Salt Lake City (US): A course on pornography?
Yes, that’s precisely what a private college in the US is offering to interested students.
The course, being offered by Westminster College in the city of Utah for the 2022-23 academic year, falls under the ‘Film 3000’ programme and carries three credits.
The screenshot of a short description of the course went viral, leaving netizens stunned especially as it says that students will ‘watch pornographic films together’ as part of the class.
“Hardcore pornography is as American as apple pie and more popular than Sunday night football. Our approach to this billion-dollar industry is as both a cultural phenomenon that reflects and reinforces sexual inequalities (but holds the potential to challenge sexual and gender norms) and as an art form that requires serious contemplation. We will watch pornographic films together and discuss the sexualisation of race, class and gender and as an experimental, radical art form,” the course description said.
The college management is of the opinion that this pornography course will help students decide if they wish to engage in a serious investigation of controversial subjects.
Confirming the course, an official told Fox News that the college occasionally offers elective courses like this as an opportunity to analyse social issues.
“Descriptions of these courses, while alarming to some readers, help students decide if they wish to engage in serious investigation of controversial subjects,” the spokesperson said.
A USA Today report quoted college authorities as saying this course has been offered several times before but was discontinued since the pandemic.
Around 20 students generally take up this course, the college said.
