Pornography (often abbreviated as "
porn" or "
porno" in informal usage) is the portrayal of
sexual subject matter for the purpose of
sexual arousal. Pornography may be presented in a variety of media, including
books,
magazines, postcards, photographs, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation,
sound recording,
film, video, and
video games. The term applies to the depiction of the act rather than the act itself, and so does not include live exhibitions like
sex shows and
striptease. The primary subjects of pornographic depictions are pornographic
models, who pose for still photographs, and
pornographic actors or porn stars, who perform in
pornographic films. If dramatic skills are not involved, a performer in a porn film may also be called a model.
