Definition of Pornography

[Connie]

I came across this article in some of my reading. It is from the August 1989 Ensign, written by one R. Gary Shapiro (who, it seems, is a random member of the church who happened to write an article for the Ensign). I thought it was rather interesting and wondered about what others might think of it. Specifically, would you agree or disagree with his definition of pornography and why? Discuss.

[GB-UK]

Totally disagree, PG 13 movies are porn? Don't think so.

[pam]

I can agree with it. What used to be R rated movies are now PG-13. I can also agree with his comments...are we guided by the world's definition?

[Vort]

Originally Posted by Connie

I came across this article in some of my reading. It is from the August 1989 Ensign, written by one R. Gary Shapiro (who, it seems, is a random member of the church who happened to write an article for the Ensign). I thought it was rather interesting and wondered about what others might think of it. Specifically, would you agree or disagree with his definition of pornography and why? Discuss.

I pretty much agree with him. Our world is so saturated in pornography we don't even recognize it any more.

As a missionary in Italy in 1983, I was appalled by some of the billboards and posters I saw on the street. Women's naked breasts, and occasionally pudenda, were everywhere, and not just in the artwork. Men, too, were well-represented; I remember one poster that had a naked adult man standing facing the camera, his crotch being (barely) covered by the head of a naked boy standing in front of him. I remember wondering how far behind Europe my own country was following. Looks like about 30 years, though I suspect that gap is narrowing.

[KrazyKay]

Originally Posted by pam

are we guided by the world's definition?

This is a constant conflict between my husband and myself concerning his video games. I keep telling him that he should judge a video game based on if it promotes high values rather than just on the ratings. Some games are rated T but have inappropriate content that you play - such as violence, alcohol, drugs, or sexual not bad enough to make the game rated M but still not promoting high values. His argument is that it is rated T and so not bad.

To me it's the same with movies... we shouldn't look at the ratings so much, but rather at the content. If a movie interests us, we should first look at the rating, R is automatically out since a movie to get a R rating in today's world means the movie is very bad. Most PG-13 is also not good... some are pushing it, and some are ok. But in my opinion, it is between us and Heavenly Father which movies that are rated PG-13 we watch and which we don't. Most PG movies are ok, but some are not. I saw a PG movie once that had a making-out scene. In my opinion that is not ok and I would not allow my 11 year old to watch that movie with the making out scene. Lately I've also been a bit weary of some G movies. I saw one that had some hidden adult humor that kids probably wouldn't get but adults would. If memory serves me right, it was the Sponge Bob Square Pants movie.

[Backroads]

I don't know if I can completely agree with his definition. Perhaps I think of the pornography too much in the legal sense of the term (that is something with which I agree right there). I think things can be offensive to the spirit, but it takes certain things to strike me as pornographic.

That being said, it's fine article and I have no issue with him desiring us to be selective of the entertainment offered by the world.

[pam]

KrazyKay..I just noticed your signature. I LOVE it!

[Backroads]

Originally Posted by Vort

I pretty much agree with him. Our world is so saturated in pornography we don't even recognize it any more.

As a missionary in Italy in 1983, I was appalled by some of the billboards and posters I saw on the street. Women's naked breasts, and occasionally pudenda, were everywhere, and not just in the artwork. Men, too, were well-represented; I remember one poster that had a naked adult man standing facing the camera, his crotch being (barely) covered by the head of a naked boy standing in front of him. I remember wondering how far behind Europe my own country was following. Looks like about 30 years, though I suspect that gap is narrowing.

By other countries' standards, the US is really quite a prudish nation. And I have nothing wrong with other good-intentioned views of the human body. But I remember being in Europe and being unable to justify some of the things I saw.

Originally Posted by KrazyKay

This is a constant conflict between my husband and myself concerning his video games. I keep telling him that he should judge a video game based on if it promotes high values rather than just on the ratings. Some games are rated T but have inappropriate content that you play - such as violence, alcohol, drugs, or sexual not bad enough to make the game rated M but still not promoting high values. His argument is that it is rated T and so not bad.

To me it's the same with movies... we shouldn't look at the ratings so much, but rather at the content. If a movie interests us, we should first look at the rating, R is automatically out since a movie to get a R rating in today's world means the movie is very bad. Most PG-13 is also not good... some are pushing it, and some are ok. But in my opinion, it is between us and Heavenly Father which movies that are rated PG-13 we watch and which we don't. Most PG movies are ok, but some are not. I saw a PG movie once that had a making-out scene. In my opinion that is not ok and I would not allow my 11 year old to watch that movie with the making out scene. Lately I've also been a bit weary of some G movies. I saw one that had some hidden adult humor that kids probably wouldn't get but adults would. If memory serves me right, it was the Sponge Bob Square Pants movie.

My little sister and her boyfriend are very black-white when it comes to movie ratings, and I completely respect that. But I haven't been able to do that for years. So many sites these days will spell out what is wrong with a movie and give examples. It's great.

I so know what you mean about Spongebob. I've seen so many cartoons--even cartoons I loved--that struck me as very questionable.

[Vort]

Originally Posted by Backroads

By other countries' standards, the US is really quite a prudish nation.

By other people's standards, Mormons are insane. The standards of other people (or countries) don't concern me much.

I agree with the principle but i dont think there are any PG-13 movies that would ever have been rated X. I can see modern PG-13 movies being rated R but not X.