The History of Pornography up to the rise of the Digital Porn industry epitomised by the Porn Hub in Popular Culture today
Pornography has been present in human civilization since ancient times, with depictions of sexual acts and nudity found in art, literature, and other forms of media. However, it was not until the invention of the printing press that pornography could be distributed on a mass scale.
During the Renaissance period, handmade books with sexual illustrations were commissioned, often for entertainment or as political propaganda against the nobility. With the invention of the printing press, pornography became more widely available and popular, especially in Europe. French free thinkers used pornography as a medium of political satire, targeting the Catholic Church and the monarchy, and it played a role in the French Revolution.
Photography had a unique impact on pornography, with pioneers like Louis Daguerre developing techniques for producing photographic prints with lasting detail and quality. Although photography enabled pornography to break new ground, it was costly and time-consuming to produce. However, with the development of the calotype procedure, mass distribution of erotic photographs became possible from the 1840s onwards.
Halftone printing arrived in 1880, making it easy to print photos in black and white. This propelled pornography into the mass market, with the first porn magazines being printed. In the 1940s, pin-ups arrived, with an initial focus on legs, followed by breasts in the 1950s, and the introduction of pin-up legends like Marilyn Monroe.
Magazines like Playboy and Penthouse revolutionized the medium of erotic photography by implementing pioneering aesthetic techniques in their erotic depictions. Penthouse was also the first magazine to show pubic hair and full frontal nudity. By the 1990s, hardcore magazines like Hustler were showing all types of erotic situations, ranging from fetishes to sexual penetration, same-sex intercourse, orgies, and masturbation.
The rise of motion pictures led to the production of erotic films, with the first erotic short films being made in France in the early 20th century. These films were deemed unlawful, and censorship laws meant that stag films were an underground movement that continued well after World War 2.
The arrival of 8mm film saw a boom in amateur cinematography, which extended to erotic films, with both softcore and hardcore films being produced. Denmark and the Netherlands were the first countries to legalize pornography in 1969, followed by Sweden in 1971, increasing the popularity and mainstream commercial appeal of porn.
During the 1970s, pornography saw itself as a separate cinematic genre, with a number of successful theatrical releases, the most memorable of which is probably Deepthroat, which still stands as a cult classic and pop culture phenomenon today.
The affordability, privacy, and revenue offered by videotape resulted in a shift to video, moving pornographic films from theaters into people’s homes on a mass scale. The industry enjoyed massive success during the video era, but changes in technology would once again impact the industry when digital technology arrived.
The internet offered an unlimited supply for an insatiable audience in the privacy of their homes, and for this reason, the internet has surpassed videotapes as the main means by which erotic entertainment is made, delivered, and experienced. Pornography has become ubiquitous in popular culture today, with websites like Porn Hub leading the way in the digital porn industry. However, debates around the ethics of consuming and creating such content continue to this day, with some arguing that pornography objectifies and harms individuals, while others argue that it can be empowering and enjoyable.
