ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation: SEX CAM MODELING: LABOR, INTIMACY, and PROSUMER PORN PJ Patella-Rey, Doctor of Philosophy, 2021
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ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation: SEX CAM MODELING: LABOR, INTIMACY, AND PROSUMER PORN PJ Patella-Rey, Doctor of Philosophy, 2021 Dissertation directed by: Dr. George Ritzer, Department of Sociology Dr. Patricio Korzeniewicz, Department of Sociology The term "camming" describes live, video-streamed performances that are interactive and often include sexual content. This form of sex work has seen explosive growth in the past several years: With an estimated $2 billion in revenues, camming now amounts to 20% of the total pornography industry. Yet, little social scientific research has been conducted to understand the nature, conditions, or implications of camming for cam models, their audience, or society more broadly. Moreover, much of the research on the broader porn industry that might offer some context is dated and the dominant narratives about the industry trace back to the 1960s and 1970s when porn was produced under vastly different conditions. Digital technologies, in particular, have been transformative, allowing performers to self-produce pornographic performances and distribute them directly to fans. These tools also facilitate regular engagement with these same fans in ways that were previously inconceivable. This dissertation begins with the assumption that the porn industry has radically changed in ways we are yet to fully understand. Drawing on interviews and auto-ethnography, it attempts to offer three distinct theoretical lenses through which these changes can be observed. First, I examine what is bought and sold in cam rooms, concluding that the work of cam modeling (both on camera and behind the scenes) has many dimensions that are not captured by reductionist tropes about selling one’s body. Second, I argue that camming fits a broader pattern in online content, where clear divisions between producer and consumer begin to break down. I conclude that camming (and especially custom content/shows) can best understood as prosumer pornography (i.e., as a co-creation of model and viewer). Finally, I explore the ways in which sex cam models actively develop intimacy with clients in spite of the fact that the interactions are defined by social and spatial distance; technological mediation; asymmetry; gendered expectations; and commercial transaction. CAM MODELING: LABOR, INTIMACY, AND PROSUMPTION by PJ Patella-Rey Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, College Park, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2021 Advisory Committee: Professor George Ritzer, Chair Patricio Korzeniewicz, Co-Chair Jason Farman, Dean’s Representative Katie Shilton Jenny Davis © Copyright by Paul Alan Patella-Rey 2021 Acknowledgements The fact that a dissertations is designed as a proving ground for the individual scholar can obscure the fact that all writing—and every idea or theory within it—is a community process. I stand not only on the shoulders of my fellow sociologists— Nathan Jurgenson and Zeynep Tufekci—but also on the shoulders of my cam fam who are constantly doing the work of theorizing their own lived experience. While there are literally hundreds of people that I have casually conversed with throughout the five-year duration of this project, I especially want to express my gratitude to Dahlia Dee, Courtney Trouble, Kyra Kane, Maggie Mayhem, Mel Kush, Princess Berpl, Ramona Flour, and Xenon Universe for being a continual source of support and inspiration throughout this project (and so much more). I also want to thank the many brilliant writers in the sex work community, including Melissa Gira Grant, Lorelei Lee, and femi babylon, whose work is as influential and important to me as any academic, as well as Danielle Blunt and Hacking//Hustling, who are at the forefront of fighting for sex worker rights and safety online. Terri Senft’s work was foundational for this project, and she never hesitated to lift up a junior scholar. Katie Shilton and Jason Farman provided sound guidance in this dissertation and beyond. Jenny Davis has been a constant source of encouragement and is always there to help me hash out my ideas. George Ritzer has stood by me as my advisor through an embarrassingly large number of years in grad school; he taught me how to think clearly, write accessibly, and focus on the observations that matter. ii Finally, I want to thank my wife, Jessie Sage, for being my partner in everything. We have survived and thrived together as sex workers, academics, journalists, and life mates. None of this would be possible without her. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... iv Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 What is Sex Cam Modeling? .................................................................................... 1 The Politics of Porn Studies ...................................................................................... 7 Positioning This Research....................................................................................... 14 Chapter 2: Methods Overview .................................................................................... 18 Participant Observation ........................................................................................... 19 Sites of Participation and Observation ................................................................ 19 Complete Participant Observation ...................................................................... 21 Taking a Stand (Standpoint Theory) ................................................................... 27 Interrogating My Positionalities ......................................................................... 32 Interviews ................................................................................................................ 35 Participants .......................................................................................................... 35 Design ................................................................................................................. 37 Analysis............................................................................................................... 38 Chapter 3: What are Cam Models Selling? What are Viewers Buying? .................... 43 Abstract ................................................................................................................... 43 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 43 Background ............................................................................................................. 45 Methods................................................................................................................... 50 Findings................................................................................................................... 51 Sexual Arousal .................................................................................................... 51 Companionship ................................................................................................... 56 Intimacy .............................................................................................................. 60 Emotional Support .............................................................................................. 65 Attention ............................................................................................................. 73 Micro-Celebrity/Fandom .................................................................................... 75 Discussion ............................................................................................................... 83 Chapter 4: The Custom Clip Market as Prosumer Porn ............................................. 85 Abstract ................................................................................................................... 85 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 86 Background ............................................................................................................. 87 The Changing Porn Industry ............................................................................... 87 Prosumption Theory............................................................................................ 91 Prosumption in Traditional Pornography............................................................ 96 Methods................................................................................................................. 100 Findings................................................................................................................. 101 Clips are a Growing Market .............................................................................. 102 Guaranteed Income ........................................................................................... 102 Resale Value ..................................................................................................... 104 iv Simple Production Techniques ......................................................................... 106 Fantasy Fulfillment ..........................................................................................