Pornography and Pop Culture: Reframing Theory, Re-thinking Activism, March 23-25, 2007

[noamnety]

(Boston)

The so-called “porn wars” that were fought over the feminist critique of contemporary mass-marketed pornography derailed important academic and activist work. It is time to move on by reframing our thinking on pornography, especially in light of the important changes that have occurred in both technology and pop culture over the past two decades.

In the world of the internet, cell phone porn, shock jocks and sexually degrading reality TV, the central insights of the critical feminist perspective are more important than ever. What was once called soft-core pornography has become the norm in mainstream pop culture, while hard-core porn has become increasingly accepted and increasingly misogynistic. What do such economic and cultural shifts mean for feminist theory and activism, and how can we rebuild a vibrant feminist movement that addresses the harms of misogynist images that help define our culture, our visual landscape and our sexuality?

These issues will be addressed at a national conference on March 23-25, 2007, at Wheelock College in Boston. Titled "Pornography and Pop Culture: Reframing Theory, Rethinking Activism," this conference will

* feature recent feminist theory and research on pornography, prostitution and pop culture, and
* provide space for collaborative discussion on how we can prepare the ground for building a broad-based, energized and vibrant feminist movement that can address the harms of pornographic images in the context of a more general political and cultural crisis.

http://www.wheelock.edu/ppc/

With Gail Dines and Robert Jensen

[bloom]

1. That looks really interesting.

I may just go.