It is rare to find a lecture hall in Knox more than three quarters filled on a non-exam day. To have every seat occupied and even have a need for extra benches in the back of the classroom is almost unheard of.
This was the scene in Knox 20 on Wednesday afternoon, as Professor Alex Halavais stood patiently in front of his Cyber Porn and Society class and waited for the majority of students to get settled.
However, due to the number of students and the nature of his class, there is never really a sense of students being settled in Com 497 - especially not this early in the semester.
"Every class so far, I've been surprised because the course is online," said Halavais of his unusual class size. "The class is fully enrolled and people are still trying to get in. Hopefully it's because they're enjoying the lecture."
The topic of Wednesday's lesson, "Pornography and (Electronic) Technologies," focused on how the pornography industry affected and still affects the advent and popularity of certain technologies and vice versa.
As most professors would with any other topic, Halavais starts his lessons with the history of pornography and its connection to things in the past and present. Halavais discussed how pornography started out as "stag films" and was pushed into the forefront of the media by the 1972 film "Deep Throat."
When Halavais explained that the class would not be viewing this revolutionary film, a collective, disappointed "aaww" spread throughout the rows. But a clip of "Inside Deep Throat," a documentary of the film's effect on the pornography industry, appeased their desire for visuals.
"Technology is tied into pornography," says Halavais. "This relationship is an intimate one. Pornography has a very strong effect on how technologies are developed. It's also true that technology has a big effect on pornography."
A clip of an older lady speaking her mind about the pornography industry plays across the screen.
"I liked it, I wanted to see a dirty picture and that's what I saw," says the woman on the screen, eliciting a roar of applause from the class.
Halavais continues to deliver his lesson patiently and with a wealth of knowledge that keeps his students' attention.
"Halavais is very even-tempered and understands that we're dealing with a subject that's kind of funny sometimes," said Mike Geyer, a senior communication major who is enrolled in Com 497. "Besides that, there's nothing crazy going."
Geyer was able to repeat some of the key points of Halavais' lecture during a subsequent conversation and sounded genuinely fascinated by the material. He had a few guesses as to why the contents of the lecture stick in his mind without much effort.
"It's a lot easier to pay attention in class when you've got something a little taboo," he said. "You'll be hanging on to every word the professor says."
Halavais said although he understands that the subject matter takes some getting used to, he doesn't believe his class is that out of the ordinary.
"I'm reading the Web logs that a lot of them are doing and they are saying that they are learning things from the class," said Halavais. "People are getting used to the idea of it not being strange, and of it being just like a regular class."
Like most students, Eric Garcia, a junior English major, said he was intrigued by the course title initially, and is now finding the course worth his while.
"We discuss the origins of pornography and how much influence it had on society. It's very insightful and educational," he said. "It's not all about the raw contact, it goes beyond just the normal definition of porn."
Of the other student reactions, Garcia said there is a mixture.
"Some are acting mature and some aren't, but that's normal," he said. "Overall I think we're doing fine with the material."
Much like most instructors of large classes, Halavais said he plans on giving regular multiple-choice exams. He said he also allows students to garner credit by keeping a Web log of their experience in the course or writing an encyclopedia article.
Halavais joins many of his students on the college networking Web site called TheFacebook; a move that he said is only natural considering his specialty.
"One of the things I study is social networking, so it made perfect sense for me to get on there," he said.
As for his very popular class, Halavais said next week's lesson will focus on the social and legal aspects of pornography on the Internet.
While most professors go to great lengths to get their students to be excited about the content of their course, Halavais is expecting the hype surrounding his course to gradually settle into a regular learning environment.
"As people get used to this as something we're going to be talking about, the novelty will wear off."
