  Erotica: The Little Sister Who Suffers In The Shadows
12/13/2005 13:25:15
Yesterday, Tit-Elation.com, our erotica story subscription (print books & web access), was featured front page news at AVNOline. (You can still read the story here, and see a screenshot here.)
We're proud to be noticed by 'The Big Boys' who primarily feature adult sites with celebrity names (i.e. porn with big name stars). It's rare for any erotica to be noticed, & to be featured on the front page yet ~ well naturally we're excited!
But all of this of course brings up a few interesting points:
While there has been much talk about what erotica is, I think there's more to the story, such as what do we do with erotica? (Not that way, as in the treatment of erotica.)
The general book industry shuns erotica. Book shelf space for erotica has dwindled to be mainly Penthouse Letters and a few other anthologies.
Erotica authors themselves are deemed 'less than' other fiction writers ~ considered more like 'wanna be' writers, Oh aren't they cute? They want to write! In many cases, erotica authors hide their identities for fear of the all-too-real reprisals that such a title brings them.
'Real authors' are told by their mainstream publishers to remove sex scenes from books, yet films can't stuff sex in fast enough. In fact, many authors have removed sex scenes, only to fine that at option time, or when the film has been made, far 'worse' sex scenes have been inserted ~ scenes which unlike the original removed scenes, do not have anything to do with plot or context of the story.
Even getting published in the erotica genre is difficult. We started Tit Elation and also Ephemera Bound to help support these works & authors, as have several other small publishing houses. As small publishers of 'smut' we aren't given much credibility either; we are little tag along siblings who are playing dress-up. They smile & not at us, 'knowing' one day we will grow up and either change occupations or change our ways. The message is clear: grow up, clean up, dump erotic works & you can then be a real publisher.
Oh, and just try to get a press release about an erotica publication accepted at mainstream distribution services. Even the media thinks we are too dirty to be seen. Ditto for most book review organizations and publications. Which impacts book sales ~ even if you were to find erotica listed as a genre for sales figures.
When it comes to consumers, well, erotica can be bought by anyone, no special wraps or ID required. The "It's a 'book' not 'porn'" ideology grants erotica some safety ~ or at least it has, but the current administration may change that soon as well, for even fantasies are to be limited. Perhaps they fear lil sis will grow up, get a big rack & become otherwise too dangerous...
When it comes to the adult entertainment industry, erotica is viewed as the kid sister who can tag along with her pretty big sister if lil sis can keep up (just in case she grows up to be a looker herself). And lil sis can do some grunt work (no pun intended) that no one else wants to do, such as help with story ideas, or promotional materials. Erotica isn't covered (usually) in industry news, nor is it counted in sales figures. In general, Erotica is 'cute' but not recognized as much more than that.
Or perhaps it is a case of jealousy that lil sis is favored. Afterall, she is able to get into places her sister Porn can't, and she isn't currently forced to conform to the standards & the paperwork her big sister is. Maybe the parents have "always liked her best" and the siblings are green with envy, so they leave her sitting on the outside of things.
Erotica is the little sister who is cute enough to keep around, even if she is naughty & annoying to some. But will she ever be taken seriously?
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