ILPC 2027

This study considers the relationship between body work and viewers’ opinions of pornographic performance. I examine 150 randomly selected pornographic clips available on the website Keezmovies.com. Using content analysis, I identity the ways in which adult video performers utilize body technologies as part of their body work. Permanent techniques like cosmetic surgery and temporary modifications through make-up and costuming are alluded to in the sociological literature regarding sex workers engaged in stripping and prostitution. However, there is a gap in the sociological literature specifically addressing adult video performers. The commodification of pornographic images have been on the rise since the onset of the Internet. Furthermore, the adult video industry has become increasingly stratified by the type of videos being produced (e.g., professional, pro-am, and amateur) as well as by the categorization of the videos (e.g., teen, big tits, POV). Reality, a relatively new genre of porn has blurred the line between erotic performance and actual sex by featuring ordinary women in place of hyper-sexualized porn starlets. Playboy is well known for recruiting female participants from various labor industries such as Starbucks and Home Depot for their “Women of” photo series. These images remove the ‘us verse them’ dichotomy between regular women and porn actresses. Make-up, a temporary body modification can turn a porn actress into a regular woman and a regular woman into a porn actress. 

This article looks at the use of multiple body technologies as tools in supplying a believable pornographic performance. Successful performance is measured by clip status through a 6-star rating system where viewers have the option to rate the performance. High ratings indicate favorable opinions of the presentation. By taking a dramaturgical approach, I find positive relationship between body technologies and believable erotic performance. My findings suggest that the use of body technologies are not limited to sex workers. Pornographic image saturation engenders commodified sexuality in other forms of sexualized labor which increases the pressure for female wage earners to utilize similar body technologies as part of their occupational performance.