A Critical Summary of David A. Karp’s Research
“Hiding in Pornographic Bookstores: A Reconsideration of the Nature of
Urban Anonymity”
Sarah Hogfoss
SOC 352: Qualitative Research Methods
Dr. Lee Vigilant
February 11, 2013
David A. Karp decided to study the concept of urban anonymity through frequenting
pornographic bookstores and movie theatres, as well as observing the behavior between
prostitutes and their clients (Karp, 427). The article, “Hiding in Pornographic Bookstores: A
Reconsideration of the Nature of Urban Anonymity” only makes use of Karp’s study on
pornographic bookstores, and neglects any conclusions drawn on the other portions of his
study.
Through Karp’s study of pornographic bookstores, Karp was able to describe the
manners and methods by which people enter these establishments, how people choose to
“hide” their purchases and their purposes with which these people choose to partake, and
how people interact with one another once inside. After discovering the typical behavior
conducted within the pornographic bookstore, Karp compared and contrasted this
behavior with the typical behavior found in regular bookstores.
Karp made use of the researcher as a detective strategy in conducting this research. He
played the role of a participant as an observer. He had to essentially open himself up just
enough in an urban setting, to frequent the pornographic bookstores and movie theatres as
a means of observing the behavior of people in these stigmatized environments. He sought
to discover whether or not institutionalized shields (brown paper bags and painted store
fronts) had any effect on people entering a store and purchasing any sort of product (Karp,
438-439). He observed people’s behavior once inside the store and made note of the
unwritten social rules of conduct. Karp even compared the location of the private booths in
pornographic bookstores to the location of public restrooms in a regular store, as a means
of justifying his conclusion about the importance of anonymity and saving face within the
community (Karp, 442).
Karp conducted extended research. His research consisted of frequenting pornographic
bookstores and movie theatres, as well as extensively reviewing advertisements for these
types of businesses for over a year. His research was conducted in Times Square during the
1960s-70s, a time in which Buck Wolf of about.com refers to as “porn inflation.” During this
time period, shops in Times Square emerged from a Peep Show to an “adult amusement
center” (Wolf, 8) charging up to a quarter per show (Wolf, 9). For this time period, Karp
proved to have excellent placement and access for studying urban anonymity.
Karp made use of low inference descriptors. He used the term “peep show” (Karp, 436) to
describe one particular activity individuals engage in while visiting a pornographic
bookstore. He used the term “outsiders” to describe anyone who is not participating in
bookstore pornography (Karp, 437). He used the term “dirty” to refer to the pornographic
industry in general (Karp, 444). He also frequently used the phrase obtained from his
friends, “mental gymnastics” to describe any feelings a person may experience while
participating in the pornographic bookstore (Karp, 435). Finally, Karp came across and
referenced the term, “weirdo” which was said to be any person who openly and publically
participates in the pornographic bookstore (Karp, 441).
Karp made use of several types of triangulation. He made overlapping use of data
triangulation and methods triangulation. Through Karp’s overall research, he observed not
only behavior in pornographic bookstores, but also observed behavior in pornographic
movie theatres and the behavior of prostitutes and their clients (Karp, 427). With respect
to the article, “Hiding in Pornographic Bookstores: A Reconsideration of the Nature of
Urban Anonymity” Karp also chose to observe behavior in a regular bookstore as a means
of comparing and contrasting social norms (Karp, 444-445). He also studied pornographic
advertisements in order to gain a better understanding of the importance placed on privacy
(Karp, 436). He used physical observations, casual conversations with friends, and a
content analysis of advertising media, combined with research previously completed by
social scientists such as Durkheim through Louis Wirth (Karp, 431), Georg Simmel (Karp,
429), and Goffman (Karp, 432) in order to draw conclusions about the importance of
anonymity in an urban setting.
Karp used theory triangulation through his references to various other studies and social
scientists’ theories. His research centered on Georg Simmel’s theory of the urban dweller.
Simmel theorized that the cold, urban dweller had an obligation to maintain a “superficial
and anonymous” relationship with other urban dwellers, in turn creating an opportunity
for much greater social freedom (Karp, 428). Louis Wirth expanded upon this idea of social
freedom, arguing that freedoms from personal and emotional controls are gained through
the loss of participation in an integrated society (Karp, 431). As Strauss from the Free Press
pointed out in the article, urban dwellers appear to interact “almost subliminally,
demanding nothing of each other, making no contacts with each other, merely passing near
each other” (Karp, 431), opening the door for further study of the non-social, urban
dweller.
Through conducting the study of the non-social, urban dweller in the confines of the
pornographic bookstore, Karp had also used the reflexivity strategy for qualitative research.
Karp speaks out about his nervousness prior to entering a pornographic movie theatre, as
well as his experiences with “mental gymnastics.” Particularly, Karp found himself asking
himself questions like, “What if someone should see me in here?” and ,”How would I explain
myself if someone should see me?” (Karp, 435). As a result, one could argue that Karp had
to reflect on himself such that he had courage enough to continuously enter, shop, and exit
pornographic bookstores without fear of being stigmatized as “involved.”
Karp did not make use of investigator triangulation and showed no evidence of having
completed any participant feedback. Karp was the only investigator participating in this
research, thus there could be no investigator triangulation. Karp also did not make use of
participant feedback, perhaps due to the unwritten social rule of anonymity in this
stigmatized industry.
There was also a small issue with negative case sampling based on only the pornographic
bookstore behavior being extracted from the original work for sake of completing the
article for Urban Anthropology. Karp had completed observations not only in pornographic
bookstores, but he had also made observations of behavior between prostitutes and their
clients, and in pornographic movie theatres (Karp, 427). However small a portion of Karp’s
research was extracted, clear and concise conclusions could still be drawn based on
research conducted in the bookstores alone.
Based upon the research conducted and the methods used, I would argue that Karp
conducted very solid research. He used a number of qualitative research methods and
strategies, none of which were so complex that he was not able to get his arms around his
study. All of the research methods and strategies were basic and straight forward, leading
to a conclusion that was very easy to read, interpret and understand.
References:
Johnson, R. Burke. 1997. “Examining the Validity Structure of Qualitative Research.” Cases in
Qualitative Research: 160-165.
Karp, David A. 1973. “Hiding in Pornographic Bookstores: A Reconsideration of the Nature of
Urban Anonymity.” Urban Anthropology: 427-451.
Wolf, Buck. 2013. “Peep Shows through History: From Classic Erotica through 1970s Smut.”
http://weirdnews.about.com/od/nudenews/ss/Peep-Shows.htm: 1-10.