The Prudish Regulation of Erotic Art on Digital Platforms: A Post-Structuralist Critique

Intro 

In the digital age, platforms such as ArtStation, Instagram, and Facebook have become crucial spaces for artists to share their work and engage with a global audience. However, the prohibition against showcasing erotic art on these platforms has sparked significant controversy, raising questions about freedom of speech and artistic expression. This critique delves into the prejudicial and segregative nature of these rules, examining them through post-structuralist philosophies and the perspectives of underground voices fighting against censorship.

The Historical and Cultural Significance of Erotic Art

Erotic art is not a modern phenomenon; it has been an integral part of human culture for millennia. From the frescoes of Pompeii to the sculptures of ancient Greece and the intricate shunga prints of Japan, erotic art has explored themes of sexuality, human form, and intimacy. These works were not merely titillating but often carried profound symbolic and cultural significance. To classify such art as inherently sinful or offensive is to ignore its historical and cultural context.

Post-Structuralist Perspectives on Censorship and Control

Post-structuralist philosophers like Michel Foucault and Gilles Deleuze have extensively critiqued societal mechanisms of control and censorship. Foucault's concept of the "panopticon" illustrates how power structures regulate behavior through surveillance and normalization. Platforms like ArtStation, Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook serve as digital panopticons, where artists are monitored and regulated to ensure they adhere to predefined norms of acceptability and lock them into pre-defined molds at the expense of artistic integrity. This form of control stifles creative expression and enforces a homogenized artistic landscape.

Deleuze’s notion of the "society of control" further elucidates this issue. In a society of control, power is decentralized and operates through continuous modulation and regulation. These platforms’ policies reflect this paradigm, as they continuously shape and restrict the artistic outputs allowed on their sites. By banning erotic art, these platforms impose a narrow moral framework, marginalizing artists who challenge or diverge from mainstream sensibilities.

The Rights of Artists and the Role of Art

Artistic expression is a fundamental human right, protected under various international conventions such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Art serves not only as a form of personal expression but also as a medium for social commentary and cultural dialogue. Erotic art, in particular, challenges taboos, explores the complexities of human sexuality, and questions societal norms.

By prohibiting erotic art, platforms like ArtStation, Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook not only infringe upon artists' rights but also impoverish the cultural landscape. They perpetuate a prudish and regressive view of sexuality, reducing the human body to something shameful or inappropriate. This stance is not only discriminatory but also counterproductive, as it ignores the role of art in fostering understanding and empathy towards diverse human experiences.

The Absurdity and Oppressiveness of Censorship

The notion that sex and the human body are inherently offensive is a falsehood rooted in archaic puritanical beliefs. Sex is a natural and fundamental aspect of human existence, essential for the continuation of the species. Depictions of the human body in its erotic form (even if they include hentai and well-known porn visual elements, etc.) can be both beautiful and enlightening, offering insights into the human condition.

Censoring erotic art on platforms like ArtStation, Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook is not just an affront to artistic freedom but an absurd and oppressive practice. It aligns with what Deleuze described as a "society of control," where even the most intimate aspects of human life are regulated and commodified not only by companies, but primarily by the people (users and consumers) themselves constituting an unaware oppressed majority while, at the same time, make possible oppressive practices today through the so-called “cancel culture”. This approach fosters a culture of repression rather than one of open dialogue and acceptance.

The Need for a More Inclusive Approach

In light of these arguments, it is imperative for platforms like ArtStation, Instagram, and Facebook to adopt a more inclusive and progressive stance towards erotic art. Such art should be viewed in its full context, recognizing its historical, cultural, and artistic value. By embracing a wider spectrum of artistic expression, these platforms can become truly global spaces that respect and celebrate the diversity of human creativity.

Outro

The prohibition against erotic art on platforms like ArtStation, Instagram, and Facebook is a discriminatory and regressive practice that undermines the principles of freedom of speech and artistic expression. By critically examining this issue through post-structuralist philosophies, we can see the broader implications of such censorship and the importance of resisting these oppressive practices. Erotic art, like all forms of art, deserves to be seen, appreciated, and debated, not hidden away under the guise of prudish and outdated moral judgments.

References

1. Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Vintage Books, 1995.

2. Deleuze, Gilles. Postscript on the Societies of Control. MIT Press, 1992.

3. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. United Nations, 1948.

4. Kellner, Douglas. Michel Foucault: A Critical Reader. Blackwell Publishing, 1989.

5. Grosz, Elizabeth. Volatile Bodies: Toward a Corporeal Feminism. Indiana University Press, 1994.