Fifty Shades - "We Deserve Better"

[BeccaPrice]

I definitely prefer story and characterization with all that sexytime stuff. For me, the story is the whole point, and the sexytime stuff only important as it moves the story arc forward.

but that's me. fortunately people write for all tastes.

[voracious71]

I have female friends that get all indignant that their guys watch porn or subscribe to playboy, yet they see no problem with reading erotica. Theyre the same thing- media that is meant to assist you in getting off.

Personally, i think porn is more "honest". It doesnt try to hide under the guise of art. I like my smut straightforward.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I definitely prefer story and characterization with all that sexytime stuff. For me, the story is the whole point, and the sexytime stuff only important as it moves the story arc forward.

but that's me. fortunately people write for all tastes.

I'm the same way. I do read Erotic Romance but not for anything but the story and relationship between the h/h. Lora Leigh will always be a favorite of mine. Her Breed series was some of first Erotica I ever read. I also like Charlene Teglia.

That said there are different degrees of Erotica and I don't agree with the Porn argument. Not all Erotica can be compare to it. Yes there is some blatant stuff out there that is all about sex and no story. Not interested! BUT there is some that fall into line of what Ellora Cave once called Romantica or Erotic Romance and this is the kind I read.

[BeccaPrice]

Intesting comments on 50 Shades here:

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast....otica-ctd.html

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I'm the same way. I do read Erotica but not for anything but the story and relationship between the h/h.

"Anything but?" Oh, come on. There's whole different genre if that's all you wanted. It's called "romance."

I'm sure the genre of erotica has to have more to it than porn, but, similarly, while Playboy DOES have good articles, I would not believe anyone who said they don't subscribe for "anything but" the articles.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by ApK

"Anything but?" Oh, come on. There's whole different genre if that's all you wanted. It's called "romance."

I'm sure the genre of erotica has to have more to it than porn, but, similarly, while Playboy DOES have good articles, I would not believe anyone who said they don't subscribe for "anything but" the articles.

Yes but we are talking about 50 Shades here which is suppose to be Erotica but in my book would fall into the line of Romantica even though I didn't think the relationship was healthy. Erotica is used in a large broad spectrum. If I limited myself to Romance genre I would miss out on alot of great writers. Some writers do write for both Genre's like Lora Leigh, Maya Banks, Jaci Burton...etc.

I have read Erotic Romance that was more tame than say a Harlequin Blaze book which focused on sex throughout the book. It's just alot of folks assume that there is one kind of Erotica and there's not. There's some good stuff out there with great stories that doesn't fit into the Romance mold.

I am a huge romance reader but I do read Erotic Romance occasionally. I don't find it like Porn and yes I have read Men's idea of Erotica is my curious teen days and these stories are nothing like them.

[Joykins]

I enjoy erotic romance--I won't deny enjoying the sex scenes sometimes, but I read a story for the story. I don't really like books that are ALL sex--they get boring, again, like a recipe: there's only so many ways to stuff a turkey.

[BeccaPrice]

I've said it before here (not this discussion but other ones that talked about romance) - in romance, it's all about the story, the character arc. Sometimes (just like in real life) that character arc is furthered by sex. I don't read much straight erotica, because the ratio of sex:story is more skewed than I like, but even in erotica, it's about the characters. When there's no character arc, little or no story, when the sex just exists for titillation, then it's porn. And people are more than welcome to read porn if they like... just don't confuse it with erotica or romance.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I've said it before here (not this discussion but other ones that talked about romance) - in romance, it's all about the story, the character arc. Sometimes (just like in real life) that character arc is furthered by sex. I don't read much straight erotica, because the ratio of sex:story is more skewed than I like, but even in erotica, it's about the characters. When there's no character arc, little or no story, when the sex just exists for titillation, then it's porn. And people are more than welcome to read porn if they like... just don't confuse it with erotica or romance.

What she said!

[voracious71]

Originally Posted by ApK

"Anything but?" Oh, come on. There's whole different genre if that's all you wanted. It's called "romance."

I'm sure the genre of erotica has to have more to it than porn, but, similarly, while Playboy DOES have good articles, I would not believe anyone who said they don't subscribe for "anything but" the articles.

Agree 100%. Smut is smut, no matter what pretty label gets put on it. And there's nothing wrong with smut- i just find it silly when people try to downplay the sex factor. Erotica is primarily about sex, not characters.

[BeccaPrice]

voracious71, didn't you read what I wrote at 113? smut is *not* smut. Erotica is not porn. Erotica does have a character arc, expressed through sex. If it doesn't have that arc, it's not erotica. we're not "downplaying the sex factor" we're saying that erotica has more to it than just sex.

[QuantumIguana]

Porn is erotica you don't like.

[BeccaPrice]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

Porn is erotica you don't like.

now you're just trolling.

What I said above is that I didn't read *any* erotica - but I respect people who do, and who tell me that there is a difference between it and porn - in intent, and in execution.

[QuantumIguana]

Not at all. I just don't believe the distinction is valid. Bad science fiction is still science fiction, for example.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

voracious71, didn't you read what I wrote at 113? smut is *not* smut. Erotica is not porn. Erotica does have a character arc, expressed through sex. If it doesn't have that arc, it's not erotica. we're not "downplaying the sex factor" we're saying that erotica has more to it than just sex.

The erotica you are referring to is Erotic Romance which 50 Shades falls under. The problem is Erotica is such a broad term that if you look the definition up you see it says for titillation. The problem is Women's erotica mostly consist of erotic romance stories than say men's erotica which you can find in the back of say a Men's Magazine those are obviously written for titillation.

People see the word Erotica who aren't familiar with what most romance readers are they immediately think the second type. So as not to confused peeps I will say I read Erotic Romance which has a story in it and sex is use as a character arc to further the story like the 50 Shades trilogy did too many times or in its case to keep the story issues from being resolved.