What is the definition of pornography?

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Would seeing a naked woman in a painting be pornography? How about in a TV show or movie where there are sexual acts happening, but for an artistic/historic purpose (such as Rome: the Series or Enemy at the Gates), and not solely for sexual arousal?

Now, what if the woman is not necessarily naked or engaged in a sexual act, but the purpose of the image is still solely for sexual arousal? Such as the cover of a glamor magazine or something?
 
EphelDuath said:
Would seeing a naked woman in a painting be pornography? How about in a TV show or movie where there are sexual acts happening, but for an artistic/historic purpose (such as Rome: the Series or Enemy at the Gates), and not solely for sexual arousal?

Now, what if the woman is not necessarily naked or engaged in a sexual act, but the purpose of the image is still solely for sexual arousal? Such as the cover of a glamor magazine or something?
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One man’s (or woman’s) porn is another one’s art. It’s all in the eye of the beholder…
For filth, I’m glad to say,
Is in the mind of the beholder.
When correctly viewed,
Everything is lewd.
I could tell you things about Peter Pan
And the Wizard of Oz - there’s a dirty old man!
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–Tom Lehrer, Smut
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I went to a presentation called “Porn Nation” sponsored by the campus crusaders last semester. There the speaker defined porn as anything, be it an image or words, meant to induce sexual arousal or other sexual feeling. Under that broad definition a lot of things would be considered pornography.
 
Wasn’t it in a court case about pornography that someone defined pornography in this way: “I know it when I see it.”
 
Alright, what is the Church’s definition, then?

Am I not allowed to watch a movie that has a sex scene in it?
 
Hi,

Sorry, I am no authority on this, but I guess I would define it as any type of media that exploits sexuality as a selling point.

Also common in pornography is a perverted perspective of the beauty of the human body and sex. Whereas we as Christians look at sex as a wonderful gesture of selfless love that leads to life, in comparison, pornography is a self-centered perspective based on personal gratification/satisfaction.

I have heard good materials on this.

One is Christopher West’s “Naked without Shame”

Camille de Blasi’s seminars are good too ( Healing the Cultures - pro-life seminars ), collaborated with Rev. Spitzer "Healing the Culture: A Commonsense Philosophy of Happiness, Freedom and Life issues.
 
Would finding the naked human body beautiful, then, not be pornography?

That is, Playboy would be acceptable since they’re not engaged in sexual acts?
 
jpjd said:
Wasn’t it in a court case about pornography that someone defined pornography in this way: “I know it when I see it.”
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Potter Stewart, I believe. He was an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court.
 
nichjake said:
I went to a presentation called “Porn Nation” sponsored by the campus crusaders last semester. There the speaker defined porn as anything, be it an image or words, meant to induce sexual arousal or other sexual feeling. Under that broad definition a lot of things would be considered pornography.
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Including the photograph of my wife from our wedding day!
 
Because Playboy exploits sexuality, then I would consider it pornography.
 
I see. How do you determine what exploits sexuality?

Is a painting or photograph of a beautiful naked woman exploiting sexuality? How do you divide the line between exploitation and art?
 
exploiting Lust.

If the seller/producer 's original intention is to exploit/get people to Lust, definitely pornography. Pornography producers want you to lust, that is what they exploit.

If for the sake of art / beauty, then the goal is not to make people Lust. People may still end up lusting, but the original intent was not for that. Some pictures can be taken artistically without lust as primary objective.
 
“Pornography is billion-a-year business with relation to organized crimes and tearing apart the very fabric of our society.”

Differentiation of it against art, there is some point that one person’s art can be another’s trash.
Is a painting or photograph of a beautiful naked woman exploiting sexuality? How do you divide the line between exploitation and art?
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EphelDuath said:
Alright, what is the Church’s definition, then?

Am I not allowed to watch a movie that has a sex scene in it?
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And some may even be PG or G rated. It’s the violent stuff that gets “R” rated these days.
 
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This por·nog·ra·phy n.
  1. Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal.
  2. The presentation or production of this material.
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When I am watching a good movie and there is some nudity in it, I just keep watching and keep obscene thoughts out of my head. It is very easy to do. You think to yourself that they are just actors.

Now if the whole movie is based on sex scene after sex scene, I turn to another channel.
 
outfctrl said:
When I am watching a good movie and there is some nudity in it, ***I just keep watching ***and keep obscene thoughts out of my head.
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Don’t know about anyone else but I would/do find this impossible.
every single image we see is stored in our minds, whether we can recall it or not. It might not affect us right away, but you can be sure that it WILL affect you. Whether it de-sensitizes you or whether it gives you uncontrolable sexual urges at a later stage, or whether it forms a warped idea of sex and sexuality in your mind/ conscience, the sad fact is that Porn (in any form) will have a huge phycological and spiritual impact on you.

I would recommend turning away or closing your eyes. Your soul is much more imortant than 3secs of nudity. If you can’t (or don’t want to) then you’ll realise that the problem is already deeper than you think.
 
Its not impossible. How far would you go?
French kissing ? turn your head. Bikini bathing suit? turn your head. Low neck line? Turn your head. Tight jeans? Close your eyes, turn your head.

You as a person, have control. I get absolutely no obscene thoughts in my head for brief nudity. There is nothing wrong with the human body.

If it turns into a steamy sex scene, yes, I turn the channel or walk away.
 
not_a_theist said:
One man’s (or woman’s) porn is another one’s art. It’s all in the eye of the beholder…
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No. Whether it is porn depends on the intention of the producer, not the beholder. Whether the producer intends it to induce lust (or any other sin). Although certainly it’s possible for someone to entertain lustful thoughts about perfectly innocent images, or indeed about the appearance of real people. You seem to have missed the point that Tom Lehrer was a satirist. He would be appalled that you have quoted and taken him literally.
 
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