Eroticism
erotica - homoeroticism - nudity - sex
Girl Reclining (Louise O'Murphy) 1751 - François Boucher
Definition
1. An erotic quality or theme.2. Sexual excitement.
3. Abnormally persistent sexual excitement. --AHD
Definition
Eroticism is an aesthetic focused on sexual desire, especially the feelings of anticipation of sexual activity.See also:
- Erotica fiction or other material intended to stimulate sexual desire.
- Human sexuality
- Paraphilia
- Pornography
- Romance
- Sexual fantasy
note: is eroticism an aesthetic? Could it be possible that eroticism is the feeling and erotica is the representation of that feeling?
Eroticism in film [...]
the famous scene in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch, in which Marilyn Monroe stands over a sidewalk ventilation grate and her skirt is blown upward, although it showed no "private parts"
Note: this is an article about eroticism in mainstream film. To read about pornographic films, visit the article on pornographic films.
The use of eroticism in film has been controversial since the earliest use of cinematography. Ever since the silent era of film there have been actors and actresses who have shown parts of their bodies or undergarments, or dressed and behaved in ways considered sexually provocative by contemporary standards. Some films have been criticized and/or banned by various religious groups and governments because of this.
As social standards of acceptable public exposure have changed, cinema has changed as well, often pushing at the boundaries. For example, the famous scene in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch, in which Marilyn Monroe stands over a sidewalk ventilation grate and her skirt is blown upward, although it showed no "private parts" or even her underpants, was clearly intended to be erotic, and was considered overly suggestive by some.
Phoebe Cates' scene in 1982's Fast Times at Ridgemont High in which she shows off her naked upper torso, a scene in 1987's Lethal Weapon in which Mel Gibson's buttocks are shown prominently, and the scene in 1992's Basic Instinct in which Sharon Stone spreads her legs, were all controversial examples of film-makers seeing how much erotic content they could "get away with" and use to attract film-goers. The early 1980s Porky's film series and the 2000s American Pie films deliberately went to the boundaries of what the US MPAA would permit in a film receiving an "R" rating.
Movies of this sort are often released in two versions: one edited for theatrical distribution rated "R", and another edited for home video, which may be unrated or rated NC-17. Some manufacturers of DVD players have implemented a subscription-based censor function into their players which allows users to cut out scenes of nudity, offensive language, or racism. Film directors such as Steven Spielberg are fighting this alteration of their work in court. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eroticism_in_film [Feb 2005]
Erotisme (french) [...]
« De l’érotisme, il est possible de dire qu’il est l’approbation de la vie jusque dans la mort. ». --1957, Georges Bataille [‘L‘Erotisme’, Editions de Minuit, Paris I957. ]Meanwhile, at Amazon
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