Georgetown University to Introduce Course on Pornography

Starting this fall, Georgetown University, established in 1789 by Bishop John Carroll, will offer a new course titled “Understanding Porn.” The class aims to explore the role of pornography in modern media and its cultural implications.

According to the course details, students will delve into how pornography’s aesthetics, production, and distribution have evolved throughout history. Moreover, the course will expand the definition of pornography beyond mere sexuality, linking it to concepts like excess and emotional inappropriateness. This can be seen in terms like “food porn” on social media or “poverty porn” in media discussions.

The description highlights that the course will also address the social and political tensions surrounding pornography, particularly how these issues have been used to marginalize groups such as women, queer and trans individuals, and people of color.

Interestingly, the syllabus is not publicly available; students are instructed to email the instructor for more information. Amanda Phillips, the Associate Professor in the English Department, is the point of contact for the course.

On her personal website, Phillips discusses her focus on topics like sex, identity, and politics in video games, emphasizing the voices of feminist queer women of color in her work. Her research interests include broader issues of racial and gender justice in popular media and technology.

While Georgetown did not respond to inquiries about this course, it certainly raises discussions about the complexities of pornography in society today.