Ask A Genius 690: Pornography and Predilections
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2022/01/16
[Recording Start]
Rick Rosner: We’ve previously touched on the topic of the internet’s role in the decline of the war against pornography. People younger than me might not fully grasp the evolution of what constituted pornography. Just like entertainment has diversified to include increasingly outrageous content, so has pornography. It’s evolved from the innocuous ‘cheesecake shots’ of the 1950s, where nudity was non-existent, to more explicit material. In the 1970s and 1980s, the first appearances of pubic hair in magazines like Playboy and Penthouse were considered groundbreaking. This trend escalated with the arrival of Hustler, pushing the boundaries of explicitness.
Back then, being involved in pornography set you apart from mainstream society, a notion that has somewhat shifted today. The range of activities considered normal within the industry has expanded into areas that would have shocked those in the era of ‘Boogie Nights’. However, unlike other forms of entertainment, this shift in pornography has been more pervasive.
Another aspect to consider is the frequency of sexual release in human history. Thousands of years ago, the average lifespan was much shorter, and opportunities for sexual release were scarce. Many men probably didn’t live past their twenties. The concept of masturbation might not have been widely known or practiced. The idea of trial and error in discovering masturbation without the aid of language or culture raises interesting questions. Compare that to the present, where sexual knowledge and opportunities are abundant. I’ve calculated that I’ve had significantly more orgasms in my lifetime than what would have been typical for ancient humans. This raises questions about the impact of such frequent sexual stimulation on our arousal systems, especially in terms of seeking novelty.
In terms of sexual arousal within different cultural contexts, like a long-term Christian marriage, it’s curious to consider what elements contribute to sexual excitement. Does the idea of being part of a loving, committed relationship enhance arousal, or is the pursuit of novelty still a dominant factor? It’s an intriguing question and one that might vary greatly among individuals. What are your thoughts on this?
Jacobsen: I believe people naturally gravitate towards what they find attractive, but social influences can either reinforce these inclinations or drive them to extremes. To illustrate, consider the scenario of a gay man marrying a straight woman within a Christian context, resulting in a family with children. This happens quite often. Conversely, there are straightforward cases of straight, Christian couples who marry and have children out of love and shared values.
Rosner: Do you think that, by deeply embracing their roles, a man and a woman in a marriage can find their relationship intensely exciting, almost as if the kindness and love they share in their marriage becomes a source of sexual arousal?
Jacobsen: I think our understanding of the inner workings of the mind, especially regarding sexual attraction, is still quite limited. Generally, people’s behavior seems to be guided by their inherent sexual orientation and a tendency towards tenderness in sexual relationships. If this tendency aligns with their religious ethics and they express it in their actions, it becomes their lived experience. While the more sensational stories make headlines, most people, whether they are Christians advocating wholesome values or Satanists promoting sexual freedom, are likely driven by a desire to align their sexual behavior with both their innate preferences and their ideological beliefs.
Rosner: So, you’re suggesting that for some, their natural inclination might be towards wholesome, loving sex?
Jacobsen: I’d like to clarify two points. First, I don’t believe the universe has any concern for us individually; it’s only within our human context that we find significance and care. Second, if the universe is indifferent, then any ethical or moral judgment we make is solely relevant to our human experience.
Rosner: I’m not focusing on the ethical aspect of it.
Jacobsen: You used the term ‘kink’, which is typically associated with sexual preferences considered abnormal. But I think it’s more appropriate to refer to these inclinations simply as predilections. How about using ‘non-normative’ to describe certain sexual preferences? Typically, ‘kink’ refers to more extreme practices like leather and chains, and non-religious unions. But when considering people’s sexual predilections, we might think of them as distributed on something like a Gaussian curve.
Rosner: Right, but it’s more complex than that, existing in more than one dimension.
Jacobsen: Absolutely, I agree. People are naturally attracted to whoever they find appealing, or in some cases, not attracted at all.
Rosner: Moving back to the topic I was initially discussing, it seems possible that some individuals may find satisfaction in sex without the need for novelty. However, for many, the introduction of new elements is integral to their sexual experience. Our extended and active sexual lives, even if only with ourselves, create a demand for increasing novelty. It’s like needing more of a drug to achieve the same high.
As an example, there’s an aspect of adult entertainment I find both intriguing and indicative of a low level of creativity generally present in the industry. I appreciate pornography that includes a complete narrative, starting with clothed individuals and culminating in sexual activity. There’s a certain perversity in seeing people clothed, knowing they will eventually be unclothed, which contrasts with the typical daily experience where people remain clothed. It’s a balance between anticipation and fulfillment.
Interestingly, some creators in the adult entertainment industry have recognized this dynamic and developed content to cater to it. I came across a type of porn where the screen is split. On one side, you see a woman, say, acting as a realtor and staging a house. On the other side of the screen, shown simultaneously, is a scene set later where she engages in sexual activity. This approach caters to the desire for both the anticipation of what’s to come and the explicit sexual content. It’s a novel way to overcome the limitations of linear time in pornography, adding another layer to what I call ‘stacked perversities’.
[Recording End]
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In-Sight Publishing by Scott Douglas Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.in-sightpublishing.com.
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