Recently I had the opportunity to attend the 2006 Adult Video News Expo in Las Vegas. The event draws over 50,000 porn industry attendees as well as fans. My boyfriend consults for a digital camera company which sells to the industry among others and enjoyed great success at the Expo. The differing types of businesses and how they are affected by the porn industry is quite staggering. From bed sheets to digital cameras to personal lubricants to create your own vibrators modeled after your lover or yourself, it is absolutely astonishing how big a business porn really is, and it is growing. The performers are like rock stars with bodyguards and limos, the Presidents of the companies are like Internet CEO’s and the fans are rabid for them and their products. Porn is estimated by recent figures to be a $12 billion industry according to AVN. As porn continues to be shunned by the do-gooders, many people and companies are thriving from it as it continues to be embraced by a larger and larger audience. No doubt about it, porn has become mainstream and looks to stay that way for some time to come. I think that it offers a viable alternative to what society has accepted as the norm. Funny how Porn and its nemesis, religion, are two of the largest revenue generators in our “wholesome” economy.

This lecture was so interesting, yet so confusing.  The difference between art and pornography in my eyes is no different.  Why isn’t penetration looked at as art or beautiful in the minds of people?  A known fact, is that life and creating life is such a complex yet beautiful creation.  Sexually penetration is thought to be “pornographic” but without penetration life would not carry on.  Humans are sexual people, wheither admitted or not, and I just cannot understand why people engaging in sex is seen as disgusting and vulgar.  My thoughts on Samuel Pepys Diary (1655) is that people enjoy pornography.  It seems that as soon as a person is fulfilled they feel shamed or “dirty”.  I don’t know why these feelings occur.  Is it because society makes us feel that way or can it be a natural function?  It seems that once something chemically gets released in our bodies after an orgasm, it releases something in our brain that tells us we just did something wrong.  I enjoyed this lecture because it challenged me to think outside the box.  Pornography just seems to be another issue that people will never agree on.

Hi my name is Lyndsey Marciano, this is my first online class. Just moved to Vegas and getting ready to graduate here online. Class should be interesting looking forward to it. First amendment and porn have always been an interest to me, since free speech is our right.  I am excited and looking forwad to this class.

Hi this is lil knuckles woof

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