Princeton BDSM and Pornography Course Abuse of Academic Freedom

Earlier this month, Princeton University released its spring 2023 course offerings. Among the over 1,500 options are classes such as Multivariable Calculus, Beginner’s Greek: Attic Prose, and a new seminar, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Inquiry. Nestled among these unremarkable titles on the registrar’s website, however, is a course titled “Black + Queer in Leather: Black Leather/BDSM Material Culture.”

Cross-listed in three departments (visual arts, African American studies, gender and sexuality studies) and taught by a Princeton arts fellow, the course promises to “explore the material culture of [the Black Queer BDSM] community . . . with a significant research focus on finding and presenting new materials.” Included on the sample reading list is The Color of Kink: Black Women, BDSM, and Pornography, among several other books. One author to be studied describes herself on Twitter as a “smut collector.” Another’s handle is “@pornoscholar.” (Professionally, she’s a distinguished professor of women’s studies at Duke, with a Ph.D. and J.D. from Harvard.) As part of their search for “new materials,” students will “survey . . . existing BDSM archives in research libraries, community groups, and individuals and their personal ephemera.” (What kinds of materials students will find relevant to BDSM and pornography is not clearly specified.)

BW

About the Author

Benjamin Woodard

Benjamin Woodard is a sophomore at Princeton University.

Featured Tags

Manage following

Higher Education

Princeton

Earlier this month, Princeton University released its spring 2023 course offerings. Among the over 1,500 options are classes such as Multivariable Calculus, Beginner’s Greek: Attic Prose, and a new seminar, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Inquiry. Nestled among these unremarkable titles on the registrar’s website, however, is a course titled “Black + Queer in Leather: Black Leather/BDSM Material Culture.”

Cross-listed in three departments (visual arts, African American studies, gender and sexuality studies) and taught by a Princeton arts fellow, the course promises to “explore the material culture of [the Black Queer BDSM] community . . . with a significant research focus on finding and presenting new materials.” Included on the sample reading list is The Color of Kink: Black Women, BDSM, and Pornography, among several other books. One author to be studied describes herself on Twitter as a “smut collector.” Another’s handle is “@pornoscholar.” (Professionally, she’s a distinguished professor of women’s studies at Duke, with a Ph.D. and J.D. from Harvard.) As part of their search for “new materials,” students will “survey . . . existing BDSM archives in research libraries, community groups, and individuals and their personal ephemera.” (What kinds of materials students will find relevant to BDSM and pornography is not clearly specified.)