Animating erotica without shame: an autoethnographic creative account
Abstract
This article explores the experience of shame and guilt that is associated with producing explicit erotic animated content. By employing the reflective practice journaling method, this autoethnographic essay discusses cultural and psychological challenges that need to be overcome by an animator from the Western cultural sphere in order to be able to produce content with sexual overtones. Findings suggest that to create erotic content, it is necessary first to overcome psychological barriers. But even then, the ability to portray animated sexual rapport requires specific animation skills and aesthetical understanding that are difficult to transfer from previous experience. The article concludes with a discussion on how to approach erotic content and what possible challenges the creative team may face in a project with erotic overtones.
Keyword : adult animation, animated erotica, autoethnography, censorship, mature, pornography, reflective journal, self-censorship
How to Cite
Mitkus, T. (2024). Animating erotica without shame: an autoethnographic creative account. Creativity Studies, 17(1), 345–361. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2024.19513
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
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Jisc: Archives Hub. (1989). Campaign against Pornography and Censorship (CPC). https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/4864c211-82cf-3f39-8731-5f04a55d7d00?component=479a9917-8141-33be-8c7b-8419a174a9af
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Maso, I. (2001). Phenomenology and ethnography. In P. Atkinson, A. Coffey, S. Delamont, J. Lofland, & L. Lofland (Eds.), Handbook of ethnography (pp. 136–144). SAGE Publications Ltd. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781848608337.n9
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Milligan, Ch., Bingley, A., & Gatrell, A. (2005). Digging deep: Using diary techniques to explore the place of health and well-being amongst older people. Social Science and Medicine, 61(9), 1882–1892. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.04.002
Mitkus, T. (2023). Aspects of creativity in adult animation: An overview of censorship and self-censorship in Western countries. Creativity Studies, 16(1), 39–49. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2023.15446
Mitkus, T., & Nedzinskaitė-Mitkė, V. (2018). Causes and conditions for animation-as-genre misconception: Lithuanian case. In Proceedings of the CONFIA 2018: 6th International Conference on Illustration and Animation (pp. 102–111). School of Design.
Nead, L. (2001). The female nude: Art, obscenity and sexuality. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203135471
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Pope, N. K. LI, Voges, K. E., Kuhn, K.-A. L., & Bloxsome, E. L. (2007). Pornography and erotica: Definitions and prevalence. In Social Entrepreneurship, Social Change and Sustainability: Proceedings of the 2007 International Nonprofit and Social Marketing Conference (pp. 165–173). Griffith University.
Rea, M. C. (2001). What is pornography? Noûs, 35(1), 118–145. https://doi.org/10.1111/0029-4624.00290
Richardson, L. (2000). My left hand: Socialization and the interrupted life. Qualitative Inquiry, 6(4), 467–473. https://doi.org/10.1177/107780040000600403
Richardson, L. (2002). Skirting a pleated text: De-Disciplining an academic life. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The qualitative inquiry reader (pp. 39–50). Sage Publications, Inc.
Riigi Teataja. (2012). Act to regulate dissemination of works which contain pornography or promote violence or cruelty. https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/520012015009/consolide
Scarlett, S. (2018). Erotica as a literary genre. Medium. https://sayde-scarlett.medium.com/erotica-as-a-literary-genre-d59b9c4adaf1
Seltzer, L. F. (2011). What distinguishes erotica from pornography? Gazing or leering? An examination of the erotic versus pornographic. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-of-the-self/201104/what-distinguishes-erotica-from-pornography
Slade, J. W. (2001). American popular culture. Vol. 2. Pornography and sexual repression: A reference guide. M. Th. Inge (Series Ed.). Greenwood Press.
Suraiya, J. (2004). Don’t confuse porn with erotica. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dont-confuse-porn-with-erotica/articleshow/815524.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Tarrant, Sh. (2016). The pornography industry: What everyone needs to know. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/9780190205119.001.0001
Timsit, A. (2018). The vast gap between how the US and Europe think about teens and sex. Quartz. https://qz.com/1335380/eighth-grade-shows-the-difference-between-how-the-us-and-europe-think-about-teens-and-sex
Webb, P. (1975). The erotic arts. New York Graphic Society.
Williams, B. (Ed.). (2015). Obscenity and film censorship: An abridgement of the Williams Report. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781316286753
Alaszewski, A. (2006). Using diaries for social research. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9780857020215
Bendazzi, G. (2017). Animation: A world history. Vol. 1: Foundations – The Golden Age. Routledge.
Black Wing. (2015). Erotica versus Porn: Which do you support? Part 1. Sex Art. https://www.sexart.com/blog/20151130/Erotica_versus_Porn__Which_do_you_support__Part_1
Bochner, A. P., & Ellis, C. (2016). Writing lives: Ethnographic narratives. Evocative autoethnography: Writing lives and telling stories. A. P. Bochner & C. Ellis (Series Eds.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315545417
Boivin, J. (2017). Animation and the national ethos: The American dream, socialist realism, and Russian émigrés in France [PhD/Doctoral Thesis, University of Alberta]. Canada. https://era.library.ualberta.ca/items/4e95c758-b5b5-4f18-bf2b-d97d43bc65fc/view/3884df9f-f4dc-4995-b178-54456bcfc418/Boivin_Jennifer_200709_PDF_A.PDF
Cameron, S. (2005). Economics of pornography. In S. W. Bowmaker (Ed.). Economics uncut: A complete guide to life, death and Misadventure (pp. 171–192). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781845427986.00018
Cawston, A. (2019). The feminist case against pornography: A review and re-evaluation. Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy, 62(6), 624–658. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020174X.2018.1487882
Chen, Sh. (2020). Adults as audience: A review of The Guardian. Association for Chinese Animation Studies. https://acas.world/2020/09/15/adults-as-audience-a-review-of-the-guardian/
Cohen, K. F. (1997). Forbidden animation: Censored cartoons and blacklisted animators in America. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers.
Coxon, A. P. M. (1996). Between the sheets: Sexual diaries and gay men’s sex in the era of AIDS. London.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2002). The qualitative inquiry reader. Sage Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412986267
Dumitrica, D. D. (2010). Choosing methods, negotiating legitimacy: A metalogue on autoethnography. Graduate Journal of Social Science, 7(1), 18–38.
E-seimas.lrs.lt. (2006). Lietuvos Respublikos visuomenės informavimo įstatymas. https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/TAIS.29884/asr
Ellis, C. (2004). The ethnographic I: A methodological novel about autoethnography. AltaMira Press.
Evershed, J. (2020). Adult animation: Finally breaking free of its comedy shackles. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/adult-animation-finally-breaking-free-its-comedy-john-evershed
Evershed, J. (2021a). Adult animation White Paper. https://cdn3.toonboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/22213517/toonboom-adult-animation-white-paper.pdf
Evershed, J. (2021b). The “Great Adult Animation Boom” is in full swing. Toon Boom. https://www.toonboom.com/adult-animation-white-paper
Filmsite. (1996–2023). Sexual or erotic films. https://www.filmsite.org/sexualfilms.html
Fisher, D. A., Hill, D. L., Grube, J. W., & Gruber, E. L. (2004). Sex on American television: An analysis across program genres and network types. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 48(4), 529–553. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15506878jobem4804_1
Gehrke, W. G. (1997). Erotica is not pornography. The Tech: Online edition. http://tech.mit.edu/V116/N65/erotica.65l.html
Government of Canada: Justice Laws Website. (2023). Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/PDF/C-46.pdf
Greenberg, B., Stanley, C., Siemicki, M., Heeter, C., Soderman, A., & Linsangan, R. (1993). Sex content on soaps and prime-time television series most viewed by adolescents. In B. S. Greenberg, J. D. Brown, & N. L. Buerkel-Rothfuss (Eds.), Media, sex and the adolescent (pp. 29–44). Hampton Press.
Hetsroni, A. (2007). Three decades of sexual content on prime-time network programming: A longitudinal meta-analytic review. Journal of Communication, 57(2), 318–348. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2007.00345.x
Holt, N. L. (2003). Representation, legitimation, and autoethnography: An autoethnographic writing story. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 2(1), 18–28. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940690300200102
Jisc: Archives Hub. (1989). Campaign against Pornography and Censorship (CPC). https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/4864c211-82cf-3f39-8731-5f04a55d7d00?component=479a9917-8141-33be-8c7b-8419a174a9af
Lapadat, J. C. (2017). Ethics in autoethnography and collaborative autoethnography. Qualitative Inquiry, 23(8), 589–603. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800417704462
Legislation.gov.uk. (2017). Digital Economy Act 2017. Section 15: Meaning of “Pornographic Material”. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2017/30/section/15/enacted
MacKeogh, C. (2004). Teenagers and the media: A media analysis of sexual content on television (Crisis Pregnancy Agency Report. No. 10). Crisis Pregnancy Agency.
Maso, I. (2001). Phenomenology and ethnography. In P. Atkinson, A. Coffey, S. Delamont, J. Lofland, & L. Lofland (Eds.), Handbook of ethnography (pp. 136–144). SAGE Publications Ltd. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781848608337.n9
Medved, A. (1997). TV Vice. American Enterprise, 8(5), 54–56.
Mikkola, M. (2013). Pornography, art and porno-art. In H. Maes (Ed.), Pornographic art and the aesthetics of pornography (pp. 27–42). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137367938_2
Milligan, Ch., Bingley, A., & Gatrell, A. (2005). Digging deep: Using diary techniques to explore the place of health and well-being amongst older people. Social Science and Medicine, 61(9), 1882–1892. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.04.002
Mitkus, T. (2023). Aspects of creativity in adult animation: An overview of censorship and self-censorship in Western countries. Creativity Studies, 16(1), 39–49. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2023.15446
Mitkus, T., & Nedzinskaitė-Mitkė, V. (2018). Causes and conditions for animation-as-genre misconception: Lithuanian case. In Proceedings of the CONFIA 2018: 6th International Conference on Illustration and Animation (pp. 102–111). School of Design.
Nead, L. (2001). The female nude: Art, obscenity and sexuality. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203135471
Peacock, Lt. C. C. (1997). White ribbons launch anti-porn campaign. Caring Magazine. https://caringmagazine.org/white-ribbons-launch-anti-porn-campaign/
Peter, J., & Valkenburg, P. M. (2016). Adolescents and pornography: A review of 20 years of research. The Journal of Sex Research, 53(4–5), 509–531. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2016.1143441
Pope, N. K. LI, Voges, K. E., Kuhn, K.-A. L., & Bloxsome, E. L. (2007). Pornography and erotica: Definitions and prevalence. In Social Entrepreneurship, Social Change and Sustainability: Proceedings of the 2007 International Nonprofit and Social Marketing Conference (pp. 165–173). Griffith University.
Rea, M. C. (2001). What is pornography? Noûs, 35(1), 118–145. https://doi.org/10.1111/0029-4624.00290
Richardson, L. (2000). My left hand: Socialization and the interrupted life. Qualitative Inquiry, 6(4), 467–473. https://doi.org/10.1177/107780040000600403
Richardson, L. (2002). Skirting a pleated text: De-Disciplining an academic life. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The qualitative inquiry reader (pp. 39–50). Sage Publications, Inc.
Riigi Teataja. (2012). Act to regulate dissemination of works which contain pornography or promote violence or cruelty. https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/520012015009/consolide
Scarlett, S. (2018). Erotica as a literary genre. Medium. https://sayde-scarlett.medium.com/erotica-as-a-literary-genre-d59b9c4adaf1
Seltzer, L. F. (2011). What distinguishes erotica from pornography? Gazing or leering? An examination of the erotic versus pornographic. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-of-the-self/201104/what-distinguishes-erotica-from-pornography
Slade, J. W. (2001). American popular culture. Vol. 2. Pornography and sexual repression: A reference guide. M. Th. Inge (Series Ed.). Greenwood Press.
Suraiya, J. (2004). Don’t confuse porn with erotica. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dont-confuse-porn-with-erotica/articleshow/815524.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Tarrant, Sh. (2016). The pornography industry: What everyone needs to know. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/9780190205119.001.0001
Timsit, A. (2018). The vast gap between how the US and Europe think about teens and sex. Quartz. https://qz.com/1335380/eighth-grade-shows-the-difference-between-how-the-us-and-europe-think-about-teens-and-sex
Webb, P. (1975). The erotic arts. New York Graphic Society.
Williams, B. (Ed.). (2015). Obscenity and film censorship: An abridgement of the Williams Report. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781316286753