Exploring the World of Adult Cinema: Erotica vs. Pornography

Exploring the World of Adult Cinema: Erotica vs. Pornography

“Erotica and sexuality” or “sexuality and erotica”—these two elements are essential in our intimate lives. While the honeymoon phase might draw us to our partners with intense passion, maintaining these elements is crucial in more mature and stable periods to prevent our relationship from becoming mundane and routine. Fantasies, erotic lingerie, pleasant music, sex toys, and cinema can all help. The famous phrase, “Of all the arts, cinema is the most important for us,” takes on an interesting twist in this context.

The Popularity of 18+ Films

It’s no secret that 18+ films are popular and in demand in the global film industry. Erotic films and pornographic cinema are the forbidden and alluring “fruit” in adolescence, idealization, curiosity, and a way to see one’s fantasies come to life in youth and maturity. Each of these film genres has a different meaning and visual narrative, and they serve different purposes. But before delving into the meanings and purposes, let’s try to understand the difference between erotica and sexuality, as these distinctions form the basis of the plots in pornographic and erotic films.

Sexuality vs. Erotica

It’s hard to disagree that a sexual woman or man differs from an erotic woman or man. These differences lie in appearance, presentation, and the energy they transmit. After all, our sexuality is based on instincts, while erotica is based on desires.

The Essence of Sexuality

Sexuality is the verb “want.” Its motto is: “See the goal—act.” Sexuality is aimed at possessing the partner’s body. If we imagine sexuality as a conversation between two people, it is a monologue where the speaker is the priority, and they know what and, most importantly, HOW to say. The message “I want” is actively used not only in pornographic films but also in the advertising industry, as it is a sure way to generate energy in the viewer.

The Nature of Erotica

Erotica is a bit different. It is aimed at pleasure. The territory of erotica is seduction. Its favorite verb is “desire.” Its motto is: “I desire others’ desires.” One desire is replaced by another, meaning it is impossible to be satisfied with them. If we turn erotica into a metaphor for conversation, it is a dialogue in which we do everything to make our interlocutor interested and comfortable.

The Balance in Intimate Relationships

In important, interesting, and comfortable intimate relationships, there is always both a sexual and an erotic component. We are embarrassed when we are seduced, but this embarrassment always contains pleasure. Remember the first dates, glances, touches, and kisses. After all, when embarrassment is lost in a relationship, excitement cannot be discussed. First, we seduce our partner with erotica through our desires and the satisfaction of their desires, and then we switch to sexuality when we are in intimate relationships with them.

Differences in 18+ Films

Now that the difference between erotica and sexuality is clear, let’s return to the film industry and 18+ films. We mentioned that films with erotic and pornographic content have different goals and objectives.

Expression of Sexuality

The first and most striking difference between these genres is the expression of sexuality. In porn films, it is deliberately casual, shame is excluded, there is little room for fantasies, and there is a lot of freedom in actions. Porn is aggressive and creates unrealistic expectations in the viewer. Without corresponding knowledge of the physiology and psychology of intimate life, one can be misled about their abilities. After all, comparing oneself to porn stars, there is a greater risk of lowering self-esteem. Films with erotic content are aimed at demonstrating sexuality, they have aesthetics, beauty, and idealization of the human body and relationships. Unlike porn films, there is plenty of room for fantasies here.

Emotions Generated

The second difference is the feelings that these two genres evoke in us. If we talk about porn films, the viewer identifies with sexual activity, in which there is no place for human relationships. Scenes of mechanical and impersonal actions do little to promote positive emotions. Tension, excitement, and then attempts to realize the aggressive actions seen in one’s own life arise. In an erotic plot, the story is different: the idealization and romance that the viewer sees give rise to a different type of excitement—associated with mystery, slowness, the desire to try, but at the same time remain oneself.

Residual Energy

The third difference is the energy that remains with the viewer. After watching porn, a kind of “hangover” can occur—when one feels ashamed and anxious, a feeling of depression or irritability arises: “I am doing wrong,” “I shouldn’t have done this,” and other thoughts, frequent companions of this state. After all, the seen power, mechanical sex, and aggression activate impulses in us that we suppress ourselves. In films with erotic content, the aesthetic visuals and dialogues of the characters allow the viewer to create their own fantasies, in which there is excitement, interest, lightness, desire, and most importantly—the courage to offer a partner. It is this genre that helps the viewer overcome their own boundaries and experiment. It is no coincidence that sexologists advise couples with reduced desire to immerse themselves in the world of erotic art.

Maturity in Viewing 18+ Films

18+ films require emotional and psychological maturity from us, because only then are we able to accept our sexuality and enjoy it. To combine “want” and “desire” in ourselves, to weave erotic feelings and emotional relationships into an intricate lace. To build a safe space for ourselves in which we can expand our own boundaries and respect the internal “territory” of the partner. After all, in a mature couple, erotic art can support and preserve passion, attraction, and love.

Text: psychologist Alena Korolkova.