In the world of literature dealing with sexuality and physicality, we often encounter the terms “erotic,” “pornographic,” and “obscene.” But what exactly differentiates these categories from one another? And what do these distinctions mean for authors tackling these topics? Semantic differences Erotic literature Erotic literature has its roots in the term “Eros”, which symbolizes the … Continue reading Erotic, Pornographic, and Obscene Literature: A Distinction →

The Miller test is an important legal standard used in the United States to determine whether a work is obscene and therefore not protected by the First Amendment (freedom of speech). The test comes from the landmark 1973 case Miller v. California, which established the criteria for obscenity and created a more precise framework for … Continue reading The Miller Test: Standard Test for Obscenity →

In the 1960s, access to pornographic content increased significantly through magazines, films and books, which led to a broad public debate about the effects on morals and society. The then President Richard Nixon was under increasing social pressure to curb the spread of obscene materials and pornography, and therefore set up the Presidential Commission on … Continue reading The debate on obscenity and pornography in 1968 →