obscenity: imagery, ideation, narratives and other representations and actualities which offend and disgust the sensibilities of the perceiver. Imprecisely, the term is used to refer to sexually explicit material or media (SEM), including pornography, and also sexual actions or utterances that are traditionally classified as forbidden. As in erotica, what is perceived as obscene is usually idiosyncratic and is incongruent with the specifications of one's lovemap. See also erotica; lovemap; pornography; sexually explicit media.

Dictionary of Sexology Project: Main Index