Softcore pornography

Softcore pornography or softcore porn is commercial still photography or film that has a pornographic or erotic component but is less sexually graphic and intrusive than hardcore pornography, defined by a "lack of penetration" including stripteases, lingerie modeling, simulated sex, and emphasis on the sensual appreciation of the female or male form. It typically contains nude or semi-nude actors involved in love scenes, and is intended to be sexually arousing and aesthetically beautiful.

1880s French postcard showing (presumed) intercourse without showing actual penetration.

2010. Still from an erotic art film showing a couple from the waist up, thus leaving ambiguous to what degree sexual activity is occurring, a typical framing technique for a softcore porn film.

Components

Softcore pornography may include sexual activity between two people or masturbation. It does not contain explicit depictions of sexual intercourse.[1] Depictions of erections of the penis may not be allowed (see Mull of Kintyre Test), although attitudes towards this are ever-changing.[2] Commercial pornography can be differentiated from erotica, which has high-art aspirations.[3]

Portions of images that are considered too explicit may be obscured in a variety of ways, such as the use of draped hair or clothing, carefully positioned hands or other body parts, carefully positioned foreground elements in the scene (often plants, pillows, furniture or drapery), and carefully chosen camera angles.

Pornographic filmmakers sometimes make both hardcore and softcore versions of a film, with the softcore version using less explicit angles of sex scenes,[4] or using the other techniques to "tone down" any objectionable feature. The softcore version may, for example, be edited for the in-house hotel pay-per-view market. French actress Sylvia Krystel acted on softcore film "Emmanuelle"(1974).

Total nudity is commonplace in several magazines, as well as in photography[5] and on the internet.

Regulation and censorship

In most countries softcore films are eligible for movie ratings, usually on a restricted rating, though many such films are also released unrated. As with hardcore films, availability of softcore films varies depending on local laws. Also, the exhibition of such films may be restricted to those above a certain age, typically 18. At least one country, Germany, has different age limits for hardcore and softcore pornography, softcore material usually receiving a FSK-16 rating (no one under 16 allowed to buy) and hardcore material receiving a FSK-18 (no one under 18 allowed to buy). In some countries, broadcasting of softcore films is widespread on cable television networks,[6] with some such as Cinemax producing their own in-house softcore films and television series.

In some countries, images of women's genitals are digitally manipulated so that they aren't too "detailed".[7] An Australian pornographic actress says that images of her own genitals sold to pornographic magazines in different countries are digitally manipulated to change the size and shape of the labia according to censorship standards in different countries.[8][9][10]

History

Originally, softcore pornography was presented mainly in the form of "men's magazines", when it was barely acceptable to show a glimpse of a woman's nipple in the 1950s. By the 1970s, in such mainstream magazines as Playboy, Penthouse, and Hustler, no region of the body was considered off limits.[5]

After the formation of the MPAA rating system in the United States and prior to the 1980s, numerous softcore films, with a wide range of production costs, were released to mainstream movie theatres, especially drive-ins. Italian actress Laura Antonelli acted on softcore film "Malizia"(1973).[11] Some, such as Emmanuelle[12] and Alice in Wonderland,[13] received positive reviews from noted critics such as Roger Ebert.

From the 2000s, relaxed standards for cable television has allowed for the production of a number of television series with sexually explicit or violent content to air that would have been restricted to the softcore movie market in the past.

See also

• Erotic photography
• Sexploitation film

References

1. Carroll JL (2018). Sexuality Now: Embracing Diversity. Cengage Learning. p. 289. ISBN 978-1337672061. Vaginal intercourse (also referred to as sexual intercourse) involves inserting
2. Dubberley, Emily (2005). Carly Milne (ed.). Naked Ambition: Women Who Are Changing Pornography. Carroll & Graf Publishers. ISBN 0-7867-1590-1. OCLC 62177941.
3. "Pornography". Encarta. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009.
4. Amis, Martin (March 17, 2001). "A rough trade". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
5. "P20th Century Nudes in Art". The Art History Archive. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
6. Battista, Kathy (2011). "Cindy Hinant's make-up, glamour and TV show". Phaidon. Retrieved November 23, 2014. Similarly, Softcore are pornographic images obscured to the point of obliteration, give the appearance of grey monochromes. The sexually charged imagery only emerges in feint detail within intimate distance.
7. The Labiaplasty Fad? - Sex. Hungry Beast. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. April 15, 2010.
8. KATY MARRINER. "The Vagina Diaries - a study guide" (PDF). Australian Teachers of Media magazine. ISBN 978-1-74295-374-8.
9. "Labiaplasty and Censorship - is there a link?". Mamamia.
10. "BLAME IT ON THE BRAZILIAN". BIRDEE.
11. "Samperi Salvatore: Malice (Malizia)". Retrieved May 26, 2020.
12. Ebert, Roger (January 1, 1975). "Emmanuelle". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
13. Ebert, Roger (November 24, 1976). "Alice in Wonderland". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 18, 2008.