That pornography has got nothing to do with love or sex should be clear from the word’s linguistic roots. Pornography stems for the Greek words porne ‘prostitute’ + graphein ‘write’ and literally means ‘writing about prostitutes’. Thus pornography has, since its origin been linked to the commercial sexual exploitation of the most vulnerable women and children who have to sell their bodies as utilities for men to achieve orgasms. The link between prostitution and pornography is particularly relevant to current mainstream pornographic films, which are nothing more than the stylized, recorded prostitution of women in which men can do to women whatever they want. To put it in the words of someone I know and words I have come to agree with – “the only…

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Ulrich Beck, one of the most influential sociologists of our time writes of a two-fold tendency in society.  On the one hand traditional social ties, relations and beliefs systems that used to shape people’s lives in the narrowest way are today losing more and more of their significance.  From family unit, village community, through religion to class, occupation and gender role, things that once gave framework and rule to everyday life, are crumbling away.  Clearly for individuals this brings new options, new spaces. She and he can and should decide how to shape their own life.  There is much that is positive about those changes – no one disputes that. At the same time – and this is the other side of the individualization dynamic…

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How did porn get to be cool? Pop culture’s unquestioning embrace of porn leaves Adam Carey searching for answers. Read the Sydney Morning Herald article here.

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