The Origins of PORN
By Tamondong, LJ

Pornography is one of the most controversial issues in the country today. But what exactly is pornography anyway? Most people would probably answer; it's a vulgar display of sexuality, which incites arousal. Images of naked men and women are usually the first things that come to mind.

Consider this: Most of the world's greatest artists produced masterpieces inspired by the human form. (Read: Naked men and women) Based on the mindset stated earlier, what exempts these creations from being called pornographic? Some might argue that it's art. But can't it also be argued that pornography IS art. Who defines it? Where do we draw the line?

There are different angles to look at this, depending on which part of the world you are from, and what culture you have adapted to. Some countries have encouraged liberal thinking leading to sexual freedom, while others have chosen a more inhibited route, i.e. sexual repression.

Prior to Spain’s colonization of the Philippines, the people used to roam freely, barely clothed. The women found no shame in exposing their breasts, while the men were quite satisfied with using merely loincloths. There was no malice, and the term pornography was unheard of.

Then colonization happened. And with this came the introduction of a whole new set of beliefs and principles that the people were made to learn. They were taught to dress “properly”, and in the process, introduced [foreigners’] concept of decency. Slowly, the natives began to embrace this foreign culture, which eventually took over their customs and traditions. Nudity became taboo. Sexuality became shameful. It was dawn of repression, and the birth of pornography in the country.

Based on these events, one could surmise that pornography is a product of repression. Shaped by a strong religious culture which grew and took strong hold in the country hundreds of years ago, the Filipinos have become programmed to think of anything related to sexuality as something to be kept secret. But then again, people always want what they can’t have, as the saying goes. Because it was considered unmentionable, it burgeoned as an underground movement, and anyone who boldly went public with his / her personal sexuality was labeled pornographic, thus, immoral.

The culture has evolved since then. Although Filipinos are most open to these, there are still limitations and rules imposed as to what ideas can be freely circulated. The film industry, for example, has a board of censors, which attempt to screen and decide what is appropriate for viewing.

Censorship is a whole new concept introduced with pornography. It presumes that people are not responsible nor mature enough to think for themselves, and therefore decisions have to be made for them. The reasoning behind this is that most people are impressionable and that viewing pornography may mechanically incite some to sexual crime.

Right.

Images do not promote promiscuity; role models do. We do not need a board of censors to slice and dice media for us if we can be responsible enough to educate ourselves, to make ourselves aware. If we are able to dispense with malice in sexuality, the idea of pornography will cease to exist.