LOS ANGELES—Routledge, publisher of academic books, journals and online resources, has announced its plans to publish a new peer-reviewed academic journal next year titled Porn Studies. The editors of the new journal, Feona Attwood, from Middlesex University, and Clarissa Smith, from the University of Sunderland, say it will be “the first dedicated, international, peer-reviewed journal to critically explore those cultural products and services designated as pornographic,” and have issued a call for submissions.
Indicating their belief that “pornography studies are still in their infancy,” the editors aim to “publish innovative work examining specifically sexual and explicit media forms, their connections to wider media landscapes and their links to the broader spheres of (sex) work across historical periods and national contexts.“
They are also “interested in discussions that focus on theoretical approaches, methodology and research ethics. Alongside articles, the journal includes a forum devoted to shorter observations, developments, debates or issues in porn studies, designed to encourage exchange and debate.”
The Guardian says the “timing” of the journal’s launch suggests a motivating influence may have been 50 Shades of Grey, for “making erotica ubiquitous,” and theorizes that the editors implied critique of previous cultural studies for failing to address pornography may be a reflection of “the sometimes furious contemporary debate within second-wave feminism, between those viewing pornography as liberating (Angela Carter's The Sadeian Woman) and opponents (Kate Millett, Andrea Dworkin) who saw it as epitomizing and reinforcing phallocratic oppression.
“Forty years on,” the article adds with a smidge of snark, “Porn Studies (bound to be shortened by students to Porn Studs) will enter a not dissimilar cultural landscape, with renewed feminist anger coinciding with porn once again often becoming headline news; this time not as a result of censorship receding, but due to the internet making it readily available.” Not a bad analysis, but someone needs to tell The Guardian that day has already arrived, and may actually be the landscape the journal seeks to explore.
The first issue of Porn Studies is slated to debut next year in the spring. Submission parameters are broken down thusly:
* Articles should be between 5000 and 8000 words.
* Forum submissions should be 500-1500 words.
* Book reviews should be between 800 and 1500 words.
* Submissions will be refereed anonymously by at least two referees.
Initial submissions, queries and suggestions may be sent to [email protected].
