Eye View
by David Charbonneau
Perils of porn clear but
erotica could be liberating for all
August 27, 2008
I know pornography when I see it. Probably you do too. The
same could be said for art; what one person regards as a
masterpiece, another considers it junk.
Definitions of pornography are also highly subjective. What
you find erotic, I might consider offensive. That's what
makes definitions so tricky. "Definitions exist on a
sliding scale between the erotic and the obscene," explains
Joseph Slade, professor at Ohio University and author of
Pornography in America.
The risks of pornography that slides toward abuse are clear;
the degradation of women, the exploitation of children, and
the corruption of society.
The faith-based Family Action Coalition explains it this
way: "[Pornography] is corrupting minds and getting viewers
hooked this material." The coalition is asking Prime
Minister Harper to reverse a recent decision of the Canadian
Radio-television and Television Commission. The CRTC
recently approved a license for Alberta's Northern Peaks TV
network which will feature pornographic films.
But pornography as erotica is a different matter. Erotica
has been around since prehistoric times and is part of all
cultures. And it could benefit the Canadian film industry.
Part of the Northern Peaks' license requires that they have
50 per cent Canadian content.
Erotic performer Seska Lee is not troubled by definitions.
Along with her husband, she makes a living by filming
pornography on the internet. The 37 year-old Canadian woman
enjoys being an entrepreneur. Lee also likes being in
control of her own image and admits to being an
exhibitionist. She acknowledges that not everyone shares
her views. "If you think sex should only occur for
reproduction, you will see me as doing something wrong," she
told CBC radio.
As for exploitation, Lee sees working conditions as more of
an issue. The commercial porn industry may exploit youths
but so do other industries. And youths often make bad
choices. "Just because exploitation takes place in the
fashion industry doesn't mean that clothes are bad, any more
than exploitation in pornography makes sex bad," says Lee.
Women are now gaining control of what used to be the
exclusive domain of heterosexual men. Feminist Porn awards
in Toronto are extending the definitions of pornography into
the realm of politics.
Minority women are creating their own explicit material.
Social activist Loree Erickson finds pornography liberating.
The disabled PhD student at York University became tired of
being defined by her wheelchair. Stereotyped from childhood
by her disability, complete strangers would approach her on
the street and say "Oh, you're so brave" and "Don't give up
hope. People like you can do lots of things," Erickson told
CBC radio. She was not looking for condescension or pity.
Erickson's self-image of hopelessness and undesirability
plagued her for decades until she discovered her latent
sexuality. "I didn't like looking at myself. I didn't have
a good self-image. I couldn't imagine that I could be sexy.
No one was going to be with me and be my partner." It
wasn't until a friend took sexy nude pictures of her that
she saw an image of herself that she actually liked. "I
like hot, dirty pictures of myself. It was liberating for
me."
While the perils of pornography are clear, erotica is
potentially liberating to all Canadians.
"Everyone is a sexual being," says professor Slade.
"Pornography is a universal language. Everyone recognizes
sexual representation as a kind of language, a kind of code.
Its one of the most easily understood codes in the world.
Anyone can understand a porn movie without listening to the
dialogue, which in most cases is not very good anyway."
What is the appeal? "Porn validates our fantasies while
providing them at the same time," says Slade. "Quite simply
put - - people watch pornography because it turns them on."
The field of amateur pornography is growing because of easy
access to the internet. Performers like to like to act out
fantasies and share them and viewers who are looking for
something authentic.
Is Slade worried about addiction to pornography? "People
are not damaged by pornography nor are they filling in a
void any more than those who watch TV fill emptiness in
their lives. It's presumptuous to think that people who
watch porn are somehow deficient in their lives."
While the democratization of pornography is alarming to some
Canadians, it's liberating to others.
David Charbonneau is the owner of Trio Technical.
He can be reached at dcharbonneau13@shaw.ca