Pornography

They were sub-grouped under the term "livres philosophiques" into "bawdy, slanderous and seditious literature" ( Darnton,R. 1997 ). The threat this type of literature presented to the authorities had underlying implications affecting all areas of society, especially that of the State's authority within the State itself. The accessibility of offensive texts and images to the public would invariably result in the undermining of the State as a protective and governing body. Thus 18th century history is characterised by the burning of books, the imprisonment of its writers.
             To understand the full role of pornography in terms of societal change one must first look closer at 18th century society in France. On the eve of a revolution at the end of the 18th century, France's autocratic ruler Louis XV stood minutes before the loss of his throne. A highly stratified class structure in place ensured that the distribution of wealth within the State only reached a small percentage of the population. With the aid of a strong religious framework promoting the dominant ideologies within the State- that also included patriarchy- guaranteed their continued control over all.
             The elitist class of nobles were the main instigators in terms of literary pursuits. Apart from being very prestigious and knowledgeable, books were ways of communicating ideas among the powerful members of France. The element of power and the communication of it has great significance when considering literature, pornography and thus sexuality. Foucault proposes an interesting observation between history, culture and sexuality. The "episteme" which means "knowledge" in Greek of a culture is its "single and self-enclosed totality that includes its language, attitudes, ideas and science: it is all paradigms of that society" ( McElroy,W. 2001 ). The way in which that society approaches the world, how they think, and what they will do.