What's Erotic to You?

Yulia shot in Budapest

Since I have moved back to the USA, I have noticed that there seems to be a stigma towards anything labelled ‘erotic’. It begs the question, do people really understand the difference between erotica and pornography. Many people seem to infer that my work is pornographic, however, if we respect the English language, they are applying a very subjective definition of the term. Pornography involves depicting sexual acts, in other words, pictures or video of people engaged in the act of sexual intercourse, fucking.

At least, that is how the state of Florida defines pornography. So, what is Eroica or Eroticism? Let’s start with this definition that I got from Wikipedia:

Eroticism is a philosophical contemplation with a focus on the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality and romantic love: ‘the very word “erotic” implies superior value, fine art, an aesthetic which elevates the mind and incidentally stimulates the body’.

I happen to agree with this definiton. It’s exactly how I approach my own erotic nude photography. I aim for artistic value, aesthetics, and I am trying to turn on the mind. 

I think these days, the mix of nudes, erotic art, porn, fetish - and whatever else is out there - has blurred the lines. How you define one genre in comparison to another is completely subjective. I tend to classify erotic art as something that is sensual and suggestive without being too overt in sexual content. It’s a broad definition to say the least, but it’s one that allows me a certain amount of creative freedom as well. I have to trust my own judgement and sometimes I do find that I have gone too far. Other people may approach erotica very differently and what we used to think of erotic in the past, well, we see that everyday in advertising and on our TV screens. 

How do you define Eroticism and Pornography? I am curious.

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Comments

[KitKat]

Interesting topic and good post. You make some great points and I agree with the Wikipedia definition too.
Especially in the U.S. there is still an uptight attitude about nudity and sensuality -- and yet the "Fifty Shades of Grey" book trilogy is incredibly popular (with moms and their teenage daughters alike), popular television programs contain steamier than ever dialogue and scenes of seduction - even celebrating cheating spouses, and advertising will try to sell most anything with sex.
Compared to this, fine-art erotic photography can be of a far higher quality and more intriguing than what we read or see on TV or in magazines. Maybe that's where people get uptight, maybe such erotic fine art requires a more thoughtful viewer and almost asks or demands the viewer to connect with it. Maybe it's not really the image that bothers people, it's the intimacy it asks of the viewer to be fully appreciated.