Hardcore pornography
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often in magazines, or films but it may also appear as a cartoon. Since the 1990s it has been distributed widely over the Internet.
Hardcore pornography was widely prohibited in many countries until the second half of the century when many of the world's liberal democracies, experiencing a change in sexual norms, began to allow limited access. Supply is usually regulated by a combination of a classification system and regulation of points of sale, although today hardcore pornography can be easily downloaded from many Internet sites with little regulation. Public display and advertising is often prohibited. Supply to minors is usually prohibited.
Hardcore pornography is a taboo subject that is prone to moral panic. Admitting to an interest in it is often viewed as shameful in societies with a strong taboo about sex. This can inhibit discussion and makes research difficult. Research results are often contradictory or inconclusive, or are dismissed by critics for being motivated by either pro-pornography or anti-pornography agendas.
