In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the case of Jacobellis v. Ohio, setting an important precedent in defining the boundaries of the First Amendment.

(OK, I know this sounds bland, but stay with me. It gets better.)

Previously, the state of Ohio had used an obscenity law to uphold a ban on a hippie movie theater from showing a French film, Les Amants.

The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the decision, but several opinions came out of the case attempting to define just how out-of-control movies had to get before they weren't protected as free speech.

The opinion of Justice Potter Stewart has since gone down in infamy. He couldn't define what constituted hardcore pornography but told the nation, "I know it when I see it."

I couldn't agree with him more.

As avid porn aficionados know, there's a difference between a man-on-woman-on-man-on-endangered panda video and a tasteful man-on-woman-on-man-on-endangered-panda video.

Usually the difference involves harnesses, but not always.

It's difficult to put a hard-and-fast rule into writing.

That's where artists step in.

Artists are the S&M practitioners of the crazy orgy we call society.

They don't just bend rules, they bend them over backwards and put their legs behind their heads.

Think of controversial art as the leather whip, and general disgust for an over-the-top piece as society's safe word.

Society might look like it's not up for a fun time, but that's only an illusion -- it's totally wild. When it gets high, it starts craving clams casino and truffle oil and planning around-the-world yacht trips.

It won't always admit it, but society likes the controversial ideas art cooks up.

Art keeps things interesting and tests our moral boundaries.

Artists ask us, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

They remind us that the significance of an object very often depends on where we put it.

After all, one man's public urinal is another's Fountain (with props to Marcel Duchamp).

They think jazz and banjo should share the stage, à la Chick and Béla on page 10. (That's just crazy though. What's next, accordions and piccolos? I don't want my hypothetical future children to see that.)

Though they don't have to, they remind me that my penis is a magnificent work of art, worthy of its own play (page 20 can explain).

But artists don't have to be confined to fringe concepts or emotions. When something as powerful as love strikes us, it's natural to record the feeling.

With that in mind, enjoy our Valentine's Day coverage within. And remember, if you get the urge to document anything sexual, make sure there's no doubt your film is anything but art -- use a non-linear narrative.

Billy Wellock is a sophomore in the division of undergraduate studies and The Daily Collegian's Venues chief. His porn name is Murphy Sherwood or Laser Rose-Virginia, depending on your methodology, and his e-mail is waw5010@psu.edu.