#rp20 Speaker Madita Oeming — The Impact of Porn in the Digital Age

Cultural Scientist Madita Oeming explores porn scientifically and will be at re:publica 20 to talk about the impact of porn on the internet on one hand and how the internet changes porn on the other hand. She is a Research Associate at the Institute for American Studies of Paderborn University where she is doing her PhD on “Porn Addiction ­­- America's Moral Panic of the Digital Age (AT)”. 

Madita’s field of research “Porn Studies” were born in the USA and are well-established in academia nowadays. In Germany however, her work is often met with a lack of understanding and defensive demeanor. Even though websites offering porn are among the most visited online resources worldwide, her seminar on porn at a Berlin university triggered a shitstorm on social media just recently.

Fortunately, Madita Oeming is not deterred by this and continues to interview porn stars and to study our social intercourse with porn. You can follow her on Twitter here.

ASAP—3 questions for … Madita Oeming

We asked Madita three questions about her keynote at #rp20, the most pressing issues for her at the moment and her recommended readings, music or movies.

What topic will you talk about at re:publica?
In short, about porn! How the digital age changed porn and how porn changed the digital age. As a cultural scientist, I’m mostly interested in why we’re genuinely fascinated with porn on one side and insanely scared by it on the other. How can we deal with this medium in a better way—as individuals and as a society? 

True to this year’s motto—what’s the most pressing issue for you personally at the moment?
Sex education that is comprehensive and inclusive as well as sex-positive. Vulva and clitoris, consent, queer and trans identities, porn literacy… all of this belongs into schools. Everywhere. ASAP!

What’s your reading, movie or music recommendation that everyone should check out ASAP?
We should all listen to Lizzo IMMEDIATELY because it puts you into a good mood.
I liked reading “Permission”, the debut of US author Saskia Vogel. And I learned a lot from Dr. Bitch Ray reading “Yalla Feminismus”. Watching “Perspective” by Bree Mills or “The Bike Club” by Poppy Sanchez you’ll understand how diverse porn can be.