Porn in the halls of academia

      I recently visited my aunt who thought it was the strangest thing that I was taking a class that revolved around pornography.  Like everyone I encountered she asked what exactly do I learn in this class.  I told her that I don’t simply watch porn all day, but learn about the history of it and how it has related to society. I basically said that sex is all around us.  My aunt is an avid newspaper reader and probably reads the Buffalo News front to back everyday.  Sometime in January she came across this article where two people take a viewpoint on an issue and state their opinions.  This article was based on if pornography college courses have college merit.  I read this short article and was surprised to find out that around 50 universities offer classes on pornography. 

            The first viewpoint was pro-pornography classes for Diane Glass stated that if one can understand pornography then one can understand how manipulative it is and how it can distort our perceptions.  She stated that the more one can relate and be less ignorant of pornography the better one can breakdown the sexual messages it portrays.  She is basically saying that pornography is seducing our society because so many people are ignorant of the industry.  No one wants to be associated with it so no one wants to learn about the history of it, which is why so many of us are sucked into the industry or stamp it as degrading or abusive.  This may not sound so “pro,” but what she is saying is that it is a great idea to have these college classes for it educates us on such a powerful and moneymaking industry.

            Shaunti Feldhahn took the con side of these college classes stating that the one reason college kids are taking these classes is to watch porn.  By watching this porn students are letting these images harm themselves and are being degraded, impacting their bodies and psychological status.  She also claims that a study was performed where it was concluded that pornography’s “addictive brain effects mirror those of heroin.”  Let us just stop there for she has plenty more negative things to say about these classes.  First of all pornography and sex is addictive.  Look at Hallie Berry’s ex-husband, Eric Benet.  He had one of the most beautiful women in the world as his wife, but because he was addicted to sex he cheated on her with several other women.  Anyways, even though that sex is addictive I highly doubt that college kids who are taking these classes are going to instantaneously become addicted to sex and pornography.  I am so sure that we can compare it to heroin for all my friends in this class are not wasting all their hard earned money on pornographic material and alienating themselves from their family and friends like a heroin addict.  Also, why does everybody feel that just because we are learning about pornography that we are necessarily watching porn?  Once you watch one pornography I think one gets the gist of what it is all about.  Finally, I disagree with Feldhahn about the claim that pornography degrades our self and bodies.  Yes, pornography is interesting to the college student and the number one answer to the question of why one registered for this class would be because it is about pornography, but honestly, does anyone really believe that we would be actually watching porn all day?  I don’t think so!  And if one is really going to let their bodies and psychological self be altered and changed by taking a class on porn, then they need some self control. 

            These classes are merely a way of understanding the industry of pornography that heavily affects our society.  Sex is all around us like Glass stated.  Whether it is in a magazine or on a billboard advertising a strip club sex has come full circle.  I believe these classes are aiding in our ability to understand our current society and learn how such a dominant industry came about.  I could not find the article online, but it was in the Buffalo Newspaper on January 22^nd.