A brief history of porn

From Ancient Greek sculptures of threesomes to the ancient Hindu text Kama Sutra, it's easy to see that sex has played a huge role in our culture and relationships. But how does porn fit into that?

Pornography existed long before the Internet, videos or even photography. Sculptures, paintings and written literature were the only forms of adult material until the birth of the daguerreotype in 1839. This early form of photography allowed people to create and distribute erotic material to a wider population. The daguerreotype led to the creation of short silent movie clips, like Le Coucher de la Mariee in 1896, and eventually the popularity of the camera.

Erotica has always kept up with technology. In 2006, the top six most popular websites were five pornography sites and Google. Public viewings of porn came along with the introduction of movie theatres, and eventually, the changing of societal norms led to the 1970s "golden age" of x-rated material. Seventies porn was meant to be naughty, fantastical and much more story-based.

London sexologist Dr. Carlen Costa said, "It's being able to see what you don't see or experience on a regular basis ... the draw is all about wanting to discover." She said she believes that erotic material is a way for people to realize their sexual interests and what they're comfortable doing with their partners.

Some porn critics argue that recent competition between pornographers has led to verbal and physical aggression against women in mainstream adult material. The reason behind the abuse? Aggression in pornography is something slightly new that directors have to offer to their viewers.

Critics say that this on-screen abuse has lead to sexual abuse in the real world. Costa said, "The idea of fantasy can translate so strongly into how people see reality. That translation can be so intense for some people, especially people who don't get to engage in sexual activity with other people as much as they want to." She added, "A lot of it is based on a male gaze. It has formulated what people think of as mainstream. Sexuality and sexual pleasure rests in the eyes of men."

On the other hand, there isn't actually any strong research that suggests a strong link between x-rated material and criminal sexual behaviour.

"Porn isn't going away. So how are we going to make it better? How are we going to make it healthy?" Costa said that it's important to view porn knowing that what you are watching isn't reality.

Erotic videos are a great way to spice up your sex life, but there's a problem when those videos start to impact your everyday life.

Costa stressed that the majority of porn has strict regulations that are usually never seen on camera. "A lot of it is actually really highly regulated — STI testing, HIV testing, condom use. This is their job; they need to talk about it."

The porn industry has had ups and downs since its start, but today, Adult Video News estimates the porn and sex toy industry is worth $6 billion a year — and that doesn't even include the staggering number of free and amateur porn websites. As its audience grows and their tastes change and evolve, the ongoing competition between pornography directors will always keep porn exciting and popular.

Types of porn

Erotic material can be broken down into several different sub-genres. Some of these include the following:

Amateur:
Starting with the invention of the Polaroid cameras in the '60s, amateur porn features unpaid people usually performing from their own home. Reality pornography is similar. In this style, directors aim to create the feel of amateur porn using paid actors.

Fetish:
Porn that is intended to arouse the viewer with objects or specific situations. This can include BDSM, role playing and bondage pornography.

Homosexual:
Includes transsexual, lesbian and gay material. While slightly less popular than heterosexual porn, homosexual porn has a history dating back to Ancient Greece.

Mature:
Generally features performers who are over the age of 40. Mature porn can include older women in fantasy scenarios with younger men.