Erotica, or literature and art that focuses on sexual desire and experiences, also thrived during the Victorian era, albeit often under the guise of medical texts, romantic literature, or through coded language. The combination of erotic themes with medical examinations could explore power dynamics, vulnerability, and the arousal of fear or submission.
For decades, critics have looked down on romantic drama as "women's fiction" or "guilty pleasures." This is a logical fallacy rooted in sexism. There is no inherent artistic hierarchy that ranks an explosion higher than an emotional breakdown. Erotica, or literature and art that focuses on
For context on Victorian medical attitudes and social hierarchies, see historical studies regarding the professionalization of medicine in the 19th century, such as those found in historical and academic archives. also thrived during the Victorian era