Introduction to Porn
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Cover your eyes! Cover your ears! I'm about to say a word that many consider vulgar, dirty, and obscene. If there are children around, be sure not to read it aloud to protect their innocent ears. Many consider it a relationship killer, a mortal sin. Be careful as you continue... The word is: "Porn!" Yes, I said it, and the truth is, it doesn't seem so bad after all. Now, let's unravel and unravel the topic that is so often questioned, complicated, and misunderstood.
Pornography has existed since the creation of media. It's one of humanity's original forms of entertainment and will continue to exist as long as human beings exist. Some of humanity's earliest drawings are of genitals and sexual intercourse. It's no wonder it's such an elusive and taboo subject, as in many ways it's one of the centers of creativity.
The topic of pornography is subjective and based on values. What one person considers vulgar is art to another. What one person considers exploitative and harmful, another will find educational and entertaining. There are many perspectives when it comes to defining pornography and determining its moral value. This blog is not here to make that determination, but rather to give readers tools to decide their own values and ethics when it comes to consuming any form of media, whether it is determined to be "porn" or "art."
Multimedia entertainment
When it comes to media, everything has its ups and downs. Over the years, the media has positively and negatively influenced the way many of us think and make decisions about the world around us. It serves both to entertain, educate, and inform, as well as to discriminate, exploit, and misinform. The key to all forms of media, whether pornographic or not, is understanding media literacy.
Media literacy
Media literacy is the ability to analyze and create personal meaning behind all the visual and audio input we receive throughout the day. It's the ability to consciously choose, question, and be curious about the messages and "sales pitches" that creators are trying to communicate. Both PornHub and public television create messages for their audiences. It's your job to decipher whether it's entertaining, moral, and/or informative.
Things to keep in mind:
- Who are the creators? (Are they paid, consented, diverse, etc.)
- What messages are being crafted for the audience? (Is it about selling, entertaining, informing, and/or educating?)
- What techniques are used to attract attention? (Titles, demographics, images, sounds, music, words, etc.)
- How might others view the content differently? (Would they find it offensive, enjoyable, informative, understandable, inclusive, discriminatory, etc.?)
- What and who are left out of the message?
- Do you find it enjoyable and educational?
The reality is that pornography is one of the easiest media to find in today's digital world. Like any other form of communication, it can be enjoyable, educational, and useful. It can also be deceptive, exploitative, and harmful if the message you receive isn't consciously explored.
With any form of escapism, participants should be curious about whether their consumption is used for entertainment and relaxation or as a crutch to avoid deeper challenges in life. Pornography is no different from the use of food, television, video games, exercise, etc. to escape or cope with everyday life. It can be adaptive or maladaptive depending on the person and their circumstances. The choice to enjoy porn is personal. It is not something that should be dictated or scrutinized by others.
Ethical porn
There are many media outlets created without the utmost ethics. Due to the complicated nature our culture places on pornography, there is plenty of room for unethical practices. Below is a list of vetted pornography sites with high ethical standards. Enjoy, if you wish.