Although nude, the subjects of softcore pornography are seen in relatively innocent poses.

Softcore photograph of a male nude.

Softcore pornography is a form of filmic or photographic pornography or erotica that is less sexually explicit than hardcore pornography. Softcore pornography depicts nude and semi-nude performers engaging in casual social nudity or non-graphic representations of sexual intercourse or masturbation. Softcore porn precludes explicit depictions of vaginal or anal penetration, cunnilingus, fellatio and ejaculation. Visual representations of genitalia (full nudity) are typically permissible in a softcore context in printed media^[1], and increasingly so in film^[2] and television^[3]. Erections of the penis may not be allowed (see Mull of Kintyre Test), although attitudes towards this are changing^[4].

For example, the two photographs at the right show nude subjects in contexts that would most likely be considered to be softcore by modern European standards. The female is in a typical topless pose; material of this nature would be considered acceptable in British red-top newspapers and magazines without age restrictions upon the consumer^[5]. If the pubic area of the model was exposed, this would still be considered to be softcore, but would only be permissible in publications available to adults, or on late-night television^[6]. The photograph of the male subject also constitutes a softcore image within this latter context. The pose is similar to that of the female but the pubic area is shown. It should be noted that if the model had a full erection in this same pose then the image might well be contextualized as hardcore. If the model was shown ejaculating and/or receiving fellatio then this would certainly be considered to be hardcore.

Examples of American softcore photography include METart, FemJoy, MyHi, and Perfect 10. In Japan, the softcore theatrical pink film has been a major cinematic genre since the early 1960s.

Portions of images which are considered too explicit may be obscured (censored) through various means. These techniques include the use of draped hair or clothing, carefully positioned hands or other body parts, carefully positioned foreground elements in the scene (often plants or drapery), and carefully chosen camera angles.

In most cases the sexual acts depicted in softcore pornography are entirely simulated by the actors; no actual penetration occurs. Often the actors wear latex genital covers to prevent physical contact. Film directors go to great lengths to obscure such covers on screen, but often fail to completely hide them. The comedian Pablo Francisco joked about this "facade" during one of his routines: "The reason they call it soft porn [is] 'cause it doesn't make you hard."^[7]

Hardcore film makers will make edited softcore versions of their films for the hotel pay-per-view market, cutting in less explicit angles of the sex scenes.^[8]

[edit] History

After the formation of the MPAA rating system in the United States and prior to the 1980s, numerous softcore films, ranging from low to high production costs, were released to mainstream movie theatres especially drive-ins. Some, such as Emmanuelle^[9] and Alice in Wonderland.^[10], received positive reviews from noted critics such as Roger Ebert. Since the rise in popularity of home video in the 1980s, however, most softcore films have been restricted to home video releases or overnight timeslots on premium channels such as Cinemax, Showtime, and The Movie Channel and production values have dropped. Softcore films are carried by many mainstream video stores which often segregate them in an adults-only room.

Examples of American softcore photography include METart, FemJoy, MyHi, and Perfect 10. In Japan, the softcore theatrical pink film has been a major cinematic genre since the early 1960s.

[edit] Glamour photography

Frequently, the sexual parts of the body are obscured by well-placed objects, or clothing

Glamour photography is the photographing of a model with the emphasis on the allure of the subject. Photographers use a combination of cosmetics, lighting and airbrushing techniques to produce the most physically appealing image of the model possible.^[11][12]

Today, softcore nude photographs of models appear in publications such as Perfect 10, or tabloid newspapers such as Britain's The Sun's Page 3.

Recently, several popular glamour magazines (known as lad mags) are reversing the trend, by emphasizing glamour while showing less nudity, in favor of implied (covered) nudity or toplessness, such as the handbra technique, where a woman hides her nipples and areolae by covering both breasts with her own hands, or those of another person.^[13] Examples include FHM (For Him Magazine) and Maxim magazines, which launched in 1994 and 1995, respectively.

[edit] See also

• List of pornographic sub-genres
• Non-nude photography

[edit] References