Erotica can be art, or it can be smut. I think it depends more on the intention behind it.

Art is an expression of an idea, a feeling, a thought, or even a desire. In this sense, erotica is just as valid as any other art form - it's just expressing something that, until recently, has been extremely taboo. Something that is still considered taboo by a lot of people. This doesn't negate it's strong emotional impact, though; sex has a huge, defining effect on people's lives. Expressing things that have to do with sex - that's just a good a topic as anything else art-wise.

However, some erotica is made merely for titilation (sp?), and I'd argue that this isn't art at all - it's pornography. While I have no problem with porn at all (seriously, my fiance and I watch the stuff sometimes - I find it funny!), I don't consider it art, because it has no message. It's like a supermodel - pretty facade, no substance.

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Alaka-bee-weeoop! Old school.

Thank you. I guess anything can become cheap if expressed in the wrong way. I try to show things in a beautiful way. Porn is funny, especially the really low-budget stuff

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Having kids doesn't mean you have to grow up, it means you get some smaller friends who you sometimes have to tell off
Man's responsible for global warming, woman was hoovering up after him again
The penis mightier than the sword. Oops, a typo!

I think it's smutty art.

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FAQ #101: What do the symbols in front of everyones names really mean?

it depends on the attitudes the artist brings to the work, and the attitudes the viewer brings. There are some people who are so repressed that they consider any nudity to be 'smut'.

I'm spending a lot of this year working on a 150-page graphic novel that happens to include erotic content. I'm certainly not approaching it from a perspective of all sex being something dirty, but I know there will be people who will reject it because the characters happen to engage in weird sex where the reader can see them.

As Annie Sprinkle said, the solution to bad porn is not no porn, it's good porn.

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egypt.urnash.com. minimal stuff.

I write erotica for my husband, but I try to make it well written and as interesting as possible, and I use us as characters. I don't consider it smut at all, it's just fun And it's much better then him looking at other women & porn which I do consider smut!

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"Typical of hypnosis-induced somnambulism. Must stop this dreadful glidiing among shadows; refocus concentration and thereby restore ego center."

I would imagine it might depend on the viewer and how they've been brought up. I'm a little bit shy in this area myself but I would defend the rights of people to produce and consume erotic art, smut and porn as long as no-one involved in its creation has been abused.

I can remember the first time I saw Egon Schiele's work at art college. I was shocked out my tiny mind and I never did like looking at it much. Which is a shame because the angularity of his drawings is incredible.

But surely smut isn't art?

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Having kids doesn't mean you have to grow up, it means you get some smaller friends who you sometimes have to tell off
Man's responsible for global warming, woman was hoovering up after him again
The penis mightier than the sword. Oops, a typo!

Thanks. I'm leaning towards the thought that it's only smut if there's no love involved, and my characters alway love each other. I also like them as individuals, which is somethign Jane bloody Austen never did

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Having kids doesn't mean you have to grow up, it means you get some smaller friends who you sometimes have to tell off
Man's responsible for global warming, woman was hoovering up after him again
The penis mightier than the sword. Oops, a typo!

Porn is deffo smut. I've tried showing my husband, but he just giggles. Maybe yours is more mature than mine?

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Having kids doesn't mean you have to grow up, it means you get some smaller friends who you sometimes have to tell off
Man's responsible for global warming, woman was hoovering up after him again
The penis mightier than the sword. Oops, a typo!

I suppose so. Is there anything you don't have a good answer for? I'm just trying to show how beautiful people can be. His work looks creepy, btw from the tiny little bit I googled

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Having kids doesn't mean you have to grow up, it means you get some smaller friends who you sometimes have to tell off
Man's responsible for global warming, woman was hoovering up after him again
The penis mightier than the sword. Oops, a typo!