Pornography, history of

Abstract

Pornography refers to the depiction of sexual behavior in a variety of art formats and a broad range of presentation methods. Sexual depictions were first found in the Paleolithic era and continued to be expressed in most subsequent civilizations. The historical development of pornography is intertwined with the evolution of societies, battles in the legal and moral systems, as well as changes that came with innovations in technology. Mass production augmented interest in pornography and marked the beginning of debates over societal mores and personal freedom. The short list of historic events and legal cases illustrates the transition of the genre of pornography.