The first step towards the inclusion of pornographic studies has been made in the UK, with the University of Exeter adding the module ‘Pornography: Bodies, Sex and Representation’ as an official accredited class for the 2020/2021 academic year. This was announced by the lecturer of the course, Dr. João Florêncio, in a tweet at the end of last year that stated; 

‘Chuffed to bits that my new undergrad module “Pornography: Bodies, Sex, and Representation” has been accredited and that Exeter will be the first UK University with one such module! Porn literacy matters!’ 

The 15-credit (or 7.5 ects, for the non-UK readers) module will focus on providing the taught students with what Dr. Florêncio describes as ‘porn literacy’. This will be done by inter alia looking at the current debates and theories on pornography. The course will also provide a history of the topic by diving into specific areas of the subject including gay and feminist pornography. 

While the module-guide makes it clear that the module is focused on requiring a more academic view on pornography and its influences (which, according to the lecturer, is quite necessary in the current digital age, in which porn has become a bigger subject than ever before). The guide also states that due to the nature of this course, it might not be a match for all students. 

Besides the occasionally rather heavy academic reading, which is described to be ‘dense and difficult to read sometimes’ which ‘challenge your assumptions’, the guide claims that certain students might find the ‘visual and literary materials of a graphic, controversial and/or of explicit nature’.

Dr. Florêncio warns that some elements of the module could be interpreted as  ‘offensive’ by some. However, the teacher refrains from changing the module’s content, as it is deemed essential and important to be put into context in the learning framework. 

According to Florêncio, who’s twitter bio aptly states his interest in what he describes as ‘Queer Visual Cultures, Sex Media, Posthumanities’, appears to consider the academic acceptance of this module as a stepping stone towards a better understanding of the current world of sex and pornography.

He has stated in Exeposé (the university of Exeter’s own student newspaper) that his aim for the module is to have the module’s students become ‘better equipped to think critically about issues of power, censorship, obscenity, sex, sexualities, subjectivities, desires and pleasure’.

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