Expert: Carl Fuglein - 1/23/2011

Question
hi sir,
whats yhe difference between erotic and porn pics?is seeing erotic things wrong
thnks

Answer
From the dictionary:
erot·ic definition  
Pronunciation: /i-ˈrät-ik/
also  erot·i·cal  Pronunciation: /i-ˈrät-i-kəl/
Function: adj
1  :  of, devoted to, or tending to arouse sexual love or desire
2  :  strongly marked or affected by sexual desire
erot·i·cal·ly Pronunciation: /-i-k(ə-)lē/
Function: adv
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2007 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
erotic  e·rot·ic (ĭ-rŏt'ĭk)
adj.  

1.Of or concerning sexual love and desire.

2.Tending to arouse sexual desire.

3.Dominated by sexual love or desire.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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por·nog·ra·phy   /pɔrˈnɒgrəfi/  Show Spelled
[pawr-nog-ruh-fee]  Show IPA

–noun
obscene writings, drawings, photographs, or the like, esp. those having little or no artistic merit.
Use pornographic in a Sentence
See images of pornographic
Search pornographic on the Web

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Origin:
1840–50; < Gk pornográph ( os ) writing about harlots ( porno-,  comb. form of pórnē  harlot + -graphos  -graph) + -y3

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ob·scene   /əbˈsin/  Show Spelled
[uhb-seen]  Show IPA

–adjective
1. offensive to morality or decency; indecent; depraved: obscene language.
2. causing uncontrolled sexual desire.
3. abominable; disgusting; repulsive.
Use Obscene in a Sentence
See images of Obscene
Search Obscene on the Web

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Origin:
1585–95; < L obscēnus, obscaenus

—Related forms
ob·scene·ly, adverb
ob·scene·ness, noun
un·ob·scene, adjective
un·ob·scene·ly, adverb
un·ob·scene·ness, noun


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The bottom line is in the opinion of the beholder.  Erotic and pornographic are very closely related and can only be separated by the morals and ethics of what society believes.  What some people would consider erotic and art, others would consider pornographic.

For example, the statue of Venus by Alexandros (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/625740/Venus-de-Milo)  is considered by most people to be "art".  Some people would call it erotic, and others might even call it pornographic because it portrays a naked woman.  The statue of David by Michaelangelo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Michelangelo)  falls into the same category - it portrays a naked man.  Is it art?  Is it erotic?  Is it pornographic.

You asked the question, so I think that you probably have already defined your opinion as to which is which, and probably have a good dividing line.  Is seeing erotic things wrong?  If they're in a museum, I would say no.  If they're in Hustler magazine or on a xxx website, I think yes.  It's all in the eye of the beholder.  

If you're looking at erotica merely to get aroused and masturbate, then I would say that's probably wrong.  If you're looking at a book of erotica as part of an art project, it's probably okay.


That's all I got.  Hope it helps, let me know by rating my answer, thanks.

Blessings,

Carl