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Embodiment and desire in browsing online pornography

Published: 07 February 2012 Publication History

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to explore why Spink, Ozmutlu, & Lorence (2004) found that browsing online pornography requires more time and effort than general searches online. Recent information-seeking behavior research concerning online pornography neglects to examine sexuality or desire as factors influencing this particular information activity. As such, I rely on Lacan's theory of desire, Freud's theory of cathexis, and existential phenomenology, a philosophical method that emphasizes an interpretation of perception and bodily activity, in order to examine the way our embodied relations with the technological apparatus of the computer effect the time and effort of browsing online pornography. In the process, I offer an explanation of subjective analysis as a new mode of description for understanding certain aspects of information activity.

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    iConference '12: Proceedings of the 2012 iConference
    February 2012
    667 pages
    ISBN:9781450307826
    DOI:10.1145/2132176
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    Published: 07 February 2012

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    Author Tags

    1. browsing
    2. information seeking
    3. pornography
    4. sexuality
    5. subjectivity
    6. theory

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    February 7 - 10, 2012
    Ontario, Toronto, Canada

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    • (2023)Embodied Embroidery: Somaesthetic Interaction Design for Women's MasturbationProceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction10.1145/3569009.3572803(1-15)Online publication date: 26-Feb-2023
    • (2022)The Hidden Language of Vibrators: A Politico-Ontological ReadingProceedings of the 2022 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference10.1145/3532106.3533448(400-414)Online publication date: 13-Jun-2022
    • (2021)A finding aid to the pornographic imaginary: implications of amateur classifications on/by reddit’s NSFW411Porn Studies10.1080/23268743.2020.1830590(1-23)Online publication date: 13-Jan-2021
    • (2021)The passivity of seeing: A Lacanian perspective on pornographic spectatorship in virtual realityPsychoanalysis, Culture & Society10.1057/s41282-021-00215-7Online publication date: 4-May-2021
    • (2019)Information experience in personally meaningful activitiesJournal of the Association for Information Science and Technology10.1002/asi.2414270:12(1302-1310)Online publication date: 1-Nov-2019
    • (2017)Pornohealing: Pornography as a healing process for individuals with a history of sexual violenceKohl: A Journal for Body and Gender Research10.36583/kohl32103:Winter(216-231)Online publication date: 1-Dec-2017
    • (2017)What everybody knows: embodied information in serious leisureJournal of Documentation10.1108/JD-06-2016-007373:3(386-406)Online publication date: 8-May-2017
    • (2017)Sex with Robots for Love Free EncountersLove and Sex with Robots10.1007/978-3-319-57738-8_12(128-136)Online publication date: 18-Apr-2017
    • (2015)Embodied information behavior, mixed reality and big dataThe Engineering Reality of Virtual Reality 201510.1117/12.2083519(93920E)Online publication date: 17-Mar-2015
    • (2015)Embodied engagements with online pornographyThe Information Society10.1080/01972243.2015.110716232:1(64-73)Online publication date: 22-Dec-2015
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