[Washington Square News]- Studies show that U.S. citizens spend billions of dollars on pornography every year.

But, according to some scholars and feminists, even those who download it for free may be paying a substantial price.

On Friday, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women held a screening of “The Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality and Relationships,” a documentary by Chyng Sun [pictured], a professor of media studies at NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

The documentary goes beneath the surface to examine the porn industry as a reflection of how Sun views U.S. society at large: male-dominated and capitalistic.

“In many ways, I think pornography is a great lens,” Sun said.

The thesis of the documentary is that the consumption of porn, though seemingly benign, actually reinforces gender stereotypes. As part of the project, a team of researchers analyzed scenes from the highest-grossing porn videos from 2005 and found that 94 percent of the acts of physical aggression committed were directed at women, most of whom enjoyed the pain.

Though some argue that porn is liberating for women who produce their own versions, the documentary explained that the images that sell the most, matter the most.

“The gender of the director doesn’t really matter at all,” Sun said.

Sun’s documentary features interviews with scholars, feminists, porn industry trade show revelers and the people who produce and star in porn videos. Many of the porn stars who were questioned in the film said they love their jobs but are frequently forced to perform uncomfortable acts like “deep throat.”

“We need to look at what kind of things they need to do to survive in this industry,” Sun said.

Toward the end of the documentary, several sadomasochistic scenes present female porn stars subjected to extreme physical punishment. The actresses pretend to be aroused by acts like simulated drowning. According to Sun, when violence against women is combined with sex, nobody notices.

“America has already normalized pornography,” she said.

Robert Jensen, a journalism professor at the University of Texas, spoke before and after the screening and questioned the tactics used by the porn industry.

“If it’s just fantasy, why those fantasies?” Jensen said.

At the documentary’s close, Greg, a 20-year-old college student, voiced his personal views about pornography.

“The second I have an orgasm and that passion kind of sinks out of my body, and you’re still watching the movie, you start to really see what’s going on, and it’s kind of just foul,” he said.

Sun hopes to advance the debate on pornography.

“I felt that we need to start with ground zero,” Sun said. “We are taking on a billion-dollar industry. Let’s really look at pornography and have an open discussion.”