Pornography is often a clandestine activity – er, topic – discussed behind closed doors. But starting in 2014, it may become a lot more educational.
Routledge – the global publisher of academic books, journals and online resources – will publish a full-fledged scholarly journal dedicated to pornography, the New York Times reports.
Usually considered a taboo subject, pornography has made several widespread appearances on college campuses like Harvard and Yale, thanks to events like Sex Week, which has drawn condemnation for educational offerings that include workshops with sex-toy raffles and lectures by porn stars, according to the New York Times.
(MORE: Study: Porn May Not Be Such a Bad Influence on Sexual Behavior)
Porn Studies claims to be “the first dedicated, international, peer-reviewed journal to critically explore those cultural products and services designated as pornographic and their cultural, economic, historical, institutional, legal and social contexts,” with particular emphasis on “the intersection of sexuality, gender, race, class, age and ability.”
The journal, edited by two British academics – Feona Attwood from Middlesex University, and Clarissa Smith from the University of Sunderland – has already gotten some scholarly endorsements, the New York Times reported.
Julie Peakman, a historian at the University of London and the author of Mighty Lewd Books: The Development of Pornography in 18th-Century England, said in a statement: “We have waited a long time for an academic journal that treats the subject of the representation of human sexuality with the seriousness it deserves. I look forward to a lively and disciplined debate across different disciplines.”
The Porn Studies editors are calling for submissions for its first issue commencing in Spring 2014. The guidelines include 5,000 to 8,000 words for articles, 500 to 1,500 words for forum submissions, and 800 to 1,500 words for book reviews.
MORE: University of Tennessee Decides Not to Use State Tax Dollars to Fund ‘Sex Week’)