Porn vs. Art

So the primary function determines the classification, and the secondary function(s) can be discounted, right? "Debbie Does Dallas" - porn or art, then?!

No. I did not agree to your idea that 'primary function defines the classification'. I merely pointed out that even if it did, a motor car could still be art.

As for "Debbie Does Dallas" - I have no way of knowing what the primary goal of director was. My primary goal in watching it was to learn about the history of pornography (and to listen to the spiffy funk riffs). So where do we get the primary function of porn, which would be provoking arousal?

So you have a definition, right?!

No. That post was a joke, not to be taken as a serious argument, although it did also parody your style of posting.

Well, actually, I do have a definition for art. And as I've stated before, that definition covers both pornography and the car in question. But that's not the problem here. The problem is that you don't have a definition for art. In other words, you have no idea what art is, yet you insist that you can always know what it isn't. No one believes you, though.

You miss even your own point that you try, and fail, to make (but we know it, because it's my point!). I have a definition of porn!

Yes, you do. But that definition doesn't exclude art. It can't, since that would requiring having a definition of 'art'. So even though you can classify things as 'porn', you can't classify them as 'not art'. Which is really the whole point.
 
Originally Posted by Ron_Tomkins
Yes it is.


To me it is.

Now, I suggest that before you rush to type something like "Aaahhh so to you it is! Well, then is art what Ron considers art?" that you trace back to the origin of the concept of art, and how and who decides what art is and the fact that what used to be considered art isn't anymore and vice-versa.
 
Why five?

Because that's what I asked for. If you cannot do it, just say so.

You, personally, have never encountered such a person, ergo no such person exists. Right

I am unaware of ever claiming that. If I did, please point it out.

"Intrinsically". What do you mean, "intrinsically"? That's not a word I've specifically used.

Not that specific word, but you have repeatedly used a synonym.
 
On that note I'm still waiting for SkeptiChick to post pictures of a zebra per se and just a zebra. I'm keen to learn the difference by example!
I won't be responding to your nonsensical request.

Definition of "per se": http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/per+se
Definition of "just": http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/just

Notice the marked difference in the definitions of those two words? And yet, you keep using them interchangeably. Do please stop.
 
You miss even your own point that you try, and fail, to make (but we know it, because it's my point!). I have a definition of porn!

But no definition of "art per se", which would be neccesary to classify whether porn is or is not it.

Your analogy involved putting an unknown object inside or outside a category (elephant). The actual situation is you trying to put porn inside or outside a category (art per se). However, without being able to say what that category is, your attempts at classification will always fail.
 
Why should I challenge anything as "not art"? If it is art or not depends mainly on context or detail.
And the context and detail of the picture of the dumpster I posted is apparent, no?!

No. I did not agree to your idea that 'primary function defines the classification'. I merely pointed out that even if it did, a motor car could still be art.
Well if that isn't a contradiction extraordinaire I don't know what is!

As for "Debbie Does Dallas" - I have no way of knowing what the primary goal of director was. My primary goal in watching it was to learn about the history of pornography (and to listen to the spiffy funk riffs). So where do we get the primary function of porn, which would be provoking arousal?
So "primary function" fails to classify but "primary goal" does? Interesting subtlety.

Well, actually, I do have a definition for art. And as I've stated before, that definition covers both pornography and the car in question. But that's not the problem here. The problem is that you don't have a definition for art. In other words, you have no idea what art is, yet you insist that you can always know what it isn't. No one believes you, though.
I have no definition for "art", ergo I don't know what art is? Your definition, however, includes everything (seemingly), so you do know what art is. Interesting analysis.

Yes, you do. But that definition doesn't exclude art. It can't, since that would requiring having a definition of 'art'. So even though you can classify things as 'porn', you can't classify them as 'not art'. Which is really the whole point.
Without knowing the definition of "zebra" one would know that it excludes elephants, otherwise zebra and elephants would be one and the same. And before you go pointing out that something can have more than one classification don't forget "per se"!

To me it is.

Now, I suggest that before you rush to type something like "Aaahhh so to you it is! Well, then is art what Ron considers art?" that you trace back to the origin of the concept of art, and how and who decides what art is and the fact that what used to be considered art isn't anymore and vice-versa.
Nice try - pointing out your own flaws as grounds to disregard them. Sorry.

Because that's what I asked for. If you cannot do it, just say so.
Hey, ever tried scratching your right elbow with your right hand? If you can't do it just say so. The point?

I am unaware of ever claiming that. If I did, please point it out.
You implied it, and your argument depends on such implication. That's good enough for me.

Not that specific word, but you have repeatedly used a synonym.
That would be "per se", right, or just "just"?!

I won't be responding to your nonsensical request.
I see. If it's too hard it's nonsensical. Since when were "too hard" and "nonsensical" synonyms?! Maybe I'll adopt daSkeptic's tactic: If you cannot do it just say so.

But no definition of "art per se", which would be neccesary to classify whether porn is or is not it.
So you have seen one of these before, then:



Moreover, you actually have a definition for it!

Your analogy involved putting an unknown object inside or outside a category (elephant). The actual situation is you trying to put porn inside or outside a category (art per se). However, without being able to say what that category is, your attempts at classification will always fail.
We know what porn is, per se. We know that art, per se (however one defines it), is not porn, per se, otherwise they'd be one and the same, always. Hence porn cannot be art, per se.
 
Southwind --

You have been asked, repeatedly, to provide a definition for what would make something "art per se". Without that defintion, no one can possibly begin to even address your claim the way you seem to want them to.

If you're going to continue to refuse to do so, and stick to your typical MO of attempting to sidestep direct questions, further conversation with you on this subject is absolutely pointless.

So. Until you start answering some direct questions in a direct manner, I won't be responding to you further.
 
We know what porn is, per se. We know that art, per se (however one defines it), is not porn, per se, otherwise they'd be one and the same, always. Hence porn cannot be art, per se.

Let's define A as "art" and A1 as "art per se".

Let's define P as "porn" and P1 as "porn per se".

What you just said is:

"We know what P1 is". (This is simply false. We do not know this since there is no agreed-upon definition of porn and thus no agreed-upon definition of P1).

"We know that A1 is not P1". (This is simply false. We do not know this since we have no agreed-upon definition for A1 or for P1).

"Therefore P cannot be A1". (This does not follow from the previous statements because P and P1 are not the same thing, and you have made no argument at all about what P is or is not, just an argument about P1).

So that's two false premises and a conclusion that wouldn't even follow from them if your premises were true.

That's a total logical fail.
 
I'm inclined to agree with SkeptiChick. Southwind is either a complete idiot or a troll. Either way, he's a waste of time.
 
Southwind --

You have been asked, repeatedly, to provide a definition for what would make something "art per se". Without that defintion, no one can possibly begin to even address your claim the way you seem to want them to.

If you're going to continue to refuse to do so, and stick to your typical MO of attempting to sidestep direct questions, further conversation with you on this subject is absolutely pointless.

So. Until you start answering some direct questions in a direct manner, I won't be responding to you further.
Until you come to realise that a definition of "art per se" is irrelevant to my claim I suppose I can understand why you keep banging on requesting one from me.

Let's define A as "art" and A1 as "art per se".

Let's define P as "porn" and P1 as "porn per se".

What you just said is:

"We know what P1 is". (This is simply false. We do not know this since there is no agreed-upon definition of porn and thus no agreed-upon definition of P1).
Except that ALL meaningful definitions of "porn" include the ingredient "intention to sexually arouse", and that's enough, because no meaningful definition of "art per se" contains that.
 
Except that ALL meaningful definitions of "porn" include the ingredient "intention to sexually arouse", and that's enough, because no meaningful definition of "art per se" contains that.

That is insufficient. (It's also false, since not all meaningful definitions of porn include the ingredient "intention to sexually arouse", but even if it was true it would be insufficient).

It's not enough for no meaningful definition of "art per se" to include "intention to sexually arouse".

You would need to show a meaningful definition of "art per se" that excludes "intention to sexually arouse".

That's another double helping of logical fail from you.
 
Would that be idiot per se, troll per se and waste of time per se, or just idiot/troll/waste of time?! ;)

Case in point.

After thinking about it, I've decided you're not a complete waste of time. You're good for a laugh. Therefore I will keep responding to you for that purpose.
 
That is insufficient. (It's also false, since not all meaningful definitions of porn include the ingredient "intention to sexually arouse", but even if it was true it would be insufficient).

It's not enough for no meaningful definition of "art per se" to include "intention to sexually arouse".

You would need to show a meaningful definition of "art per se" that excludes "intention to sexually arouse".

That's another double helping of logical fail from you.
I'll refrain from bothering to point out where your logic fails, as it's almost self-evident (or should be!). I am, however, interested to see your "non-intentional" definition of "porn", if you don't mind.
 
Case in point.

After thinking about it, I've decided you're not a complete waste of time. You're good for a laugh. Therefore I will keep responding to you for that purpose.
Hey ... come on man, give me something to work with here will you!!!
 
I'll refrain from bothering to point out where your logic fails, as it's almost self-evident (or should be!). I am, however, interested to see your "non-intentional" definition of "porn", if you don't mind.

If two people have sex in front of a security camera that they are honestly unaware of (and it's happened more than once), and the security camera was not placed there with any intention of catching people having sex, then there was no intention on anyone's part to produce a recording that would sexually arouse. Yet there it is, and I very much doubt you would have much luck convincing the authorities that it wasn't porn because it was produced inadvertently.

It's almost as if the intent of the viewer or distributor has something to do with whether something is pornographic, and it's not strictly attributable to the intent of the creator...
 

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