like Cathouse (which offers an intimate look at the inner sanctum of a legal brothel in Nevada) and The Girls Next Door (an expansion of Hugh Hefner’s Playboy enterprise into a hit TV series for the masses featuring the antics of his chosen bunnies), some might say that pornography has become more mainstream. But does more mainstream equal more acceptable? Not necessarily.

Here’s the thing: some might not blink an eye at The Girls Next Door – indeed, there are people who consider it a guilty pleasure, both men and women – while others are certainly offended by the fact that this show is offered prime time billing. Nudity is blocked out on The Girls Next Door, whereas on Cathouse things are far from censored, but the bottom line is that these shows offer a doorway into unfamiliar territory. Viewers are given an opportunity to get a taste of the lives they’ve only been able to fantasize about.

Watching shows such as thesecan really provide a huge amount of insight into the minds of the people who are involved in such endeavors. Why have the Cathouse women chosen to spend their time as “working girls” and why do men frequent their ranch? Why do women want to be on the arm of the oldest living playboy? There may never be good enough answers to these questions, but it truly is entertainment to speculate – and, actually, watching shows like this may provide enough new information to enable people to reshape their formerly held judgments.

Imagine that just a few centuries ago gasps could be heard ‘round the city when a woman exposed her ankles. But don’t kid yourself – they don’t call prostitution the “world’s oldest profession” for nothing. Pornography and the images that are associated with it didn’t just come to light in this millennium. It’s a subject that’s only been gaining ground over the past decades, and it has become a more acceptable facet of society with the ability to make statements to a wider audience of people.

In Print and Online

“I read it for the articles,” is the reply many men give when caught with a Playboy magazine in their hands. It’s true – the magazine does have some high-profile authors and interviews that are probably more revealing than your basic Time or Newsweek would ever be able to report. But, when situated in between centerfolds of buxom women wearing little clothing, one has to wonder if that’s just a perk or the main reason for subscribing. Some may say that Playboy is an homage to the female form. Others say that’s a load of bull.

Pornography can vary by degrees. There are men who would consider the explicit Hustler to be pornographic, while they rate Playboy as tasteful. Internet porn is gaining ground. It’s easily accessible and readily available in whatever form or flavor a person may desire. As with television entertainment, the pornographic nature of printed or online matter is all in the eye of the beholder. Even Harlequin romances and other stories in that vein, aka “skin novels,” are pornography to some people. Those who indulge in these over-the-top tales of lust and forbidden romance may believe they’re merely indulging their literary side. Others may think quite differently.

Before you judge someone for their tastes, consider the way in which they’re satisfying themselves – is it demeaning to you personally, or is it something that they may merely consider entertainment?

Out and About

While television and magazines are on one end of the spectrum, strip clubs and the like are what some people may consider an incredibly demeaning and explicit form of pornography in real time. But are strip clubs any different than the upscale topless shows in Las Vegas? What about places like Hooters – is this restaurant offensive, or is it just a less raunchy kind of gentleman’s club with better food and sans floor-to-ceiling stripper poles? Perhaps it’s merely another way of packaging the age-old marketing slogan, “Sex sells.”

There are some people who may be offended by nude statues or paintings, while others have no problem with this kind of artistic expression. Let’s face it – it’s not likely that you’ll find a framed print of a Playboy centerfold in someone’s living room (a frat house or dorm room, maybe). There are some things that are socially acceptable, and while pornography and all its facets are gaining ground, most people are still fully aware of what may cause others to judge them. They might contain their interests, and more often than not, anything kept behind closed doors is considered negative or unhealthy … and may make people stop and wonder, “Why are you hiding this?”

Perspective is the point we’re trying to make here. You don’t have to create a list of the kinds of pornography that are and are not acceptable to you personally, but it’s healthy to have some perspective on the matter as a whole before you judge participants or observers. Just because something is offensive to you doesn’t mean it is objectionable to other people; therefore, they don’t consider themselves “guilty” of enjoying pornography.

Hound Dogs and Harlots

It’s often assumed that pornography is something “bad” or “forbidden” that men indulge in to satisfy fantasies. But many women are interested in pornography too – after all, there are strip clubs for women and Playgirl magazine and so on. But it’s been psychologically proven that men are more attracted to visual stimuli, and there’s no denying that the majority of pornography available these days is aimed at men … though women are welcome to join in, if they please.

When it comes down to it, Playboy is a fairly tame version of pornography by today’s standards. This is a time unlike any other when people recognize the names and faces of porn stars, buy their books, or watch their mainstream movies and television shows. Pornography will remain what it always has been – a take-it-or-leave-it kind of pastime. What you decide to believe, or how you may choose to judge the industry that is no longer so taboo, is up to you.

There is nothing wrong with a curious mind – sex has always been a topic that isn’t talked about quite enough, and that includes the subject of pornography. But there are lines that can be crossed, and we discuss them with some detail in The Pros and Cons of Pornography: How It Can Help and Harm Your Relationship.

To read even more on the subject of pornography, take a look at Unrealistic Expectations: Can Pornography Shape a Man’s Mind? And consider visiting our message boards as well to express your thoughts and find out what your peers have to say on the matter. This isn’t an easy subject for everyone to discuss, but we hope to create an open and honest dialog about what really constitutes pornography, and how it can affect your love life for better or worse.