Art and Pornography: Philosophical Essays

by Hans Maes (editor), Jerrold Levinson (Editor)

Art and Pornography presents a series of essays which investigate the artistic status and aesthetic dimension of pornographic pictures, films, and literature, and explores the distinction, if there is any, between pornography and erotic art. Is there any overlap between art and pornography, or are the two mutually exclusive? If they are, why is that? If they are not, how might we characterize pornographic art or artistic pornography, and how might pornographic art be distinguished, if at all, from erotic art? Can there be aesthetic experience of pornography? What are some of the psychological, social, and political consequences of the creation and appreciation of erotic art or artistic pornography? Leading scholars from around the world address these questions, and more, and bring together different aesthetic perspectives and approaches to this widely consumed, increasingly visible, yet aesthetically underexplored cultural domain. The book, the first of its kind in philosophical
aesthetics, will contribute to a more accurate and subtle understanding of the many representations that incorporate explicit sexual imagery and themes, in both high art and demotic culture, in Western and non-Western contexts. It is sure to stir debate, and healthy controversy.

Genres: Philosophy, Pornography, Nonfiction, Research

342 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Hans Maes is Senior Lecturer in History and Philosophy of Art and Director of the Aesthetics Research Centre at the University of Kent (Canterbury, UK).

Reviews

[BVC · Rating 1 out of 5]

Banale e banalizzante.

[Icey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is divided into four parts, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the debate over the relationship between art and pornography. Part I, "The Definition and Evaluation of Pornography," examines various definitions of pornography and the ethical and aesthetic implications of pornography as a genre. Part II, "Art and Pornography," explores the relationship between art and pornography, including the question of whether pornography can be considered a form of art. Part III, "The Politics and Ethics of Pornography," considers the social and political implications of pornography and the moral and legal debates surrounding pornography. Part IV, "Pornography in the Arts," looks at the representation of pornography in various art forms, including literature, film, and visual art.

One of the key themes of the book is the tension between the aesthetic and ethical dimensions of pornography. The authors explore the ways in which pornography can be evaluated as an art form, while also considering the ethical and political implications of its production and consumption.

Another important aspect of the book is its interdisciplinary approach to the study of pornography and art. The essays draw on insights from philosophy, art history, cultural studies, and gender studies, among other disciplines.