I was recently directed to a BBC News article covering a survey on the consumption of pornography in adults aged 18-24. The study showed an overwhelming prevalence in the use of internet pornography - something hardly surprising in the digital age.
The issue of pornography is a difficult one to discuss as it involves many different levels. A line can be drawn between two categories of arguments: problems in the production of pornography (i.e. the subjects of pornographic material) and the viewing of pornography (i.e. the viewer). I personally have no problem with people having sex on film, but the production and distribution should be (and are) controlled - at very least to some degree.
Pornography and erotica have existed (as far as I know) for hundreds of years. Japanese Shunga, the Kama Sutra and early erotic fiction have all been used to evoke erotic feelings in their viewers/readers. They have also been considered - at one point or another - graphic, lewd and improper; ultimately resulting in censorship. Modern attempts at censorship in the UK have been mostly unsuccessful. The Earl of Longford's famous campaign of the 1970s subjected him to much ridicule.
The dawning of the digital age has vastly increased the access to pornographic material - particularly free material. As covered in the aforementioned article, this has lead to a surge in viewership by young adults, both male and female. The survey suggested an association between high consumption of pornography and 'worry'. The link seems sound - at least in the sample group - but determining a causal relationship is challenging. It is equally reasonable, based on this evidence, to suggest that worrying about relationships causes people to use more pornography.
Nonetheless it is unlikely that any such study is able to determine causality of psychological harm as this is notoriously difficult to do. I would hypothesise that both have some impact in different individuals. It is also worth noting that any medium that can so strongly influence a critical component of human interaction (i.e. sex) comes with some danger. Accurately assessing this risk is near impossible and so raw opinion drives much of the debate over pornography.
My view is that creative sexual expression is an essential part of modern society. I believe the definition of pornography often includes the caveat of "no literary or artistic value", but I don't know if I can so clearly draw the line between art and non-art. As I discuss here I am not entirely sure most modern art has much 'artistic value'.
Nonetheless, normal sexual development should involve some form of exploration. Pornography and erotica provide a convenient medium for this, without carrying the risks (emotional or medical) of normal sexual interaction. However, much like any fantasy, the problem lies in adequately distinguishing between this fantasy and reality. The (often deliberate) misrepresentation of reality is a endemic problem in our society: unhealthy body shapes are flaunted on catwalks, violence is glorified in cinema and junk food is [was] advertised to children. Frankly, the list is endless. We are all bombarded with images and representations of lives and lifestyles that have the potential to cause us harm.
Understanding (and controlling) these elements is an overwhelming challenge and one subject to constant iteration through social change. With regards to pornography there seems a worrying trend in its use by younger audiences [1][2]. Children are naturally more susceptible to the detrimental effects of such material and yet internet pornography has no real way of determining how old its viewer is. With such overwhelming access, regulation becomes more important and yet more difficult.
This is particularly worrying as more extreme pornography is increasingly available. The representations/connotations of violence, submission and imbalance are of particular concern. This also creates an added risk for the performers in the industry - an issue covered less than I would like. Pornography carries many risks and, whilst far less than sex workers, it carries dangers of infection, financial insecurity, coercion, manipulation and even emotional/sexual abuse.
These issues are all important, but I would like to end with a call for better perspective as is often lost with such heavily-debated issues. It seems that pornography has become a lightning rod for discussions over free speech and sexual conformity. There are many areas in which various media have the potential to cause substantial sociological and psychological damage. It is my belief that harmony is best maintained by ensuring moderation in the consumption and the regulation of this material - perhaps an obvious but nonetheless important point.
