1) Specific country laws. When not sure, a judge. 2) "Defining erotic art is difficult since perceptions of both what is erotic and what is art fluctuate. A sculpture of a phallus in some African cultures may be considered a traditional symbol of potency though not overtly erotic. In addition, a distinction is often made between erotic art and pornography (which also depicts scenes of love-making and is intended to evoke erotic arousal, but is not usually considered art). The distinction may lie in intent and message; erotic art intended as pieces of art, encapturing formal elements of art, and drawing on other historical artworks. Pornography may also use these tools, but is primarily intended to arouse one sexually. Nevertheless, these elements of distinction are highly subjective. For instance, Justice Potter Stewart of the Supreme Court of the United States, in attempting to explain "hard-core" pornography, or what is obscene, famously wrote, "I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced . . . [b]ut I know it when I see it . . . ."" Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erotic_art

The lighting

The money shot LOL

Art's intention is to stimulate the mind, Porn's goal is to stimulate the crotch

One is tacky, the other is elegant. Playboy movies are kind of an art...I think they are beautiful... While cheap porn is just horribly orchestrated.

Porn serves the purpose of eliciting a solely sexual response. Art serves the purpose of eliciting whatever response occurs.

The eye of the beholder.

The photographer's intent.

ussc - pornography must appeal to the prurient interests of members of the community. i like "i know it when i see it". without redeeming social or educational value ... i can't define subjects, locations, film, sound, quality ... great question!!! it's soooo difficult to answer.

QUOTE An interesting definition for porn is: any picture or video you suddenly lose interest in after masturbating. /QUOTE

The eye of the beholder

"Intent"

Popular opinion.

The condom, hopefully...

Art is B&W and /or soft focus. Porn is sharp focus, color, and leaves no shadows. Another way I heard it put (roughly): Art tickles with a feather, porn involved the whole chicken. +5

Technique in painting. Some artists use porn magazines to get ideas for their creations. Porn has to do with photography and art with paint. You take the porn picture and turn it into a painting and it is art. An artist whom is in one of my modern art books is John Currin. He uses social and sexual themes in his art. You have to remember that sex is part of life, and artists depict life. They have a subjective way of looking at shapes, forms, colors, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Currinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Currin

The intent of both the viewer and the artist. The paintings we look at now (think "Venus") and consider art were once very pornographic. Ironically, if an artist imitates those paintings in our society, it is not considered pornography at all. The intent of both the viewer and the artist has changed. Now you can look at an entire section of videos and know immediately that they were made for sexual gratification. The intent of the artist is pretty clear and that would classify them as porn. However, if they are so well done that they create an interest outside of the sexual arena, I would consider that art. How is that for a blurry line?! Art is what you label it as. Then someone, anyone really, can come along and give it another label and suddenly it isn't the same as it used to be. Thats what I love about it.

there is variety in art.