Social Media Freaks
Author: Dustin Kidd
Chapter 3: Leave Britney Alone
Sexuality Perspectives on Social
Media
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Overview
In this lesson, we will…
1. Examine how queer social media artists use
social media to challenge heterosexism,
2. Utilize queer theory to explain the queer
embrace of social media,
3. Review the ways that scholars are studying
sexuality in and with social media, and
4. Review the issue of evaluating sources in
virtual ethnography.
But first, an invitation…
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Invitation
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Invitation
Watch Chris Crocker’s famous video at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqSTXuJeTks
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Theory
Queer Theory
A paradigm of social theory that places sexuality
and queerness, broadly understood, at the
center of analysis.
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Theory
Riki Wilchins
Queer Theory/Gender Theory: An Instant Primer
“Queer theory is at heart about politics—things
like power and identity, language and
difference.”
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Theory
Queer Theory and Social Media
• Social media allows ‘Queer Readings’ to find a broad
audience, and Queer artists to find community
• Social media subverts the artist/audience binary
• Gives voice and agency to LGBTQ folks, particularly those who
may be isolated in other ways
• Social media is a space of play where we can experiment with
our identities in multiple ways
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Concepts
Queer Social Media Artists
Chris Crocker discusses his social media art, and
why he left YouTube, in the clip below:
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Concepts
Queer Social Media Artists
Brendan Jordan launched his social media career
in the local news, then discussed it on TV:
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Concepts
Slash Fiction
A form of fan fiction that focuses on same-sex relationships, usually
men, between characters in existing stories, usually authored by
women. The word “slash” refers to the forward slash between the
names of the two characters that constitute the relationship.
Canon: the universe of the original
stories
Fanon: The multiverse of fanfic
Mpreg: Stories of men getting
pregnant by other men
Femslash (f/f): stories featuring
relationships between women
Het: fanfic stories about
man/woman relationships
Shipping: An investment in a
particular relationSHIP pair
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Concepts
Evaluating Sources
We need to question the concept of authoritative
sources and interrogate the context of every source.
1. What is the purpose of this site?
2. Who is the audience?
3. Where does the money come from?
4. How does any single post sit within the larger
context of the information shared on this
site/platform?
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Analysis
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The Study of Sexuality in Social Media
Bowe (2010): Announcing a relationship on FB can be a sign of
both commitment and jealousy.
Chaulk and Jones (2011) describe online-Obsessive Relational
Intrusion.
Gershon (2011): FB trains us to be bad at relationships
Hasinoff (2012): Sexting is a creative act.
Gudelunas (2012): Gay men generate sexual capital on hook up
apps and trade it for/like social capital.
Johnson (2013): Antoine Dodson embodies the ways that SM
allows our identities to be appropriated.
Nordeen (2014): SM is becoming a site of drag performance.
Singh (2013): SM is a tool of resilience for trans youth of color.
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Analysis
The Study of Sexuality with Social Media
• Asakura and Craig (2014) use It Gets Better videos to outline
themes of resilience, as a balance to the frequent theme of
vulnerability
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Leaving hostile environments
Experiencing ‘coming out’ in meaningful ways
Re-membering the social environments
Turning challenges into opportunities & strengths
• Ross et al. (2013) use gay SM sites to survey sexual health behaviors
• Byron, Albury, and Evers (2013), and Young (2013) offer conflicting
perspectives about the value of using SM for promoting safe sexual
health practices
• Werner (2014) uses Fantasy-Theme Analysis (FTA) in SM and finds
that celebrations over the repeal of DADT silenced LGBTQ critiques
US military actions
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Analysis
Sexuality Research on Social Media
Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services
• Twitter | Facebook
• NoHomophobes: Twitter | YouTube
Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
• Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest
Kinsey Institute
• Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
• Kinsey Confidential: Twitter
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Discussion
Kingsley: Why Do We Care About Gays at the Olympics?
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-bntBgGQVY
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Discussion
Anthony Quintal (@Lohanthony): Instagram vs Snapchat
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OReCoxEM8qY
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Wrap-Up
Key terms, concepts, and names from this unit:
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Chris Crocker
Brendan Jordan
Viral
Vlogger
Sexting
Institute for Sexual Minority
Studies and Services
• NoHomophobes
• GLAAD
• Kinsey Institute
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Queer theory
Riki Wilchins
Slash fiction
Evaluating sources
Cultural studies
Cultural objects
Cultural practices
Primary sources
Secondary sources
Peer Review
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.
Resources
To explore these topics further:
• Watch the documentary Me at the Zoo about
Chris Crocker
• Explore more queer social media celebrities:
Todrick Hall, Davey Wavey, Tyler Oakey, Drew
Droege (notice the gender pattern)
• Follow several of these celebrities on Twitter
and Facebook to identify the patterns in
themes in their work over time
Westview Press, an imprint of Hachette
Book Group.