Exploring erotic tales: smut or literature?
By Ali the Sexpert
November 12, 2008
 There is an age-old debate that erotic literature (or erotica as it is often called), and pornography are not the same. It argues that erotica doesn’t focus on sexually explicit acts, but more on the description of the events leading up the sexual acts. It also explores emotions and sensations that are not even considered in pornography.
Pornography also tends to be more visually depicted and erotica is written. Erotic images are similar to erotic literature – they focus less on sexually explicit acts such as intercourse, and explore the other aspects of sexuality.
This column will focus on the art and possibilities of erotic literature.
Definition of erotica
According to Wikipedia.com, erotica come from the Greek word “eros” which means “desire.” Erotica refers to erotic or sexually stimulating material that can take the form of art, literature, photography, or film. It also refers to artistically displaying sexuality and the intense feelings of love and sex, but it is not considered to be pornographic or intended to remove a person from the sex act like pornography does.
About erotica
Erotica can take the form of a poem, short story, novel, memoir or even a sex manual. Erotica is created in many different sub genres. It is often written with a focus on science fiction, fantasy, horror, or romance.
Erotica is also written for specific groups of people such as straight women, gays or lesbians, gender fluid people, or sometimes for men. Erotica is also commonly themed according to specific sexual behaviours or fetishes, such as BDSM (bondage, dominance, submission, masochism), cross-dressing, sexual fluidity, sexual exploration of deviant or taboo subjects. It may also feature heterosexual sexual activity as well. Some genres of erotica that have become more popular are horror or supernatural fiction as well as gay erotica.
Many different people enjoy this erotica regardless of their own sexual orientation. It is very common for straight women to enjoy gay erotica, which is popular in Japan right now.
History of erotica
Erotic literature has a history that is much older than most people realize. It also varies according to location. Erotica can be traced back to Song of Songs from the Old Testemant, or Roman Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter.
During the Medieval ages Decameron was created by the Italians, which portrays the seduction of nuns. It was banned in several countries. In the late 1600’s to mid 1700’s, a genre of erotica called Edmund Curll was created in England, which inspired more erotica to be written at this time.
French writers were influenced and wrote “The Lifted Curtain.” BDSM erotica started to be written in the 18th century and was popularized by the Marquis de Sade. Erotica changed and was suppressed during the Victorian era, although it was still being produced during this time. BDSM literature during this period portrayed class very clearly and contributed to the master and slave notion that is still referred to in today’s erotic literature.
In the late 1800’s, poetry by Algernon Charles Swinburne wrote about paganism, lesbianism and SM. In 1984, Pierre Louys wrote Les Chansons de Bilitis, which was a seminal text for the celebration of lesbianism and sexual awakening. The 20th century created some memorable stories and authors such as “The Story of O,” (1954) to Anais Nin’s writings in 1985.
The 1990’s brought erotica to new heights with the invention of the Internet. In 1991, the Internet became available to the public and began to gain in popularity. Erotica became more available and common. The Internet created a privacy that opened up many new possibilities for people to explore their sexuality and fantasies, and the erotic web has been growing ever since. Today, online bookstores carry all kinds of erotica.
It can be found at Chapters as well as independent bookstores. There is now a large online community for erotica that is provided for free to people who know where to look. Anyone can read or write their own erotica and get it published online. Some people create their own website and pseudonym to go along with their erotica. Erotica also seems to continue to explore taboo and unfamiliar subjects to mainstream culture.
More and more transgendered writers and queer-identified authors are publishing their writing online.
Erotica is also exploding in the fashion and art industry with paintings, photography and other forms of erotica now being displayed.
Erotica Resources
For those of you who are new to erotica, I wanted to inform you of some excellent free websites that can start you on the journey of appreciating and perhaps even writing erotica in the future!
A great starter’s site that features everything is: http://www.lustylibrary.com/. For erotic literature, art, videos and more go to: http://www.literotica.com/.
For queer erotica go to: http://www.nifty.org/, http://www.mysecretobsession.com/, www.erotic-stories4u.com, for specific types of erotica go to: http://www.lucreziamagazine.com, another site with diverse stories: http://www.asstr.org/, for science fiction for to: www.sci-fierotica.com, for BDSM erotica go to: http://www.maggiecarpenter.com/, http://www.cianarose.com/stories/txt02.html, www.bondage.com.
There are many, many more websites out there – so explore the internet, go to the bookstore and ask your friends.
You might be surprised to find out what their interests are, and you may even get a recommendation or be able to borrow someone else’s erotica.
Erotica is great for everyone. It is particularly good for: those who are not ready to be sexually active with a partner, for those who want to learn and discover more about their sexuality or others’ sexuality, for couples, for singles and everything in between.
The stereotype that erotica is just for women is an old one that need not apply any longer. Erotica is not just for women – but if you want to learn more about what most women are attracted to – read some erotica. Explore and enjoy.
Ali the Sexpert' aka Allisa Scott is a researcher and teacher in the field of sexuality. She has two degrees from U Windsor (Honours BA in Sociology); MA in Social Work (WLU); MA degree is Sociology with a published thesis about sexuality. She also holds a minor in studies in sexuality from Windsor.
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