Anti-Catholic Sentiment in Victorian Pornography

For my poster, I would like to conduct a research project on the portrayal of religious figures within Victorian pornography. In this, I will take illustrations of pornography involving religious figures, such as nuns and priests, and argue that anti-Catholic fueled pornographic portrayals of these individuals. Ideally, I would like to present the work in sections portraying particular sexual acts or particularly political and anti-Catholic pieces in order to make an overall connection between pornography and politics in the Victorian period. Working with materials ranging from 1837 to 1901, and in formats including novels (with imagery or imagery based off of novels), pamphlets, art, Pearl Magazine, and photography, and working chronologically and categorically, I will argue that the eras staunchly anti-Catholic sentiment leaked into their pornography heavily and without regards to form or time. The references to and portrayals of crude, taboo, and distinctly irreligious acts will be displayed through this material in order to support my argument.