Controversial Pornography
Controversial Pornography
by: Nicole Lamberson Ms. Susan Trabert English 102-060 December 12, 1996
Show a number of different people a simple piece of paper consisting of nothing more than a red blotch of paint and ask them what they see. The responses will vary from objects such as a cherry, to more simply, just plain red paint. This is an indication of the individuality, or sum of qualities that characterize and distinguish an individual from all others, instilled in every human being. Just as facial features and hair color differ among individuals, similar distinctiveness is found among personalities and opinions. Because of prominent variance in belief among many individuals, a number of topics and issues have become controversial in society today.
Similar to the varied responses to the red splotch of paint, photographs, video tapes and paintings portraying nudity and sexual content receive a number of clashing opinions. There are artists who paint and photograph nudity and pornography who find the human body and sex portrayed in many forms to be beautiful. However, there are also many extremely conservative individuals who take offense to such "artwork" and find its contents appalling. And those who enjoy the nudity and sexual content exhibited in pornographic materials should marvel and delight in its details. Those who do not should simply look away. In the words of Justice William O. Douglas, "no one is compelled to look"
(Brownmiller 663). There is no concrete manner to define materials that are
"obscene" or "offensive" because various images come to mind among individuals when words similar to these are used to describe pornography. To classify a distasteful picture from a beautiful one comes down to a matter of opinion and taste. In previous instances, such as the Miller Case of
1973, the Court attempted to define which materials could be judged as lewd or indecent: The materials are
by: Nicole Lamberson Ms. Susan Trabert English 102-060 December 12, 1996
Show a number of different people a simple piece of paper consisting of nothing more than a red blotch of paint and ask them what they see. The responses will vary from objects such as a cherry, to more simply, just plain red paint. This is an indication of the individuality, or sum of qualities that characterize and distinguish an individual from all others, instilled in every human being. Just as facial features and hair color differ among individuals, similar distinctiveness is found among personalities and opinions. Because of prominent variance in belief among many individuals, a number of topics and issues have become controversial in society today.
Similar to the varied responses to the red splotch of paint, photographs, video tapes and paintings portraying nudity and sexual content receive a number of clashing opinions. There are artists who paint and photograph nudity and pornography who find the human body and sex portrayed in many forms to be beautiful. However, there are also many extremely conservative individuals who take offense to such "artwork" and find its contents appalling. And those who enjoy the nudity and sexual content exhibited in pornographic materials should marvel and delight in its details. Those who do not should simply look away. In the words of Justice William O. Douglas, "no one is compelled to look"
(Brownmiller 663). There is no concrete manner to define materials that are
"obscene" or "offensive" because various images come to mind among individuals when words similar to these are used to describe pornography. To classify a distasteful picture from a beautiful one comes down to a matter of opinion and taste. In previous instances, such as the Miller Case of
1973, the Court attempted to define which materials could be judged as lewd or indecent: The materials are
Cited: Brownmiller, Susan. "Let 's Put Pornography Back in the Closet." Current Issues and Enduring Questions. Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau, eds. Bedford: Boston, 1996. Hughes, Holly. "Pornography: Does Women 's Equality Depend on what we do About it?" Ms. Jan./ Feb. 1994: 42-45. Nichols, Mark. "Viewers and Victims: Pornography and Sexual Offenses." Maclean 's 11 Oct. 1993: 60. Strossen, Nadine. "The Perils of Pornophobia." The Humanist. May/June 1995: 7-9. Van Den Haag, Ernest. "Learning to Live with Sex and Violence." National Review. 1 Nov. 1993: 56-9.