Erotica vs. Pornography: Is There a Difference?

I feel like I give this explanation every other day, but it seems as if the world is not listening. Erotica is not porn. Pornography, by definition, is sexual, but that doesn't make it erotica. (Please be aware that this entry is entirely my opinion and not meant to demean the work, opinions, or persons who work in one or both genres.)

What is the difference?

In brief, the difference is content. I like to get on my high horse and say the real difference is quality of content, but that's not entirely true. Let me explain what I think the two are and why other people's perception of the two is wearing on my last nerve lately.

Pornography is material (pictures, movies, stories, music, games) of a sexual nature. It is intended for adult viewing/experiences for the purpose of sexual stimulation and/or gratification. There is no intent to display any defined artistic merit, no "deep" or hidden literary meaning, no social or political commentary or character interaction that does not lead towards a sexual experience, usually devoid of meaning other than the act itself. You look/read/listen, you get off. Period. (If you do not, you should probably find something more to your taste or interact with a real person.)

I have nothing against pornography. I shouldn't, I own enough of it. But there is really only one purpose for it and it should not be confused with anything else.

Erotica is material (a story, movie, etc.) where the storyline or underlying theme is related to a sexual subject. This can be anything from a story about a married couple having problems in the bedroom area to a movie where one character uses sexual dominance to exert psychological control over his or her partner. Erotic fiction can run the gamut from light and playful romantic stories to dark and violent suspense thrillers.

What's most important to remember about erotica is that the story or content does not consist entirely of sexual acts, nor does it exist purely as an excuse to include more sexual content. While all erotic material does not contain a deeper meaning than what is below the surface, it differs from pornography in it's intent. The whole of erotica is not created solely to sexually stimulate.

There is debate about my last comment and that is where my opinion differs from others. I don't believe erotica, whether it be a story, movie, or another medium, can be considered erotica if it is purely about a sexual act or a series of them. If there is no storyline and/or clearly defined characters, I would consider a story or other material pornography. In the case of photography, there may be a gray area, but again, part of the definition is intent.

On shades of gray:

I'm sure there are examples of movies or written material that skirt a line between my two definitions, but I think what I've written here covers the majority of adult material. Most people know if they consider their creative material to be one or the other. But then, some people see things differently from the way I do.

I am positively fed up with porn sites that label their stories, photos and movies "erotica." Look, I know search engines don't think for themselves. So, if I type "erotica" into a search engine, the only way I'd pull up a site promising "hot asian chicks getting nasty" or "barely legal hotties" is if a porn site was deliberately misleading people searching for adult material.You know, like websites that claim to provide "quality" adult reading material and really consist of a lot of squirting, slamming, and sharing of bodily fluids.

As an erotica writer, my reputation as a writer and my ability to promote my material relies on people's perceptions. Most people automatically think of erotic material as pornography because they've been conditioned to think of anything exclusively for adults as "dirty." Regardless of the content, many people think "erotic" and "porn" mean the same thing. Not only am I appalled that some people don't bother doing their research, I am irritated that pornographers don't seem to care that there's a distinction when promoting their own material.

What's frustrating as an erotica writer is how this perception affects me. A lot of people will automatically disregard me as a "real" writer when they find out I write erotica. Mainstream promotional sites will not accept material from me because it is not deemed family friendly. I have a difficult time getting heard in the adult world as well because they know erotica doesn't fully fit into their world. Why can adult sites promote their material as "erotica" but, for the most part, will not promote real erotica in return?

I want to know if it is possible to make the distinction between these two genres more clear to the general population, or at least those looking for erotica who don't wish to be bombarded by graphic sexual imagery and writing. What can we as erotica writers do to reach our target audience and be seen as what we truly are?

We are storytellers with more on our minds than getting off and moving on. We are creators who see the human body as more than a means to an end. And we are artists who believe that stimulation of the brain is just as important as stimulation everywhere else.

If only the rest of the world could see us this way.