Conceptualizing Pornographication

Abstract

The mainstreaming of pornography, often referred to as pornographication, pornification, or porn-chic, has become a topic of considerable academic and popular interest. In the last 15 years, an expanding academic literature has documented and begun to analyze the increasing consumption and normalization of pornography as well as pornographic imagery. More recently, there has also been a growing concern among policymakers and commentators in the mainstream media about trends labeled “sexualization” and, in particular, the potential consequences of these trends for children. This article begins by sketching out the academic origins of “pornographication” and related terms before considering the different ways that prominent authors have conceptualized them. Recent literature on sexualization is then outlined, with a focus on understanding this in the context of discussions around pornographication. Using a number of examples from key academic texts, and from prominent print media outlets in Australia, we argue that there is a lack of conceptual clarity about pornographication and that pornographication is often conflated with sexualization. We suggest that the lack of clarity in existing literature creates two key issues for feminist analysis: (1) it obscures the role of the pornography industry in the processes of pornographication and (2) it deflects discussion away from the potential harms of the normalization of pornography and pornographic imagery for adult women. It is, therefore, important to clarify and separate the terminology of pornographication and sexualization in order to further critical feminist analyses of these cultural trends.

A qualitative examination of affect and ideology within mass media interventions to increase HIV testing with gay men garnered from a systematic review

“…The purpose here is complex for the way that this 'porno-chic' serves to deploy a familiar aesthetic for the particular gay/bisexual male target audience whilst also operating in an educative manner. The separation of 'actual' pornography from 'pornochic' is somewhat arbitrary and arguably problematic (Tyler & Quek, 2016) but here appears relatively clear cut, with these intervention materials notably devoid of the presence of an 'actual', rather than implied, penis.…”

“…They are in many ways rather one dimensional with only the occasional use of humour deployed to offset the pornographic aesthetic and seductive style. Here, we can see the 'pornographication' of health communications (McNair, 1996; see also Tyler & Quek, 2016), in which there is the incorporation of pornographic imagery into mainstream public health messages. More specifically, it could be argued that this is a classic exemplar of 'pornochic' (McNair, 2002: 61), where we see:…”

Pornographication: Social Impact of Commodification Practice of Sex Content in the Cartoon Industry in Instagram

“…Salah satu dampak sosial yang paling terlihat dari hal tersebut adalah semakin permisifnya budaya timur terhadap masuknya konten seks dalam berbagai manifestasi konten di media sosial. Kondisi ini dikenal dengan istilah pornographication, yaitu suatu keadaan di mana konten porno mengalami naturalisasi dan pemakluman karena keberadaannya dapat dengan mudah ditemukan dalam berbagai kebudayaan populer masyarakat mulai dari musik pop, pakaian, kesenian, olahraga, hingga kartun dan berbagai kebudayaan populer lain (Tyler & Quek, 2016). Menurut McNair, penyebab dari fenomena ini adalah perkembangan teknologi telah membuat pornografi semakin mudah untuk masuk dalam kehidupan suatu masyarakat.…”

“…Selain itu, semakin permisifnya lingkungan sosial terhadap konten porno pada akhirnya akan menciptakan lingkungan yang tidak ramah terhadap tumbuh kembang anak. Selama masa pertumbuhannya, anak akan berhadapan dengan berbagai budaya yang sarat akan pornografi yang punya kecenderungan merendahkan perempuan (Tyler & Quek, 2016). Pada bagian berikutnya akan dipaparkan rekomendasi tentang penggalakan program literasi konten media sosial sebagai cara untuk meminimalisir dampak yang lebih berbahaya dari maraknya konten porno di media sosial.…”

“Pornography Encouraged Me to Belittle Women”: A Thematic Analysis of Men's Reflections on Violence Against Women and Ceasing Pornography Use

“…Debates about pornography have typically revolved around two polarizing positions: writers critical of pornography who argue that it is an eroticization of men's violence against women (VAW; Brownmiller, 1975;Dines, 2010;Dworkin, 1981), and those writing from a more libertarian position, claiming that pornography can be a positive form of sexual expression and may even serve as a form of sex education (McElroy, 1995;Strossen, 1995;Weitzer, 2011). In more recent years, however, due to the expansion and increasing cultural normalization of the pornography industry (Tyler & Quek, 2016), a focus on health has also emerged alongside these debates, looking at the most negative impacts that pornography has had on young people's psychosexual and social development (Fernandez et al, 2021;Hilton & Watts, 2011). Within this emerging field, there have been studies of pornography consumers' reasons for rejecting pornography, largely through the study of self-help or "rebooting" communities (Chasioti & Binnie, 2021;Fernandez et al, 2021;Taylor & Jackson, 2018) and research focusing on an addiction model of pornography use (Hilton & Watts, 2011).…”