PMCb1132 Sex and the media: from censorship to virtual reality

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Iveta Jansová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Mária Juríková (lecturer)
Mgr. Michaela Šaradín Lebedíková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Iveta Jansová, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Vlastimil Havlík, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 80 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/80, only registered: 0/80, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/80
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Although it has been many years since 1969, when the President of the United States issued the first grant aimed at supporting the investigation of the harmfulness of pornography, scientists still know surprisingly little about the topic, and the public debate is riddled with myths. This theoretical course aims to introduce the history of studying sexuality in media and its forms (such as pornography, sexting, and other phenomena), its importance, and the positive and negative outcomes these forms have on the broader society. The course invites students to critically reflect on their knowledge, existing research, and society-wide changes in how humans live their sexualities via media. The lectures are designed to present current trends in various areas of studying sex and media in an accessible language and through interactive and audiovisual forms. Apart from the theoretical knowledge, the course also focuses on current scientific approaches and methodologies, discussing their pros and cons and identifying ideal ways of studying specific phenomena related to each week’s topic.
Learning outcomes (in Czech)
- Students will gain a deeper understanding of sexuality online and in media.
- Students will be able to dispel myths about sexualized media and its effects on society.
Students will be able to understand various methodological approaches to studying sexuality and their benefits and drawbacks.
- Students will be able to identify gaps in current research on sexuality.
Teaching methods
The course involved lectures with class discussions on current issues in research and assigned literature. There will also be a creative group project.
Assessment methods
There will be a creative group assignment and a final online test. Details will be specified.
Language of instruction
English
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2026, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2026/PMCb1132