From object to thing. A reflection for understanding pornography

Abstract

The essentialist and constructivist approaches to understanding pornography are usually conceived of as antagonistic or contradictory. This is because, on the one hand, pornography is understood through a focus on the content of the representations and, on the other hand, it is explored in terms of the emotions and excitement of those who consume the images. However, despite these seemingly different approaches, this essay argues that there is a common denominator among both: pornography is analyzed as an image; in other words, it is an object (something that is finished, has a shape, is a product). Through an ethnographic investigation carried out in an online community, Foro de Costa Rica, the essay suggests we think about pornography as a process (unfinished, always taking shape, constantly in production). This aims to move away from the dichotomous vision of the essential or the constructed. As a closure and an invitation, the essay stresses the social importance that this theoretical intervention allows.