Pornography, the Everyday and Material Culture

Abstract

This article challenges dominant portrayals of pornography as a harmful, abstract force disconnected from everyday life. Instead, it explores pornography as a diverse and material cultural practice embedded in people’s personal histories and daily experiences. Drawing from a large-scale qualitative study involving over 5,000 participants, it highlights the wide range of media considered pornographic and the varying ways people encounter, use, and relate to pornography over time. The concept of a “porn career” is introduced to trace changes in individual engagement, revealing complex relationships shaped by context, emotion, and desire. Emphasizing the significance of space, place, and access, the article calls for a grounded, nuanced understanding of pornography that accounts for its ordinary, affective, and socially embedded dimensions.