Funny or Die's recent video "50 Shades of Blue", which is a parody of "50 Shades of Grey" was worth sharing if for nothing else it shows how close the book has brought erotica to the mainstream.
When I first discovered erotica there were two sources of it in my town, finding it at an adult book store (which in my town meant porn shop) in cheaply put together booklets that were under the porn magazines. And at times would have the wrong book bound inside of it. Or at the one used book store that carried a small amount and meant having the guys to take it up to the cashier.
With the advent of the ebook anyone can read erotica without the feeling of going to a "skeezy place" or having to risk people finding out what you read. A source of discomfort to many.
And if you're are a parent, let me tell you a little secret from a former teenager. I don't care where you hide your dirty materials (erotica, porn mags, video's or whatever), be it in a file cabinet, a box in your closet, or wherever you think the kids won't find it, they will find it.
They will one day get curious and browse your stuff and find whatever carefully laid out hiding place you have. You lock it in your office they will find the key, or steal it in the middle of the night. They will check your office every day to see if that is the day you forgot to lock it, they will go through your closet when you leave it home alone and carefully put it back afterwards. They are resourceful, and a resourceful kid who just hit puberty can do anything.
But with an ebook you don't have that issue. Under anonymity you can read anything and no one will know, you're kindle doesn't judge you.
As such there has been an steady increase in readers of erotica, and the 50 Shades phenomenon has shown that. Especially among women who tended to the the group most reluctant to step in front of a cashier with a book like that.
But this parody truly surprised me. Not because it was funny, or even because a former Disney star was in it. But because something like this shows a scope that the book is in america's consciousness. There is even word of a movie in the work, with several well known actors and actresses coveting the role.
Erotica is clearly never going to die out, as it is older than any of us. However, it'll be interesting to see if this is the start of a new long term rise of popularity, or a short lived fad. I for one am very curious to find out myself what the future holds.
Indecently, when teen girls say that the reason people make fun of Justin Beiber is that they are "jealous of him" all I got to say is this. I could care less one way or another about a singer kids like to listen to today. But when I found out Selena Gomez (the girl starring in this video) was dating Justin Bieber, it gave me the only real reason anyone should be jealous of him.
