For other uses, see Erotica (disambiguation). Fernande (1910–1917) by Jean Agélou. Erotica (from the Greek ἔρως, eros—"desire") are works of art, including literature, photography, film, sculpture and painting, that deal substantively with erotically stimulating or sexually arousing descriptions. The term is a modern word that describes the portrayal of the human anatomy and sexuality with high-art aspirations, differentiating such work from commercial pornography.1 Curiosa generally refers to erotica and pornography as discrete, collectible items, usually in published or printed form. Contents 1 Erotica and pornography 2 See also 3 References 4 External links // Erotica and pornography The Naked Maja (c. 1800–1803) by Francisco de Goya.

Distinction is often made between erotica and pornography (the depiction of acts in a sensational manner so as to arouse a quick intense emotional reaction) (as well as the lesser known genre of sexual entertainment, ribaldry), although depending on the viewer they may seem one and the same. Pornography's objective is the graphic depiction of sexually explicit scenes.2 Pornography is often described as exploitative or degrading.23 One person's pornography is another's erotica, and vice-versa. In December 2007 one of the world's largest collections of pornography and erotica, the L'Enfer collection housed at the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, France, was opened for the public.4 Marie-Françoise Quignard, one of the collection's curators, tried to distinguish between the different elements in the collection:

"There is a photograph of an act of oral sex by the artist Man Ray.... For some reason, I find that this goes just too far. Perhaps because it is a photograph and so real, while engravings or lithographs, give you a certain distance and idealisation. Man Ray confronts you point-blank here with something which should, perhaps, better remain intimate."4 The Canadian Supreme Court wrestled with the line between pornography and erotica going back to 1962's case Brodie v. the Queen, which involved D. H. Lawrence's erotic classic Lady Chatterley's Lover. In its decision on whether Lawrence's book was obscene, the court noted that it "has none of the characteristics that are often described in judgments dealing with obscenity --dirt for dirt's sake, the leer of the sensualist, depravity in the mind of an author with an obsession for dirt, pornography, an appeal to a prurient interest, etc."5 In 1992, the Canadian high court changed its 'dirt for dirt's sake' test until it ruled in the case of sex shop operator R. v. Butler that a work is pornographic if it is "degrading and dehumanizing."5 This remains the central test in Canadian courts. See also Sexuality portal History of erotic depictions References ^ "Pornography - MSN Encarta". Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwbuJpkR.  ^ a b Erotica is Not Pornography, William J. Gehrke, The Tech, December 10, 1996 ^ Don't confuse erotica with porn, Jug Suraiya, The Times of India, August 15, 2004. ^ a b Sex please! (we're French): Paris's dirty secret, John Lichfield, The Independent, December 3, 2007. ^ a b Today's porn in it for the big titillation, Joseph Brean, National Post, February 11, 2008. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Erotic "Erotica and Pornography" by Edmund Miller, glbtq: An Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Culture (website), New England Publishing Associates, 2002. v · d · eSex Physiological events Erection · Insemination · Orgasm (Female and Male ejaculation) · Pregnancy · Sexual arousal Health and education Birth control · Condom · Postorgasmic illness syndrome · Reproductive medicine (Andrology · Gynaecology · Urology) · Safe sex · Sex education · Sex therapy (Sex surrogate) · Sexual dysfunction (Erectile dysfunction · Hypersexuality · Hyposexuality) · Sexually transmitted disease · Sexual medicine Identity Gender identity · Sexual identity · Sexual orientation Law Age of consent · Criminal transmission of HIV · Incest · Obscenity · Public indecency · Rape · Sexual abuse · Sexual assault · Sexual harassment · Sexual misconduct · Sexual violence History Feminist Sex Wars · History of erotic depictions · Sexual revolution Relationships and society Anarchism and love/sex · Family planning · Marriage · Paraphilia · Polyamory · Promiscuity · Religion and sexuality · Romance · Sexual abstinence · Sexual attraction · Sexual capital · Sexual ethics · Sexual objectification Sexual activities Anal–oral sex · Anal sex · Ass to mouth · Bareback · BDSM · Cock-and-ball torture · Creampie · Cum shot · Cybersex · Dirty talk · Facial · Felching · Fingering · Fisting · Gang bang · Group sex · Masturbation · Mechanics of sex · Non-penetrative sex (Mammary intercourse · Petting · Handjob · Sumata) · Oral sex · Oral stimulation of nipples · Orgasm control · Pompoir · Quickie · Sex positions · Sexual intercourse (Foreplay) · Sex magic · Sexual sublimation · Snowballing · Tea bag · Venus Butterfly Sex industry Adult video game · Child, Female and Male "sex tourism" · Erotica · Pornography · Prostitution · Sex museum · Sex shop · Sex toy (doll)  · Strip club By country China  · Japan · South Korea Animal sexual behaviour · Human sexuality · Sexology · Sexual slang sexuality portal