Beyond Artistic Nudity...Porn in the Classroom

[skatepixie]

Before I explain what happened in class on Thursday, I feel some background is needed. I am 20 years old, and just switched colleges midway through my degree in Business with an emphasis in Marketing.

I did an internship, and decided that I wanted to go into the more creative side of the business…that is, actually designing and putting ads together. The university I was attending did not have the classes to teach me graphics, copywriting, etc. I came to the realization that I needed to transfer and got advice from coworkers about design school.

After research and applications…I selected a school, found an appartment, moved (it’s close to my old school, but still 6 hours from my family by car) and started class last week. I am taking an introductory design class as well as a photography class.

It’s the photo class that has been difficult morally. In the first two classes he showed some nudity, but it was of an obviously artistic nature, and so I wasn’t bothered by it. Would I have shown it to the class? Most likely not…but it wasn’t something that I felt a moral objection to.

However, thursday was another matter. He showed us a film about a teenage photographer called Pecker. There was a lot of nudity in the film, including scenes in a strip club, including one that involved a graphic depiction of masterbation.

I was bothered, and I left class feeling dirty that I had seen such a thing, although I averted my eyes a lot during the film. I feel that it crossed a line in a major way. As I said before, I don’t take issue with artistic nudity like that found in the old masters, etc. This was pornographic, I think.

I just don’t know what to do about it. This class is required for my major, and I have enjoyed and learned a lot from my assignments so far. I don’t want to have to drop the class.

I have considered a lot of options, and what I’m thinking of doing is talking to the professor before I go to administration. This man comes from a very artistic background, and I think his idea of normal varies a lot from most peoples, to say the least. I want to give him a chance to hear this before his superiors become involved.

I guess I partly needed to rant, but I need advice too.

 

[rwoehmke]

Let me guess. Older or middle aged male instructor. Gets his jollies by subjecting young women students to crud, instead of exposing himself or groping them. Probably has tenure. Yuck!

 

[kage_ar]

Pecker is a film by John Waters. It is one of his less shocking films (believe it or not).

This movie is rated “R”, while you were offended, I doubt you are going to get far with the administration by objecting to a movie that has an “R” rating.

Perhaps you should look for a different class?

 

[skatepixie]

He’s younger…30s I’d guess. I honestly think he’s clueless enough to think that this is totally acceptable.

 

[JudieK]

Let me guess. Older or middle aged male instructor. Gets his jollies by subjecting young women students to crud, instead of exposing himself or groping them. Probably has tenure. Yuck!

This is the EXACT same thought I was having!! How sad that in this toxic culture we live in, this kind of thing is considered “normal” and “educational.” It seems to me that forcing young people to watch this is a sort of sexual harrassment. Why should it be OK to violate someone’s purity this way? I’m disgusted!

 

[pentecostbaby]

Go talk to the professor. Be respectful, but firm … if he has any sense of ethics, he should be able to a) alert you when these things will be shown, so you know not to come, and give you an alternate assignment, or b) not show this stuff at all.
Good luck.
If he refuses, go to the dean.

 

[fbl9]

Go talk to the professor. Be respectful, but firm … if he has any sense of ethics, he should be able to a) alert you when these things will be shown, so you know not to come, and give you an alternate assignment, or b) not show this stuff at all.
Good luck.
If he refuses, go to the dean.

so far imop best post

 

[Newbie2]

Go talk to the professor. Be respectful, but firm … if he has any sense of ethics, he should be able to a) alert you when these things will be shown, so you know not to come, and give you an alternate assignment, or b) not show this stuff at all.
Good luck.
If he refuses, go to the dean.

If the Dean is of no help "academic freedom ", the College or University board should be your next stop.

But, I’d say an alternative assignment would be a fair compromise.