Sexually explicit material
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article does not cite any references or sources. (March 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
Sexually explicit material (video, photography, creative writing) presents sexual content without deliberately obscuring or censoring it. The term sexually explicit media is often used as euphemism for pornography. It includes unsimulated sex acts, sexual intercourse and uncovered genitalia.
The term is not very specific, and what is or is not sexually explicit varies from culture to culture. Visual exposure of female breasts are considered mildly explicit, the penis or vulva and surrounding pubic hair are widely considered sexually explicit, and unobscured sexual intercourse universally so. Some also consider certain language or writing (authentic reports or fiction) to be sexually explicit.
Sexually explicit material usually have age ratings on them to ensure that unsuitable viewers are not exposed to them.
While some observers often label all sexually explicit material as pornography, this is not generally accepted, as it does not examine the intent behind the material. For example, sexual intercourse may be shown to illustrate principles of safe sex and as such be a component of sex education, or in a film it may be part of a complex story and be viewed to contribute to overall plot development. An explicit rape scene may in fact have the purpose of negative conditioning, and vivid imagery of infected genitalia is often used as part of abstinence-based sex education programs.