UK, Henry MillerUSA, Nicholson Baker USA, Octavio Paz Mexico, and Nadine Gordimer South Africa. Erotic literary works that developed in this era
inspired by sexuality expressed by Sigmund Freud 1856-1939. The issue of censorship over literature was also a lot going on these days. Mills mentions that
France, Germany, and Italy are the safest country for works publishing of erotic literature. Therefore, many British writers who deliberately moved to the country
to publish their works. Then, Western literature is already accustomed to the presence of erotic literature as the author come from the already well-known
writers.
25
D. Eroticism Concept
Eroticism cannot be easily defined, before explaining about eroticism, first of all, writer need to explain about sex, sexual, and sexuality because each of
it connecting one another. Sex is the state of being male or female;
26
it is natural division of human in life. Sex is the main element that supports the intercourse between men and
women, it is very important; if sex does not exist we cannot continue to the next stage which called ‘sexual’.
Sexual is a matter or event between male and female biological relationship. Referring to Oxford Dictionary sexual is connected with the
physical activity of sex. Sexual is physical activity between men and women who is constituted by the libido
27
and aims to get enjoyment. Thus, sexual intercourse
25
Ibid , p.35
26
Ibid , p.21
27
Libido is human natural sexual desire.
not only supported by sex, but also by the libido; it is connected automatically one another.
After we know sex and sexual definition, we can continue discuss about sexuality, because sexuality can come out from our thought after sex and sexual
exists. Weeks explain that sexuality is not given; it is a product of negotiation, struggle and human agency.
28
Sexuality is something which society produces in complex ways. It is a result of diverse social practices that give meaning to human
activities, of social definitions and self-definitions, of struggles between those who have power to define and regulate, and those who resist.
Sexuality is the base instinct, the most natural thing, and that the relations between men and women are laid down for all eternity, like fingerprints in
concrete, by the dictates of our inborn ‘nature’. Sexuality is a historical construction, which brings together a host of different biological and mental
possibilities, gender identity, bodily differences, reproductive capacities, needs, desires and fantasies which need not be linked together, and in other cultures have
not been.
29
From the explanation we can conclude that sexuality is a characteristic, the attribute of the role of sex, sex desire, and sex life associated
with sexual intercourse. Sexuality is closely related to eroticism. Mills explains that word ‘erotic’
firstly entered the English language in the 17th century. The word is from the French uptake, namely érotique. Érotique word derived from the Greek ‘erotikos’
28
Jeffrey Weeks, Sexuality New York: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group, 2006, p.18
29
Ibid, p.5
derived from the word eros.
30
Muller explains as cited by Darmojuwono that eros is an intermediary between the world of the senses with the world that is open
only to the ratio the world of ideas. Eros is the drive to achieve the knowledge of ideas that can only be found in the world that is open to the ratio related to
aesthetic; it covers the body, soul, morals, knowledge, and aesthetic itself. From the word ‘eros’, erotic appeared in the broadest sense means any form of
expression of love between men and women, between the same sex homoerotic, and the love of self auto-erotic. In a narrow sense, erotic does not just mean
more carnal sexuality, but also includes mental aspects of sexuality and the development of stimuli generated by sexuality. It can be expressed in various
forms, such as in the arts, fashion, advertising, and others.
31
The explanation giving conclusion that a literary work which represents sexuality first of all need to present sex and sexual element in it to be categorized
as erotica.
32
Eroticism and pornography is far from similar, eroticism in literature should not give the impression of obscene or pornographic. According to David
Steinberg as cited by Sitanggang there are three groups in erotic literature. The first is a literary work that shows the relationship of men and women with an
emphasis on spiritual and intellectual aspects. The second is the work that featuring intimate physical relationship expressed covertly. The third is a work
that presents sexuality in a more interesting, but not the core of the story. The third category called a porn literary work because of sexuality depicted detailed
and aims to stimulate and arouse sexual desire. Sitanggang also explains that the
30
Yuki Anggia Putri 2009, op.cit. p.23
31
Ibid, p.23
32
Erotica is literature or art dealing with sexual love.
