Pornography and its role in Modernity

Pornography can be considered as a symbol of modernity. While it is very effective in addressing perhaps the most powerful human desire, the desire for sex, it also stresses one of the fundamentals of modernity. That is the intentention of satisfying sensual pleasures often disregarding its impact on the society and even oneself. While there were sexual depictions in the ancient world, they were cultural or religious symbols rather than symbols of sexual pleasure. Here are some facts about pornography.

1. Pornography is a $12-$13 billion-a-year industry-more than the combined annual revenues of the Coca-Cola and McDonnell Douglas corporations.

2. There are an estimated 372 Million porn web pages; 3% produced by the UK, 4% produced by Germany; 89% produced by the US

3. The average age of first internet exposure to pornography is 11 years.

4. 87% of convicted molesters of girls, and 77% of convicted molesters of boys, admit to the use of pornography, most often in the commission of their crimes.

5. At a 2003 meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, two thirds of the 350 divorce lawyers who attended said the Internet played a significant role in the divorces in the past year, with excessive interest in online porn contributing to more than half such cases. Pornography had an almost non-existent role in divorce just seven or eight years ago.

While pornography has helped the US to suck money from the rest of the world, the biggest impact is on the cultures of other countries.

Ismalic Culture, Buddhist culture, Hindu Culture and Catholic culture are facing the biggest threat. Thus, pornography can be considered as a very effective weapon for the cultural imperialism of the Jeudo Christian culture.

Following is a good book on pornography and its close relationship with modernism. http://www.zonebooks.org/titles/HUNT_INV.html