'Unsuitable' research topic stumps pu dons

CHANDIGARH: It seems anything pertaining to sexual matters doesn���t go down well with university dons even if it pertains to a research topic on pornographic movies for a PhD thesis.
The proposed title, ���Transgressive depiction of sexuality onscreen, a study of selected films of Catherine Breillat and Pedro Almo Dovar���, had the research degree committee (RDC) of Panjab University���s English department split down the middle over its suitability on August 31; ultimately, they deferred the decision.
Breillat is a famous French novelist and filmmaker whose movies, like her novels, have focused on sexuality and violence, while Pedro Almo Dovar is an award-winning Spanish director, whose flicks dwell on homosexuality, violence and sexual identities.
The controversy is unexpected in these times when information on any subject can be easily accessed online or even on the phone. Anyway, whether the PU panel clears the title or not, it has become a ���hot topic��� of discussion in the university and beyond, with many believing it���s unethical to carry out research on such a subject.
A senior professor from PU���s English department said the issue has been blown out of proportion by few faculty members who are settling scores with their colleagues. He pointed out if this yardstick is applied, many chapters in MA and M Phil syllabi, based on French and American feminism, would be scrapped. Agreeing with this, another faculty member said the research title is sent to the RDC only after proper probe.
���It���s an academic issue and research means detailed and analytic study of a particular topic, which can be anything,��� a teacher from the department argued.
Manjit Singh, professor from department of sociology, said that going by all academic parameters there should be no bar on choosing a topic, only it should not hurt the sentiments of a larger section of society.
���Stopping students from opting for such a topic would amount to fundamentalism and terrorism in academics,��� he added.
Countering this, Prof Shelley Walia said there are many cases where RDC wants the candidate to either make changes or rejects the subject, and the same happened in this case, as the panel didn���t find the topic within curriculum propriety.
���I don���t feel research should be conducted on any topic in the department that sparks controversy, moreover the subject should be more suitable for the community,��� he stressed.
A few others from the faculty also maintained that the candidate should change the subject and come up with a suitable one.