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The late Supreme Court
Justice Potter
Stewart's oft quoted
ambiguous remark on
obscenity "I know it
when I see it", is
just as relevant today as
when he uttered
it. That quote had to
do with a 1964 case
(Jacobellis v. Ohio)
involving what was deemed
a hard core pornographic
film. Of course,
those of Stewart's
generation wrestled with
the appropriateness of
sexual deviancy, lewdness,
and debauchery in the
public square. We still
wrestle with those same
issues today but less
so. Primarily due to
the shifting definition of
obscenity and what
constitutes
"community
standards", we as a
country have removed the
obscene from sexuality and
have attached it to other
things. But the word
itself has seemed to lose
its punch. It is
probably used too much to
too little effect. A
string of profanities just
doesn't have the same
shock value it used to
have. Writers
incorporate them into
their writing more because
society utters them more,
although I recently
reviewed a book, Welcome
To Fred, that contained
nary a profanity within
its covers.  The author's wonderful storytelling did not suffer a
bit without the inclusion of such. But "obscenity" is a
word that needs to be reclaimed. There are still
things in this life I read or hear about and encounter
that are emotionally and physically nauseating,
repugnant, and despicable. Added to my working
definition of "obscene" are the words "morally
objectionable", "highly distasteful", and "repulsive". I
find my definition of obscene works as well as anyone
else's. What I deem obscene in 2012 includes but is not limited to these
topics:
Money in politics:
Money in Sports:
Donald Trump:
Award Shows:
Reality Shows:
Big Dogs In Sweaters:
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