Queer Cultures in Digital Asia| Attention Economy, Neoliberalism, and Homonormative Masculinity in Amateur Gay Porn Circuits on Twitter: The Case of Manila and Hong Kong

Authors

  • Ruepert Jiel Dionisio Cao De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde; Hong Kong Baptist University

Keywords:

attention economy, gay pornography, homonormative masculinity, Manila, Hong Kong

Abstract

Twitter is a popular digital space for circulating amateur gay porn and sexual narratives of gay men. These two-minute porn videos command thousands of views, and their anonymous owners boast thousands of followers. This paper investigates how attention economies work within a neoliberal framework in porn economies in Manila and Hong Kong. Using interviews and case studies, this paper argues that the conditions created by Twitter foster a particular kind of attention economy where users are expected to be creative and entrepreneurial in curating their profiles and presenting their pornographic content. This research argues that it is within these neoliberal spaces that gay men find the freedom to socialize, build communities, and inventively present themselves. The paper ends by offering insights into how we can think about the utility of pornography and sexualized self-presentation in queer sexual politics in the Asian context.

Author Biography

Ruepert Jiel Dionisio Cao, De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde; Hong Kong Baptist University

Ruepert Jiel Dionisio Cao is a Part-Time Lecturer and Research Coordinator at the School of New Media Arts, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Manila. He is also teaching at the Academy of Film, Hong Kong Baptist University. He obtained his Ph.D. in Communication from Hong Kong Baptist University under the Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme. His research interest broadly encompasses the media use of minority groups in Asia and the global South. Currently, he is conducting research on the uses and cultures of pornography in Asia.

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Published

2023-03-19

Issue

Section

Special Sections