Fantasy and Reality
I’ve always said that because I enjoy reading the writings of the Marquis de Sade, it doesn’t necessarily mean I want to tie you up and hang you from my ceiling. I always hasten to add that if, on the other hand, that is what you wish, I’m your man. The Marquis does not leave me un-moved. The point here is that one needs to be able to separate fantasy from reality, and that fantasy, consumed or imagined in the right amount and properly understood, can make your reality, your life, more interesting. But it doesn’t have to govern it. It’s my view that porn, properly understood, is a benign force by itself. It is simply adult entertainment. For those who can separate fantasy from reality, it is a wonderful source of erotic stimulation. That should be the disclaimer beyond being restricted to adult viewing. But here are a few responses you can use with those who point to pornography as a source of evil in all the social challenges faced by men and women today. I’ve illustrated my essay with some Ai images and some vintage porn images found on various freely accessible porn sites to get you through the more tedious parts of my essay.
Fig.1 Penguin book cover art for "Marquis De Sade" by Paul Buckley
Fig.2 Artwork for "Marquis De Sade" by Paul Buckley
Fig. 3 Leonor Fini, Illustration for de Marquis De Sade's Juliette, 1944
Fig. 4 Leonor Fini, Illustration for de Marquis De Sade's Juliette, 1944
Porn is not necessarily an evil thing.
When we discuss erotic art in comparison to porn, we almost always seem to identify the two as though they were at polar opposites, with porn being the polar negative, like right and wrong, heaven and hell. I love porn. I would not want to do without it. I see it has a rare benefit of the times I live in, despite the politics, the unwanted guilt or shame. But I also love art, whether it is erotic or not, but that may be the single most important point to make here. I love other stuff too. Porn is not the only thing I consume in my erotic life and so it doesn’t create unrealistic expectations in my sex life. One needs to have a broad view of things for porn to become just one source of well, enjoyment. When we compare art to porn we are essentially saying that porn has no redeeming value so that if the images we make are seen as (just) porn then they have less redeeming value as erotic art. Another argument is that porn is rarely the expression of an artistic exploration. Also that it exists only and purely for sexual stimulation, as though erotic art does not often play the same role.
Fig.5 "Two People Watching Porn on a Macbook" by Ewan Keenan (source: thecurators.com)
The negative effects of porn and other unfounded accusations against porn
I hear it all the time of course. The nefarious effects of pornography on the mind, on the libido, on testosterone levels. Where do they get all this stuff? Internet keeps offering us dubious studies that purport to be psychological studies that make porn a source of danger to everything from your well-being to your erection. And it’s all rather nebulous. And when psychology and biology are not enough, the spectres of crime, human trafficking and abuse are invoked to make porn the apparent source for many of our social challenges.
As a recent example, in June of 2025, police operations began in the Côte-des-Neiges area of Montreal around 11:30 a.m. ET, and just after 12:30 p.m. Police blocked off a large part of the city warning of an "armed and dangerous suspect." outside the offices of Aylo, the multinational company that owns the pornography site Pornhub, which is one of the most-visited websites in the world.Sadly local authorities later announced the death of police officer Mohamed Lamine-Benredouane, civilian Michel Mizrahi and the suspect himself. The shooter was the author of a manifesto that featured a blend of incel beliefs with Marxist ideology. Written in a more academic fashion than we typically see in this type of manifesto, the author espoused anti-pornography views and described men as an oppressed class who are being exploited by both capitalism and women. Incels — a misogynistic subculture for men who deem themselves "involuntarily celibate" encourage others to violently overthrow the existing system. The list of targets, including the pornography industry, included pedophiles, sex traffickers, companies with ties to Zionism, drug dealers, real estate investors, law enforcement and others. When one has no evidence of anything, just blame porn it appears. I haven’t read the man’s manifesto but I’m still looking for the link between porn and real estate investment.
On the effect of porn on relationships.
I’m not a psychologist; I like to think of myself more as a tribal elder; my wisdom is acquired through life experience and observation, with perhaps a little artistic shamanism thrown in. But I always found psychological counselling to be based a statistical analysis than any profound revelation about human behavior. Normality was and is always measured on a scale of expected behavior as opposed to expectations based on open creativity or a clear understanding of one’s profoundest desires. With regard to any nefarious influence on relationships, I would argue that if porn has an effect on a couple, then they should examine their relationship. (Setting aside the loser who misses work to stay home and watch porn.., there again I think that’s an extreme and I seriously doubt that this person participates in surveys.) My point? If you enjoy porn and erotic art and your partner doesn’t, then maybe you are not with the right partner.
Fig. 6 Anya Ivy By Maggie West For Pornhub
Fig.7 AI-generated art
You can check out the complete essay in Premium. and learn more about:
- On the effect of porn on young men under 30
- On the effect of porn on erectile dysfunction.
- Ai Porn Videos
- Porn Stars
- Aesthetics
- The Democracy of Porn
Click HERE for "Pornography, Philosophy, And Cinema In the Age Of Porno Chic" or HERE for "Puzzy Power: Denmark’s Feminist Pornography Movement."
Let us know your thoughts about the fine line between pornography and art in the comment box below...!!
