Which element is part of the obscene material criteria?

• A. Prurient interest
• B. Artistic value
• C. Political value
• D. Scientific value

Answer: (A)

Obscenity is judged using a standard that includes three parts: whether the work appeals to prurient interest, whether it depicts sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and whether it lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. Prurient interest means an excessive or morbid curiosity about sexual matters. This element is part of the obscene material criteria because it targets material designed to arouse such interest. The other options—artistic value, political value, scientific value—are types of value that can weigh against obscenity when the material has serious value in those areas; they’re not standalone criteria, but factors in assessing the third prong.