Erotica (from the Greek Eros—"desire") or "curiosa," works of art, including literature, photography, film, sculpture and painting, that deal substantively with erotically stimulating or sexually arousing descriptions. Erotica is a modern word used to describe the portrayal of the human anatomy and sexuality with high-art aspirations, differentiating such work from commercial pornography. "Curiosa" is generally used to refer to erotica and pornography as discrete, collectible items, usually in published or printed form.

Various sub-genres of erotica exist. As with fiction as a whole, there are erotic stories with a science fiction, fantasy, horror or romance focus. Additionally, erotica can also focus on specific sexual behavior or fetishes such as BDSM, wearing uniforms, cross-dressing, polygamy and sexual promiscuity. Fan fiction featuring characters engaging in male homosexual acts has become known as slash fiction.

Erotica and pornography

Since the 1960's such laws, though not formally repealed, are less stringently enforced, and the issue - while far from moot - has become less heatedly debated. In general, there is a considerable number of works whose literary or artistic merit is not in serious doubt; there is, on the other hand, a considerable quantity of material - nowadays produced and distributed more or less freely - whose being pornography is not seriously doubted either; and there is a considerable number of in-betweens, whose attribution to one of the categories can be disputed, though such disputes are now usually settled out of court and through people's individual or collective esthetic sense.

See also

• Erotic art
• Erotic literature
• Eroticism

• History of erotic depictions
• History of erotic photography
• List of authors of erotic works

External links

• "Erotica and Pornography" by Edmund Miller, glbtq: An Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Culture (website), New England Publishing Associates, 2002.
• "Alice in EroticLand" Erotica in Art and Photography
• "Pepe Kanavis" Erotic and Digital Art