With the brouhaha surrounding the Justice Department's impending porn crackdown, it's worth keeping in mind that this kinetoscope clip by Thomas Edison (now online at the Library of Congress website thanks to your tax dollars!) was denounced as "absolutely disgusting" following its release in 1896: "The performance comes near to being indecent in its emphasized vulgarity. Such things call for police interference." The more things change ...

"The Kiss" (American Memory Project @ memory.loc.gov - thanks A.L.)
"Xtreme Measures: Washington's New Crackdown on Pornography" (Reason)
See also: "The Obscene, Disgusting, and Vile Meese Commission Report" (1986 article by Pat Califia @ Cultronix - thanks Tyler)
Chronology of Censorship and Anti-Censorship (Angelfire)
Previously: A History of Sex in Film

Update: Check out this Porn Portrait of John Ashcroft (HubLog, via Wonkette)

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