09-51-M4-1 | Pornography in Visual Culture – Intersections and Contemporary Discourse (englischsprachiges Seminar) (in englischer Sprache)
Seminar
Einzeltermine: Fr 20.10.23 14:00 - 16:00 Online Sa 18.11.23 10:00 - 16:00 GW2 B3790+B3840 So 19.11.23 10:00 - 16:00 GW2 B3810 Sa 09.12.23 10:00 - 16:00 GW2 B3810 So 10.12.23 10:00 - 15:00 GW2 B3810
Pornography allows both the producer and the consumer to see the body as a cultural object reflecting the norms and values of most of society. While pornography allows observing the body that represents the social norms and values embedded in them, it also reveals how these social norms and values are structured. Pornography’s position outside the high art and culture or mainstream media makes pornography more accessible to marginalized and underrepresented groups, both as producers and consumers; yet porn’s critical potential remains largely underestimated. What further sets pornography apart from other genres of representation is its almost visceral appeal to the spectator’s body as it elicits immediate somatic responses. In “Body Genres,” Linda Williams evaluates pornography along with horror and melodrama, because what these three genres have in common, according to Williams, is the immediate excess they elicit in their audiences. Like horror, pornography is not recognized by our intellect alone but perceived—at least partly—through bodily or emotional responses. Through an interdisciplinary approach, this course examines pornography as a cultural artifact that generates an archive of shifting cultural milieus and the operations of coloniality, gender, and sexuality within societies. It considers the ways in which pornography shapes and is shaped by cultural perspectives, exploring its role in the construction of social identities, power dynamics, and representations of desire. Incorporating a range of methodologies, including critical analysis, cultural theory, and case studies, this course aims to deepen understanding of the intersections between pornography, film culture, and contemporary discourses. By engaging with diverse perspectives and exploring the social implications of pornography, it fosters critical thinking, challenges assumptions, and provokes discussions on this often-overlooked field of study.
Note: This course may involve the discussion and analysis of explicit content in the form of images and texts. However, the focus remains on the cultural, social, and theoretical aspects of pornography as a subject of academic inquiry. All discussions and presentations related to explicit content will be conducted in a respectful and academic manner, with sensitivity to the diverse perspectives of participants.
Requirements for the seminar: Regular participation and reading are mandatory requirements. To facilitate active engagement, each meeting will feature discussion on carefully selected literature. All assigned texts will be readily accessible online.
| Emre Busse
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